Morgan Hill’s Founding Gentry filled the community center
ballroom for dinner and reminiscing Saturday night at an event
sponsored by the Morgan Hill Historical Society.
Morgan Hill’s Founding Gentry filled the community center ballroom for dinner and reminiscing Saturday night at an event sponsored by the Morgan Hill Historical Society.
According to Mrs. O’Connell, longtime resident of Morgan Hill, if you were lucky enough to be 90 years old or beyond you were treated to a complimentary ticket to the event. Some who missed the age cutoff questioned the hard line but found solace once inside the event with a glass of Guglielmo wine and the cheer of old friends.
As a resident of Morgan Hill for 32 years, I felt like a newcomer. Scanning the room you could find families such as the Ward Clan, where generations have been born on South County soil and the Dauberg family, where almost a century of residency gained them VIP seating in the front of the ballroom.
Jennifer Tate, event chair, welcomed the Old Guard and turned the evening over to Anita Mason, the last surviving descendant of the Murphy family. Ms. Mason began her address by stating genuinely, “So great to see people that I’ve known most of my life.” Mason encouraged recognition of founders saying, “Stand up. You can still stand up!”
During the introduction of Harold Baird, Anita explained to the crowd “It takes Harold awhile to stand up. He’s been on a lot of horses.”
Commentary not slowing, Mason quipped about Leonard Dauberg, “Look at him, he had a stroke last year and now he has a girlfriend.” When I asked Dauberg about the comment, he laughed and said, “Anita and I have known each other so long she likes to tease.”
The matriarch of the event, Belle McCormick at 98-years-old, received a softer introduction from Mason. My husband’s ears pricked at the recognition of Mrs. McCormick’s name and smiled remembering his fifth grade teacher from San Martin-Gwinn as academically challenging but encouraging. Martin went to her side to reintroduce himself. Vic Puppo’s introduction began, “Here’s a real character,” and Louisa Lapera received, “The best lookin’ 90+ year old I know.”
Viola Matranga’s face was so familiar to me I finally asked her where she had worked in town. Viola smiled and said, “Everywhere!” The connection finally clicked when Al Leonetti stopped at the table to give Vie a hug. “I worked at the El Toro Store for years.” That’s it. The first place I bought 501 Levi’s when I was a kid and the only store in town to carry shoes (the Leonetti family actually measured your feet and sat on the funny stool with the ramp). Vie must have been a popular face as many people stopped by to give hugs. Sam Bondi responded to Vie’s inquiry as to how things are by explaining his morning routine, “I wake up in the morning (he imitates peeking his eyes open) and say, ‘Well, I’m still here…'”
Although no one quite measured up to a century, Tate is currently the chairperson for the Centennial Committee of Morgan Hill, gearing up for the 2006 celebration that Tate promises to be a year-long party! Incorporated on Nov. 10, 1906, Morgan Hill began its quest to be the best place to live in Santa Clara County. I believe we have succeeded (no offense, Gilroy).
Carrying on the tradition of service and leadership is the Interact Club at Live Oak High School. Responding to a tip from Rotary Club member Steve Tate and bartender extraordinaire at the Founder’s Dinner, I ventured out to the track at the high school (founders go to bed early) and met up with dedicated Interact Club officers Jessie Henry and Allyson Yamashita, both in their junior year, carrying on an all night wheelchair marathon to raise money for the Wheelchair Foundation.
Henry was pushed in her wheelchair by her mom Betsy Henry, teacher of the year in the Gilroy school district and daughter of former Morgan Hill Superintendent Robert Stannard. The younger Henry reported the club raised $175 in cash at the high school in pledge sheets and hopes to collect around $600 in funds which will be matched dollar for dollar by the foundation. The Morgan Hill Rotary has assisted Interact in fundraising by collecting more than $1,200 in pledges. Wheelchairs purchased through the fundraising will be distributed to countries around the world in need of assistance. If you would like to continue helping Morgan Hill’s reputation for generosity, call Jessie Henry at (408) 683-4280 to make a pledge of support.
Ciao for now.
