Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Main Street

Mary Ann Cook

Ed Burke hammers home another honor

HOMETOWN HERO: Ed Burke is at it again, hammering home honors. This time he'll serve as liaison between the Olympic organizing committee and the U.S. delegation as assistant chief de mission for the 2000 Olympics in Australia. He'll answer requests and complaints that arise and arrange team travel to and from the games. Sounds much like a house father in a fraternity. His counterpart and chief de mission is Sandra Baldwin of the U.S. Olympic Committee board of directors. Together these two will help make the athletes comfortable, smoothing any troubled waters so they can concentrate on performing at the top of their abilities.

Ed Burke's U.S. record in the hammer throw stood for 14 years. At age 44, a Methuselah in Olympic contention, he competed in the games in 1984 and carried the flag at the opening ceremonies, the highest honor afforded a team member.

His wife, Shirley, jokes that the flag-carrier in 2000 may have to wrest that flag away from Ed. Hollywood, too, is still casting an eye on the Burkes' story. Shirley flew down in December to meet with two writers who are interested in filming their love-and-valor story. For those with short memories, Shirley was injured by an errant hammer thrown by her husband.

After rebounding from that terrible injury, she urged her husband to renew his training, which he had abandoned after the accident. She ultimately persuaded him to re-enter the Olympic fray and the rest is hammer-throw history.

MOTHER GOOSE: It's been far from a banner year for Mary Foster, a.k.a. Los Gatos' Mother Goose. Latest of the blows she's suffered is the loss of her leg. She underwent surgery June 3 and is convalescing at Good Samaritan Hospital.

Her address is Room 322, 2425 Samaritan Dr., San Jose, 95124-3908. Although Foster lost a leg, she didn't lose her backbone. "This isn't going to keep me out of the public eye," she vows. I think we can bank on her native pluck and unfailing spunk to carry her through this latest setback. Donations to Foster are welcomed at Forbes Mill Museum, where, until recently, she spent countless hours as volunteer curator.

MIDNIGHT MARATHON: Los Gatans Jennifer O'Neill and Mary Rooney will run the Midnight Marathon in Alaska June 20 in a benefit for the Leukemia Society. Jennifer has pledged to raise $2,900 and at this writing was up to $2,500.

As part of her training she ran the San Francisco-to-Tiberon marathon, reports her mother, Alice O'Neill, and at its conclusion she had a hard time making it up stairs. Dannetta Lomelin of Campbell will also make the midnight run. All three work for Arrow Electronics in San Jose and are locally known as the Three Musketeers.

JUNE BRIDE & GROOM: Over at the Meadows, love and marriage were the themes for this month's Hearth Club. One particular couple with an extraordinary record was feted: Don and Alva Wilson, who have been married for 65 years. What's their secret?

TENNIS WINNERS: In this tournament, both the participants and Eastfield Ming Quong win, because entry fees of $45 go to the center for troubled youth. The following are the Los Gatos winners of the nine-month-long competition.

In women's singles, Paula Moser, Jody Knauf, Debbi Robards and Milanda Senna; in men's doubles, Dick Glasspool, Clint Cox and Rudy Kalafus. Maggie Angus organizes the event. Call her at 650/968-3787 to get involved next time around.

MUSICAL PREVIEW: The California Youth Symphony will present a preview concert at Gunn High School June 21 at 2:30 p.m. Violin soloist Kenneth Hsu, 17, will be a highlight, performing "An Orpheus Legend for Violin and Orchestra."

The work was composed by CYS director Leo Eylar. Los Gatans in the symphony are Brian Hwang, Paul Jhun, Carolyn Lowenthal and Sarah Scanlon. The group will tour Spain beginning June 23, performing in three different cities. This is the 12th international invitation the award-winning CYS has received. For tickets, call 650/325-6666.

BIRTHDAY BOX: Gallery House in Palo Alto, an art cooperative, is celebrating its longevity this year with a show called "40th Anniversary Birthday Box," wherein each artist creates works with a box theme. This is right up Theresa Robinson's alley: She's being doing box motifs for years.

The show will run June 30-July 25 and several West Valley artists are involved, including Los Gatans Betty Rogers and Linda Fillhardt.

A reception for the artists is July 5, 4-7 p.m. at 538 Ramona St. There'll be refreshments and entertainment--all with a box theme. Are See's candies beyond the budget?

OLDER AMERICANS: Millie Tuttle and Ruth Willet, both 93, received Young at Heart awards at a recent ceremony held by the LG senior program. Some 50 friends, family and staff honored the two at a barbecued-ribs meal at the Neighborhood Center.

Said Tuttle: "The nutrition center put me back together after I was sick and was a place to meet people when I moved here."

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