UC Irvine Retirees Association
Fall 2025 Report
Submitted by Jill Vidas, UCI CUCRA Representative
Activities and Programs:
The UC Irvine Center for Emeriti and Retirees moved to new offices in the Multipurpose Science and Technology Building in July. The UCIRA continues to work closely with our Center for Emeriti and Retirees (CER) on all programming and activities. Our board president regularly attends UCIEA Executive Committee meetings.
Online Zoom and Webinar sessions (Medicare, Fidelity workshops) along with monthly in-person walks, hikes, and bike rides continue. In July, a webinar totally focused on technical tips was offered. How to take advantage of your UCInetID and how to access available library resources were just two topics covered.
Annual UC Irvine Giving Day – The UCIRA raised funds in support of our Legacy Scholarship program. This program supports undergraduate students with a family tie to UCI as they enter or transfer to our campus.
On April 30 retirees attended a docent-led tour of the “Echoes of Conflict: Remembering Vietnam” exhibit at the Heroes Hall Museum in Costa Mesa. This collection includes artifacts and memorabilia that honor the experiences of those involved and provides historical insights into repercussions from the war.
May 15 – Retirees enjoyed a guided tour of Heritage Hill Park in Lake Forest. Restored buildings on the grounds provide a glimpse into what the lives of the early Saddleback Valley settlers were like. The history of these early settlers is representative of the beginnings of the southern Orange County area.
May 16 - The Drama Department pulled back their curtain to give attendees a complete tour of their department. Included in the tour were visits to the costume studio, props shop, sound mixing studio, and rehearsal studios to name just a few.
June 17 – Home cooks attended a “no cost” virtual cooking class with UC Irvine Executive Chef, Jessica Van Roo. In addition to learning how to prepare a three course lunch, those attending also received tips on how and where to purchase quality cookware.
Also in June, retirees received a private tour of Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens in San Clemente. The grounds include a museum, garden and performing arts center. The center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
July 15 – Pickleball - Retirees enjoyed a pickleball class at the Anteater Recreation Center. Included for participants was an hour of instruction along with an opportunity to play against each other during the second hour.
August 7 – Kayaking – As the sun set, attendees paddled through the Newport Beach Back Bay for a relaxing way to end a summer day.
Also in August, retirees were invited to the annual UC Irvine Staff (now Staff/Retiree) Appreciation Picnic.
September 3 – UCIRA hosted a “new retirees” lunch buffet at Brandywine Commons, which also which included free parking for those attending.
October 9 – The annual Chancellor’s Reception honoring UC Irvine Emeriti and Retirees is taking place at the Beckman Center. Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Hal Stern will be the keynote speaker.
October 27 – Attendees will have an opportunity to receive a backstage tour of the Irvine Barclay Theatre - The Barclay is a leading presenter of exceptional performances by a diverse group of artists which have included events such as “A Conversation with Renee Fleming.”
Meetings and Conferences:
July 16 – The SoCal CUCRA Summer Meeting took place at UC Irvine, along with two invited guests from USC joining us. Printed copies of the 2024 Retiree Survey were distributed to those in attendance, with electronic copies available on the CUCRA website.
New Programs and Partnerships:
In partnership with the UC Irvine Emeriti Association, the Retirees Association participated in a walking tour of the evolution of housing design in the University Hills community. University Hills is home to 1600 faculty and staff. Towards the end of the tour, attendees continued to the UC Irvine Ecological Preserve in Bonita Canyon.
University Advancement continues to host a monthly Coffee & Conversations for retired emeriti and staff on the last Tuesday of the month at the University Hills Clubhouse. Members from the Retiree Board continue to attend regularly.
The list of perks available for UC Irvine retirees who are PAID members of the UCIRA continues: Discounts on membership at the Anteater Recreation Center, library access, department discounts, Life Resources program, and complimentary UCI campus parking for a day pass. Retirees continue to be eligible for 50% discounted parking for monthly passes and to keep their UC Irvine email.
Volunteering and Giving Back:
The UCIRA Legacy Scholarships – For the 2025-26 academic year, we awarded a total of $27,000. Scholarships of $5000 each were given to three freshmen and $4000 each to three transfer students. At the end of the 25-26 academic year, we will have awarded a total of $79,000 in scholarships.
UC Irvine retirees continue to participate in the Anti-Cancer Challenge. The minimum required participation donation to join the biking team was $50 with all proceeds going to the Chao Cancer Resource Center.