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Saratoga Sampler
Tom Boyden just keeps on helping out
By Mary Ann Cook
YMCA INVENTION: Tom Boyden of Saratoga, who was recently named Southwest YMCA Volunteer of the Year, never seems to stop volunteering. Since his wife's death he's been seen at the Y several times a week. "It's fun for me. I meet a lot of nice people. I know a lot of nice people," he says.
He also helps with outpatient services at Los Gatos Community Hospital--"whatever needs doing," as he puts it--and helps out with maintenance at the Opera San Jose apartment complex. At pancake breakfasts held by service groups he doesn't even belong to, he pitches in by continuing the flipping, and at jazz festivals he attends, he helps set up and dismantle.
There's always need for another helping hand is obviously his philosophy. In 1996 he won the Distinguished Service Award from the Fundraisers of America for his work with the Y. He was the chosen designee from the 12 Western states. "I was flabbergasted," he says about winning that regional award.
Incidentally, it was the YMCA that invented Father's Day. A Spokane, Wash., woman named Sonora Louise Smart approached the Y about commemorating fathers. Her own father had been widowed when his wife died in childbirth, and yet he managed to raise six children.
Smart felt that fathers should have a special day of their own, along with mothers. The Y liked her idea and June 19, 1910, was the first Fathers' Day celebrated--at the Spokane Y. By 1924 President Coolidge had proclaimed Father's Day a national holiday.
PAN AMERICAN: The Pan American Round Table is an international organization of women whose purpose is to promote knowledge, friendship and understanding among the people of the western hemisphere, and there is quite an active chapter in Saratoga.
Lillian Barna is zone director for the alliance, which oversees the Round Tables in California and New Mexico. Recently new officers were named for the Los Gatos-Saratoga Round Table.
They are Mariqueta Churchill, director; Rosa M. Winkelman and Rebecca Tompkins, associate directors; Elena Richards, corresponding secretary; Lydia Montano, recording secretary; Jan Frances, treasurer; Dina Maldonado, historian; and Lillian Barna, parliamentarian.
Other new board members include Olga Agee and Maria Luisa Maloney, projects; Violeta Branzuela, liaison; Fina Mayr, membership; Marta De Fazio, publicity; Noemi Rodriguez and Nieves Sato, telephone committee.
The group presented scholarships to two West Valley College students, Victoria Santos and Jeansil Rodriguez and one to Maria Martinez of San Jose State University. The Round Table also contributes to Flying Doctors and offers financial assistance in Honduras. For more information call Lillian Barna at 867-6624.
GRIN HONORED: An international women's music honorary, Sigma Alpha Iota presented San Jose Symphony Director Leonid Grin with its highest award for men--the National Arts Associate honorary degree. The honor was bestowed at a reception recently at the home of Chuck and Edie Marshall of Los Gatos.
Edie Marshall is past president of the local chapter of SAI and is the organist for the Presbyterian Church in Los Gatos. Chuck Marshall is a pianist and he too has been honored by the organization as a Friend of the Arts. Winifred Simpson of Saratoga is a member of SAI as are Los Gatans Ruth Fong, Sina Rhodes and Jo Chez.
Performing at the reception were flautist Kathleen Purcell, accompanied by pianist Marge Cassingham; cellist Lucinda Lenicek, accompanied by Doris McCune; and Sondra Clark, who played three piano duets of her own composition with Marsha Rocklin.
The professional women's honorary promotes people-to-people understanding through music, offers scholarships and grants and translates music into Braille.
NEW OFFICERS FOR SARATOGA MEN'S CLUB: New officers for the Saratoga Men's Club are Sandy Frederickson, president; James Wenzel, vice president; and Marlon Smith, secretary/treasurer. New board members are Ed Porter, George Hutchinson, John Armstrong, Harold Hodges, Richard Rhodes and Don Sturdevant.
The club's wrap-up for the year, a dinner/dance with spouses and significant others, was held June 22 at Bob Egan's home.
TAYLOR MADE FOR THE ARTS: Nice to see Mary Lou and Jack Taylor's smiling mugs on the most recent broadsheet publication from the San Jose Rep. These Saratogans are longtime supporters of the arts in this area, particularly active in literary arts at Montalvo.
SISTER CITY OFFICERS: Ed Porter was re-elected president of Saratoga's Sister City recently. Other Sister City officers for the coming year are Joan Gomersall, vice president; Aki Okuno, secretary; and Peter Marra, treasurer. Frank Riddle is past president.
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Saratoga, California Since 1975
