On The Town:

From the time our parents celebrate our first year on the planet on through our liberating 21st year, birthdays are important milestones to be looked forward to and celebrated. From then on, our birthdays sort of come and go without much mention of age until, if we’re lucky, we get to a point in our lives when we once again start proudly announcing the year we are celebrating. On Saturday legendary Burbank resident Mary Alice O’ConnorMary Alice O’Connor proudly celebrated her 93rd birthday with an afternoon tea for family and friends.

While some may know her name only from the Mary Alice O’Connor Family Center on the corner of Buena Vista Street and Verdugo Avenue, the vast majority of Burbankers know her as the woman who has served as the city’s top volunteer for more than half a century and the inspiration for the Fairy Godmother character in the animated Disney version of “Cinderella.”

Mary Alice met her late husband, Kendall, when she moved to Burbank from Berkeley in 1944. The pair raised two children, while Kendall’s productions brought him worldwide renown.

A layout artist and art director for Disney, Kendall pioneered the art of animation and contributed to 13 animated features including “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Fantasia,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Lady and the Tramp.” Serving as the art director for “Cinderella,” Kendall created the cinders-to-satin princess’ iconic coach and used Mary Alice as the model for the Fairy Godmother.

Mary Alice’s service has been recognized by everyone from U.S. presidents and California governors to every local elected official in recent history. Mary Alice has given of herself to Burbank and the entire Southern California community with her service as an elected official on the Burbank Board of Education and her volunteer work with KCET, the Starlight Bowl, the Hollywood Bowl and Providence St. Joseph Medical Center.

The tea, co-hosted by Mary Alice’s daughter, Joan Patricia “JP” O’Connor, and longtime friend, Janet Killian, included guests sharing stories of how they first came to meet the birthday girl.

Almost every tale began with an introduction at a charitable event and went on to express gratitude for the mentoring and inspiration.

Along with Mary Alice’s daughter-in-law, Tamara O’Connor, others in attendance included Shaunna Raab, Roberta Smith, Fay Playsted, Luanne Kamiya, Katherine Richards, Doris Palmer, Max Andrews, Laurie Bleick, Joyce Rudolph, Dianne Bowne, Peggy Spear, DeAnne Hayes, Peggy Wilkins, Beth Marcus, Barbara Lazar and Lupe Bautista.

In lieu of presents, guests were asked to make a donation in Mary Alice’s name to Operation Smile, the organization that provides cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide.

 Contact DAVID LAURELL at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.