The Children’s Dental Health Clinic (CDHC) hosted an intimate gathering at its satellite clinic on the Avalon K-12 School campus in July to honor the late, multi-term Avalon Mayor Ralph Morrow and recognize his lasting impact on Catalina Island’s children and families.
Mayor Ralph Morrow was a steadfast champion of the clinic’s school-based satellite location in Avalon, where generations of local children have received essential oral health care for nearly 40 years. For most of those years, until his passing in 2024, he was a trusted advocate and welcoming presence for everyone who visited the clinic, including members of the clinic’s team who traveled from Long Beach to provide care.
During the brief program, CDHC Board President Dr. John Blake reflected on the mayor’s longstanding commitment to the clinic and the community, sharing stories that illustrated his generosity, leadership, and unwavering willingness to help whenever and wherever he was needed.
“Thinking of Ralph just makes me smile,” Dr. Blake shared. “He was just one of those people that, when you met him, you were suddenly the most important person. He was your host, your guide, always here when you needed him, and always in the background doing little things. He just wanted to make sure things got done for people on the island.”
The celebration centered around the unveiling of two tributes to the mayor and his impact: a custom memorial bench outside the clinic and a sign in the clinic’s lobby dedicating it as the Mayor Ralph Morrow Waiting Room. The sign recognizes how Ralph was always there to welcome the clinic’s team whenever they arrived in Avalon. Both tributes were made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor.
Ralph’s son and daughter-in-law, Nick and Nan, currently reside in Avalon, and they represented the Morrow family at the dedication. Nick also provided the quote inscribed on the bench celebrating his dad. The quote encourages students and passers-by to “Get off your duff and do something!” Nick shared that when he was first asked for an inspiring quote, “the language was much different because I was thinking about what he would say…” Looking at the newly unveiled bench and reflecting on his dad, he added, “I doubt he would ever sit on this bench, because he was busy!”
The program also included remarks recognizing the former mayor’s legacy from Avalon Mayor Anni Marshall and representatives of California State Senator Lena A. Gonzalez and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. Both offices presented certificates to the clinic and the Morrow family.
The Los Angeles County Fourth District Supervisor’s Office has a long history of supporting and advocating for the clinic’s efforts to improve access to oral health care in Avalon and throughout southern Los Angeles County, where the clinic has served children and families since 1932. During her presentation on behalf of Supervisor Hahn, Field Deputy Jennifer LaMarque highlighted the clinic’s vital role in making oral health care accessible to the families of Avalon:
“We know that dental health is so connected to overall health and quality of life. Just hearing some of the accounts of the children who had some serious issues to deal with and the fact that they were able to come here—to not have to pay to go to the mainland and potentially have their parents take off work—it’s such an amazing resource. We know that Mr. Morrow was instrumental in supporting this clinic and helping make it what it is, so we also want to pay tribute to him today.”
The event was made possible through the generous support of Barbara Lieberman-Jones and Doug Jones, while the dedication also celebrated the rich history of the Avalon Clinic itself. Dr. Blake helped establish the satellite clinic in 1988 before serving as Executive Director and Dental Director of the Long Beach-based non-profit organization for 21 years, retiring in 2024. During his tenure, the satellite clinic underwent a state-of-the-art upgrade. A new bungalow was completed on the school campus in 2012 through a capital campaign led by then-Development Director Barbara Lieberman-Jones, with transformational support from lead donor Patty Ann McKinnon, affectionately known as the clinic’s “Avalon Angel.” Patty Ann also attended the special dedication, along with CDHC’s current Executive Director and Dental Director, Dr. Mackenzie Kate Martin.
The Children’s Dental Health Clinic continues to partner with the Long Beach Unified School District, Avalon K-12 School, and the local community to ensure that children and families on the island—particularly those enrolled in Medi-Cal—have access to high-quality oral health care close to home. The organization provides comprehensive treatment and education in Avalon on select days throughout the year, and now, the new tributes stand as a lasting testament to Mayor Ralph Morrow’s belief in the power of community partnerships and his longstanding commitment to the health and well-being of Avalon’s children and families.
About the Children’s Dental Health Clinic (CDHC) – cdhc.org
As the safety-net oral health care provider for low-income youth, ages 0-21, in greater Long Beach and southern Los Angeles County, the Children’s Dental Health Clinic is a non-profit organization with a nearly 100-year history of providing comprehensive, compassionate and quality oral healthcare to the most vulnerable community members through its multidisciplinary approach and extensive experience in pediatric, preventive and trauma-informed care.