Saratoga News

Saratoga Sampler

Mary Ann Cook

50-year veterans took to the dance floor

ANNIVERSARY WALTZ: Earl and Mary Fleischli celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last month with a gala at the Opera House in Los Gatos. There was dinner and dancing for some 110 guests. When a dance was designated for couples who had celebrated their 50th anniversary (or more), the dance floor was surprisingly crowded, what with at least 12 couples taking to the floor.

The Fleischlis joked that it was equally as hot (we were in the midst of a heat wave) at their 50th as it had been at their wedding, which was held in Springfield, Ill. They met at a Catholic Youth Organization dance, and she fulfilled her Ph.T. (putting hubby through school) duties as a secretary while he went to St. Louis University.

Earl worked for Lockheed for many years and upon retirement started a second career as an instructor at Heald Business College in San Jose. Meanwhile, Mary held down community posts.

She was Rotary Art Show coordinator for 11 years and is now on the West Valley Foundation board, having served as its executive director for 15 years. She was also active in the Olympiad of the Arts. So the guest list reflected all these ties.

The best man came from Atlanta, and three of Mary's four brothers were able to attend. Also in evidence were the Fleischli offspring--Tom Fleischli, a real estate developer and his wife, Susan Garay, a physician, who live in San Mateo; and Heidi (Fleischli) and Frank Deale, who live in San Jose. Heidi is a former nurse, now full-time mother, and Frank is with the Mercury News distribution department. There are five Fleischli grandchildren.

SUMMER TENNIS: While the rest of us swelter, some women are playing tennis every Tuesday morning no matter what the sun brings forth. The summer tennis group is in full sway from mid-June to mid-August for 10 round robins of doubles play, three sets completed weekly.

There are 28 regular players and eight subs. What with vacation schedules, subs are much in demand. Adrienne Garfield is the coordinator of the group, which has been meeting since the early '80s. This group plays on private courts, and they have seven to choose from, plus the West Valley College courts if more are needed.

The group was formed in a random way, a bunch of avid, tennis-playing friends getting together. As people drop out to answer the demands of work or move out of the area, friends of friends are enlisted to take their place. Most of the women are Saratogans, but some from surrounding towns as well.

A luncheon every month is one of the non-tennis highlights. Hostesses this summer were Adrienne for June; Pat Hammett in July; and Ellie Hilsenrath on tap for August. A committee supplies the food, but still it's difficult to find hostesses. The fact that some of these folks have private tennis courts can be pretty daunting.

TRYING TO RETIRE: Adrienne and Milt Garfield are trying to retire, but just can't seem to cut the cord. Milt is in partnership at Spectrum, a San Jose semiconductor firm, and Adrienne taught home economics at Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools and aerobics and fitness at the Almaden Valley Athletic Club, as well as at the Saratoga Community Center.

Still, Milt's not being retired doesn't seem to hamper their travels. So far this year they've been to China (Beijing and Hong Kong); and Hawaii, where Milt played in a pro-am golf tourney with Pasetiempo pro Shawn McEntee and local amateurs Bob Lewis and Bill Cooper.

And this fall the Garfields will take their adult daughters, Leslie Parsons and Chris Morlan, on a trip to Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Other offspring are Amy of Southern California and Barry, who with wife, Ronda, and two children are currently living with the elder Garfields.

The Garfields have a guest house they offer rent-free to teachers in exchange for tutoring their grandchildren. "It's a great way to help the housing crunch and give a boost to our grandchildren," Adrienne says.

DOCENT CALL: "Let's Look at Art" needs docents. This San Jose Museum of Art program brings art to area schoolchildren. Last year it served 15,000 kids. It's all done on a volunteer basis, and coordinator Val DeLang is sending out the call to those who enjoy bringing art and children together.

A new session of training starts Sept. 14 and runs through Oct. 19. There are 10 classes given on Monday and Thursday from 9:30 to noon. Bilingual presenters are especially sought. Docents spend 25 hours or more per school year giving presentations. DeLang is at 291-5373.

SUCCESSFUL SHOWCASE: In spite of El Niño and permit problems with the city of Saratoga, the San Jose Symphony Auxiliary's 1998 Showcase home, McNeil's Retreat located in Saratoga, proved successful. The auxiliary was able to donate $101,000 to the San Jose Symphony this year--and $82,000 of that was attributed to the showcase.

Now the auxiliary is gearing up for its Sept. 26 Gala, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of George Gershwin.

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