Evelyn Losack was honored June 19 with the Rio Rancho Rotary Club’s Zimmerman Award for her community leadership. 

The annual award established by the local club to recognize an individual or organization for significant contributions to the community is named for Harold and Malina Zimmerman of Rio Rancho. They were instrumental in establishing a strong Rio Rancho Rotary charitable foundation which gives multiple awards each year to charitable efforts.

“Evelyn Losack’s creation of major projects in Sandoval County has made a difference,” nominators explained.  “This woman has envisioned the needs of her community for years and created living projects which educate, inspire, bring people together and foster economic development.”

 She was born in 1929 to a large Corrales farming family. In her early years, she learned how the local farmer was the core of keeping people fed in times during the Great Depression. She also recognized the importance of music and education in people’s lives. “She has implemented those ideas her entire life, giving freely of her valuable time as a volunteer and her produce to community projects, neighbors and total strangers,” the nomination stated.

“As a farmer in Corrales, Evelyn saw the need for local farms to provide, but in the 1980s it was evident that people were going too fast to stop by the local farm. She believed that if metro area residents had an opportunity to see the farms and buy produce, that would fulfill the economic needs of local people and farms.  In order to introduce people to the farms, she organized a valley harvest festival.  

“In 1985 the Corrales Harvest Festival was held and for the next 25 years it would become the core of New Mexico farm celebrations, growing from 1,000 visitors to as many as 10,000 today.  The farm produce is but one aspect of this celebration. Lawn mower, crawdad and duck races, mustache growing and cow pie throwing contests have been part of the fun with hayrides between locations. Today the Corrales Growers’ Market overflows with produce and local civic groups’ booths.  Educational displays at the historic plaza church and museum as well provide a reminder to people that Sandoval County has a real gem in its Corrales farmers.

“As a music teacher Evelyn has created opportunity for artistic expression in community celebrations. Sandoval County has two musical projects due to her leadership. First in 1987, she wanted there to be a children’s Christmas program with Saint Nick and music and so the St. Nick Party was created.  For these last 22 years she has sat at a piano and led singing and musical performances while St. Nick appears from a fire truck to give bags of apples to children waiting to see him.” 

She spearheaded creation of a Corrales Cultural Arts Council which has sponsored well over 200 concerts at the historic Old Church community center.  These annual concerts, held over five months, include a wide variety of musical genres and fill the Old Church every single performance. 

“It was during Evelyn’s time as president of the Corrales Historical Society that the council was created to give a fuller use to the beautiful, adobe church which she has also assisted in preserving; she is still on that board today.

“These words do not begin to describe the fullness of Evelyn’s love, caring and tireless hours spent to benefit the community, because these projects are the tip of the iceberg for the many projects she has led during her 80-plus years giving to us all,” the award nomination pointed out. “Please be sure to let this matriarch of Corrales know that you heard she lives Rotary’s motto ‘Service Above Self’ every day.”