ACTIVE HART PARK VOLUNTEER NOT SLOWED, DISCOURAGED BY ILLNESS.

Byline: Cynthia Teed Daily News Staff Writer

Planning William S. Hart's birthday party back in the late 1980s started a volunteer love affair for Jackie Cullen that can't be stopped - not by rain, busy schedules or chemotherapy.

And for her dedication, Cullen was named one of Los Angeles County's 1999 Volunteers of the Year in a recent recognition ceremony.

``That's just her nature. She's a really good woman, and she deserves this recognition,'' Kenneth Cullen said of his wife of 41 years.

Jackie Cullen, among the 66 winners of the county's prestigious award honoring the top volunteers, gives guided tours of William S. Hart Park and Museum in Newhall and runs the gift shop.

``I nominated Jackie for the award because she continued to volunteer nonstop even after being diagnosed with cancer,'' said Sheila Fernandez, the museum's education and volunteer coordinator.

Cullen schedules her chemotherapy sessions around her volunteer work, Fernandez said.

``I was so amazed by Jackie's dedication and loyalty to Hart museum,'' Fernandez said. ``Most people would have dropped their volunteer work, but not Jackie. She's a real inspiration to us all.''

Cullen learned she had ovarian cancer last year when she tried to lose weight and discovered a mass in her abdomen. Doctors later diagnosed the tumor as cancerous.

``I kept on wondering what was wrong. I knew I had lost the weight but not the lump near my stomach,'' Cullen said.

Determined to keep a positive attitude and a busy schedule in spite of circumstances that might have felled a lesser heart, Cullen kept giving tours at the museum and surrounding park - even managing the gift shop. She continued her annual 400 volunteer hours while undergoing nauseating rounds of treatment that lasted five hours and left her tired but undaunted.

Why all this energy, dedication and passion?

For one reason, Cullen enjoys seeing the people and being in such a beautiful atmosphere.

According to Cullen, the Hart mansion and grounds are so special that many people have chosen the back lawn of Hart's former home as a setting for their nuptials.

Now, with the conversion of the pole barn into the new Hart Hall, Cullen said couples can hold their wedding receptions on the park grounds as well.

And while Cullen participated in preparations for Hart's birthday celebrations usually held in early December each year at the mansion, she began to discover tidbits about one of America's most famous silent screen stars, the man who left his estate to future generations.

``Hart had a magnificent Navajo rug collection, which is on display, and he also collected Western art - most by Remington and Russell,'' she said. These treasures among other personal articles of Hart's are on display for the public to see on guided tours by Cullen and other docent volunteers.

But it was the man's sincere love of the West that won Cullen's heart and her willingness to work long hours without pay for the benefit of others.

Open to the public, Hart's mansion faithfully reflects its former owner's relaxed way of life. Hart allowed his dogs to sleep in his bed with him and, according to Cullen, when he built a new bedroom he allowed the dogs ``to keep the old one.''

Cullen good-naturedly said she enjoys performing her varied volunteer duties but never thought she would be ``cleaning William S. Hart's bedroom.''

The museum and park always need good volunteers - always has and always will, she said. But Cullen sees the duties as fun and never routine, which suits her just fine.

``With cancer, it's not the end of the world,'' she said. ``You just go on with life. If you have extra time on your hands you feel sorry for yourself.''

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PHOTO (Color) Despite battling ovarian cancer, Jackie Cullen put in 400 hours as a volunteer at William S. Hart Park. Her efforts have earned recognition from Los Angeles County.

John Lazar/Daily News