Saratoga News

Photograph by Lynne Denman

Don and Jean Loughridge celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary July 21.

It's a busy summer

By Louise Webb

Saratogans are having a busy summer. There are parties and people traveling and returning from all over the world. Nancy and Doug Anderson held a mammoth 50th anniversary garden party in their home for Jean and Don Loughridge. The anniversary couple's three sons, Barry, Scott and Bruce, were there. Many attending the party were members of the Saratoga Drama Group.

Don and Jean have been active members since l964. Jean was wearing decorated tennis shoes with lace and wedding bells on them. Nancy had made them for her since Jean loves to wear tennis shoes. What makes a good marriage? Don has the answer: "Always agree."

A group of 10 of Steve Kyne's tennis buddies, led by Bob Cooper, were singing "Happy Birthday" to him at the International Coffee Exchange. Cooper is in charge of a group of tennis retirees who play at West Valley College.

Sorry to learn about the death of Phil Hyde, husband of Karen Hyde, vice principal of Saratoga High School. Their children are Hayes, 7, and Harrison (Mac), 2. Phil died after a long bout with leukemia. Donations can be made to the Hyde family fund, in care of Terry White, Union Bank of California, 755 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, 94305.

Neil Bonke, a board member of the Joint Venture Silicon Valley economic development committee, received a VIP ticket to hear President Clinton speak at John Muir School in San Jose. Clinton recognized the efforts of the committee's Challenge 2000 program, which is helping to bring modern technology to our schools. Six weeks ago, Bonke had breakfast with Jack Kemp and has been corresponding with him ever since. Bonke urged him to help Dole with the flat-tax situation and is pleased to learn he became Dole's running mate. He also had an earlier meeting this year with Steve Forbes Jr. on the same subject.

Neil's wife, Karen Bonke, has been busy on a wedding steering committee along with Janet McLaughlin and Kim Algren. They even had T-shirts made which read W.C. Many other friends helped entertain 15 out-of-towners from France here for Joan Spottswood and Eric Rousseau's wedding. (Joan is the daughter of Saratogans Liz and Doug Spottswood). The group also put on a brunch for 100 people.

Olympic Update: Synchronized swimming coach Chris Carver says Esther Williams sent gold and white flowers to the team along with her congratulations. Other Saratogans visiting in Atlanta during the Olympic games include Anne and Rives Chalmers, and Nancy and Chuck Boesenberg. Our editor, Carolyn Leal, and her husband, Stanley, were also there.

Author Audry Lynch and her husband, Greg, are back from a trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Audrey had Greg haul back an Australian instrument called the didjeridu. I know the feeling. She had me lugging heavy brass faucets back from a Mexico trip.