Saratoga News

Saratoga Sampler

Mary Ann Cook

Mary Murphy's an ageless 90-year-old

NONAGENARIAN: Nonagenarian, meaning someone in their 90s, also seems to imply ageless (non-age). And Saratogan Mary Murphy is a case in point. Ms. Murphy turns 90 this month, and she still volunteers at Community Hospital of Los Gatos regularly and works out at the Y three times a week. She came to the U.S. from Ireland during the depths of the Depression as a teenager.

She'll be retiring from active hospital service after her May 25 birthday, reports neighbor and good friend Jaleela Al-Saadoon. Jaleela and her roommate, Karen Wood, hosted a surprise party for May, as they call Ms. Murphy. "She's enriched our lives so much," Al-Saadoon says.

Mary Murphy worked as a nurse's aide at O'Connor Hospital for many years and volunteered at Los Gatos Community for 17 years, this time in the clerical department. She still drives and "remembers things better than I do," says Al-Saadoon.

She's a widow with three children, who will all be in town for the big date. They are: Sheila Pickwell, a nurse practitioner who teaches at UC-San Diego; Connor, a city planner on an Indian reservation in Arizona; and Paddy Emick, who lives in Saratoga--"I couldn't do without her," Ms. Murphy says.

ROOFLESS: Mary Richards' 5-year old daughter, Rachel, was one of those who witnessed the Sunnyvale tornado up close and personal. The roof was blown off her school. Imagine the mother's reaction, faced with this scene of destruction not long afterward and having no idea where her child was or even if she was.

The children had been hustled to a part of the building that was still intact, but the memories of that terrifying experience naturally linger on. Richards reports that though Rachel hasn't had any nightmares, she needs a lot of reassurance in preparing for sleep each night.

Mary Richards is the director of the Adult Day Care program at the Saratoga Senior Center, soon to take the reins of the entire Senior Center from Olga Mac Farlane, who is leaving July 1. Richards has been aboard the center for less than a year, but during that time the adult day-care ranks have grown from about eight to 20. Now there's a waiting list for participants.

KSAR SHOW: Several Saratogans involved in the Symphony Showcase were part of a taping recently at West Valley College's KSAR for the program Focus 360. The show will air twice weekly during May, and the topic of the half-hour show is, naturally, the Symphony Showcase at 18450 Sobey Road, a major fundraiser on display through June 7.

Those involved were Jeanne Holst and her daughter Nancy Leisha, Shirlee Walker and Marie Low. Holst is chairman of the daily fashion shows at the showcase house, and the other three women are serving as models. Walker, owner of Shirlee Walker Designs in Saratoga, is also one of the designers who decorated the showplace.

Her handiwork can be seen in the office/library in the 7,000-square-foot home. Bonnie Radding of Saratoga is house chairman, and Kay Eshelman of Monte Sereno is design chairman. The landscaping, too, is really wowing viewers, Low reports.

COOL STUFF: Last month's art furniture auction called Cool Stuff that benefited both the San Jose Museum of Art and Design Response raised $200,000. Alexandra Hausen of Saratoga was chairwoman of the fundraiser, and Helen Carreker is founder/owner of Design Response, the agency that provides nonprofit facilities with quality used furniture.

Planners, including museum director Josi Callan, said they'd definitely do this one again. Performance artists added to the party action, as did the two models who wore hats designed as a chandelier and as a Tiffany lamp. Charlotte Kruk and Dave Kempken were the artists who designed the hats.

Another unusual aspect to this fundraiser: Chairbacks affixed to toilet seats in the bathrooms were designed by students in Homestead High's three-dimensional design class. Kruk is a student teacher there, and Alinka Niva is art department chairman. A velvet throne with crown and scepter was but one example of the seatbacks.

MAYPOLE: The maypole at the Willys and Betty Peck home got a workout on May Day weekend. Not only was it used for the traditional maypole dance/ribbon weaving, but it also came into play two days later at a wedding shower for Jennifer Fordice.

Guests wrote down a one-word wish for the bride, attached that to a ribbon and wove their good wishes into the dance. Jennifer is a former student of Betty's, and she "likes to give an experience, rather than a gift" to students. Jennifer's mother, Virginia Fordice, owns Aegis Gallery in Saratoga.

ALOHA: Jon and Laddie Petrucha staged a grand family reunion in Maui that included their children and mates, the Vaughans and Mahans, as well as five grandchildren. Newest addition to the family is also the first grandson, Matthew, 8 weeks old, who joined the four doting granddaughters on the trip.

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