Reflections on Elections

Meet Helen Rudee, who was elected to the Santa Rosa City Schools board in 1965, and named its first female president in 1973.  She then became the first woman elected to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in 1976, where she served until her retirement in 1989.

Asked why she decided to run for public office, Helen said she felt they "needed a woman's perspective" on the Board of Supervisors when it came to issues such as development, the environment, and health issues, and as a nurse she was very sensitive to people and their needs.  Her husband, Dr. Bill Rudee, was her biggest supporter!

While serving on the Board of Supervisors, one of Helen's proudest accomplishments was when she appointed a task force to study hunger in the county.  The task force was astonished to discover how many hungry families lived in Sonoma County.  Between cars, insurance, and child care, many of these families found themselves with limited funds by the end of the month.  The task force  became so interested in the problem that by the time they presented their final report they decided to open a free food pantry on Petaluma Hill Road, which became the  Redwood Empire Food Bank in 1987.  According to its website, the Food Bank now serves 78,000 hungry people each month.

Helen was also very involved in developing the county's first General Plan in 1978.  She found this to be her most challenging project, as they were tasked with rezoning the entire county outside city limits. The General Plan defines where new development will go, and what areas are off limits for development.  She was also one of two supervisors assigned to research the building of a new jail.

When asked to share advice for anyone running for public office today, Helen was quick to offer the following:

·         You must take the 'hits' along with the praise

·         Be willing and able to listen to both sides of an argument

·         You must like people

·         Be prepared to make hard decisions that affect other people

·         Know HOW to make decisions (you can't be personal about it, or take it personally)

·         Avoid personal pledges; only a pledge to uphold the constitution

·         Know yourself and maintain your principles of integrity and honesty

·         Don't take a 'party position' as a supervisor

What brought Helen to this "political" juncture in her life?  She was born in 1918 and raised in North Dakota, the youngest of 7 children.   After attending a small country school, Helen lived in a boarding house in the town of Anamoose during high school because it was too far to travel daily from home.  Her father was a farmer, and the stress of living in North Dakota during the Dust Bowl years was "tremendous."  Helen still vividly remembers seeing the black cloud of dust on the horizon, hoping for rain, and how it would blow so hard for 2-4 days that they would have to wear masks.  Yet, the family was still able to preserve enough grain to feed their animals and replant crops. She fondly remembers her family's musical leaning and how they enjoyed singing on those long winter nights.  Helen played both piano and violin, and was in both the high school orchestra and city bands. Reflecting on challenging times, Helen believes, "If you have a personality that finds life interesting, you will find good times along with the hard times."

Growing up during the Great Depression, Helen couldn't afford to attend the University of North Dakota, but her grandmother lived in San Francisco and California offered something unique: a  junior college system, so she moved west in 1935, attended a community college, and went on to attend the Stanford School of Nursing where she met and married her first husband, Dr. Ford Shepherd, a radiologist.  During WWII, he served in that capacity in Virginia and Maryland, and the family returned to California after the war.

Helen's husband died when their youngest of four children was only 4, and she later married another Stanford MD, Dr. Bill Rudee of Santa Rosa.  According to her children, Helen became a "professional do-gooder," actively involved in the community before she stepped up for public office, and continues to volunteer her time and expertise to this day for a number of organizations.  Her passion for learning and care for others have clearly helped keep Helen vital into her 90s.

Offering advice to today's youth, Helen encourages them to face new challenges and always learn new things, "which will open you to all sorts of opportunities."  She concurs with the saying, "the more you learn, the more you realize how little you know."  I hope future political candidates also keep that bit of humility in mind!

Prepared for the future, despite life's challenges

Martin Feibusch, 95, has made the most of life circumstances and turned challenges into opportunities.  Born in Germany on March 6, 1918, his Jewish parents were forced to physically separate the family in 1933 under the Hitler regime, sending a daughter to Palestine and Martin to San Francisco to live with his uncle.  His mother and brother were given 30 days to leave the country, and traveled via Sweden to find safe harbor in England.  Martin's father stayed behind in Germany and was sent to a concentration camp on the infamous "Crystal Night" in 1938.  He eventually escaped and joined his wife in London.  Adding to the stress and uncertainty of the time, Martin's uncle, Moritz Feibusch, a food broker with offices England, was one of the 13 passengers killed in the Hindenburg Airship disaster in 1937.

Moving to San Francisco in 1933 was a trying time for both this rebellious teenager and his Uncle Moritz, who thought he was welcoming a 6 year old into his home!  Fortunately, Martin soon met a wonderful family who treated him like one of their own, and in fact became extended family when Martin married their daughter, Constance, seven years after they first met.  Martin and Connie moved up their wedding date after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Martin was drafted just seven weeks after the wedding.  He served in the US Army for 3 1/2 years in England, Africa and Italy, and participated in three invasions.  When he returned home, Martin's father had a vacant apartment ready for the couple in San Francisco.  They waited until after Martin's parents were able to join them in California in 1947 before starting a family; they have two sons.  Martin and Connie moved a total of 17 times on the SF Peninsula as he opened toy and gift stores.  His final business operation was a hand crafted wooden toy manufacturing company.  Throughout his working life, Martin was active in organizations such as the Santa Cruz Ave. Merchants Association, and ran the local Christmas parade.

Retiring at 64, Martin wanted to keep his mind active so he became more deeply involved in the life-long hobby of stamp collecting he began at age 8.  After convincing Connie to also retire, Martin and Connie went on a seven week "stamp safari," traveling across the United States during the week and attending stamp shows on the weekends, always following a different route.  He became interested in exhibiting his work and won numerous awards over time.  Martin and Connie also developed lasting friendships with other stamp collectors and historians, including the chief curator of the postal museum at the Smithsonian Institute.  His collection includes over 400 envelopes (called 'covers') from the first flight of the Hindenberg.  He also stays involved in his living community and looks out for the welfare of all.

Recalling my own father's interest in stamp collecting, I developed a newfound appreciation of this hobby as Martin described his passion.  According to Wikipedia, stamp collecting is still one of the most popular indoor hobbies, with over 200 million collectors worldwide!  In stamp collecting, Martin notices the printing, design, and watermark on the stamp which he purchases at auctions and through friends.    He also considers himself a postal historian; he tracks the mail routing and finds that the contents of letters are sometimes more interesting than the stamp itself.

Martin's proclaimed secret to success is his 71 year marriage.  Connie and her family have always been very supportive of him.  He also believes that keeping his mind and body active have kept him vibrant into his 90s.  Martin is not a participant in the technology revolution and does not use a computer.  He still uses manual spreadsheets to track his investments, and does just fine!  

His advice for today's youth and working adults: plan for your retirement and your future, because it doesn't come automatically.  In today's uncertain economy and world, that's wise advice, indeed.  

Family Man...celebrating Father's Day

 Ernie Frandsen was born on Easter Sunday in 1930 and spent his early years living in Berkeley. After attending seven schools by seventh grade due to his father's job assignments for a mortuary, the family settled in Healdsburg where his father started his own business and Ernie quickly found work for McGill's Market at the young age of 13.  One of Ernie's favorite memories growing up in Healdsburg was the band concert that was held in the plaza on Saturday nights, after chores were done.  When he was growing up, prunes were a major crop in Healdsburg, and the start of school in the fall was delayed if the harvest was late. 

Ernie's grandparents on both sides of the family were his mentors, supplying a strong foundation and reliability he knew he could trust.  They also gave him a sense of independence with firmness when needed. He recalled one day when he had to race home from school in the pouring rain to get to work on time.  His grandfather had driven to school so he could give young Ernie a ride home, but Ernie refused so the elder simply followed this miserably drenched youth home (undoubtedly with a smile on his face!)  Grandparents and extended family were included in every holiday.  Their memories are also carefully placed throughout the house, including the artistic metal work of his grandfather, a blacksmith who immigrated from Denmark.

From the minute I met this inviting man, I knew why a mutual friend, Evelyn, recommended Ernie Frandsen as an interview candidate for my June (Father's Day) column.  Ernie and his wife Marilyn must have been quite a team.  These Healdsburg High sweethearts married after high school and Ernie leased and operated his own small grocery store in Healdsburg before they started their family of four daughters in their early 20s.  Ernie spent 9 years working at this "Night and Sunday" store on highway 101 (i.e. he worked days, nights, and Sundays/holidays!) that stayed open until 9 PM daily at a time when other stores closed at 6 and on Sundays.  Ernie continued running the store until his mother, who had MS, became very ill and his father asked him to help with his mortuary business in Healdsburg and Cloverdale.  Ernie eventually took over the family business until his retirement in 1997.

Marilyn loved being a mother and kept the home fires burning to balance their work/family partnership: cooking, baking and sewing most of the girls' clothing.  After the children had left home, Ernie recalled going out to dinner with Marilyn and being disappointed in the food (so you know she was a good cook)! Even though he worked "all the time," family came first.   Ernie came home after work at bedtime in those early years and always tucked the girls in.  They now fondly remind him that he tucked the sheets a bit too tight!  The family's annual vacations were special times together.  Gualala or camping in Van Damme State Park were two popular treks. They also made monthly trips to Santa Rosa to shop and to San Francisco a few times per year. 

The delight Ernie Frandsen feels about family is visually displayed in photographs and mementos throughout his Cloverdale home, and in his detailed descriptions of his four daughters, ten grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.  Raising four girls was "fun," according to Ernie; the Frandsen's provided their children with various opportunities from music to 4H and animals to raise on their 5 acre parcel.  After Marilyn's death in 1999, Ernie moved from Healdsburg to a smaller house they owned in Cloverdale.  He also still owns a home in Fort Bragg on the coast that he tries to visit with one of his daughters monthly.

Not one to show favoritism, Ernie described the unique talents of each of his daughters who are each "special in her own way."  Claudia, the oldest, always wanted to be a teacher, and retired from the position of Cloverdale Unified School Superintendent last year. Marjorie is retired from the Sonoma County planning department.  Elaine works for a veterinarian and there's "nothing she can't do."  Rebecca, the youngest, currently teaches pre-kindergarten in Cloverdale.  He's equally enthusiastic about his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his current service work as a member of the Cloverdale Kiwanis Club, with the mission of "Serving the children of the world," reinforces this man's strong commitment to children and helping others.

As a touching example of this father's devotion and family ties, Claudia's first birthday away from family was just last month.  So Dad sent her four cards: the first said "Happy Birthday;" the second, "party;" the third, "flowers;" and the fourth, "cake."  Money was enclosed in each envelope to accompany the sentiment.

Happy Father's Day, Ernie!

P.S. Thanks for the jam!

66 years of coaching, and still going strong

Marion Kane Elston, born Marion Olson, grew up in San Francisco and started swimming on the Russian River at age 3 near the family's summer home.   By age 13, she started coaching the younger girls on her San Francisco competitive swim team, Crystal Punch, to perform in their annual "Crystal Cades" fund-raising water show, and by age 16 she was coaching all the girls for this annual off-season performance.  

After attending the University of Hawaii and teaching elementary school in San Mateo, Marion married and was hired in 1954 by the San Francisco Recreation Department to coach synchronized swimming four hours per week for $2.75/hour.  That team's success grew into the San Francisco Merionettes and the team received the first national championship title in 1960 followed by 19 consecutive high point titles, not to mention numerous other individual and team awards.

Fast forward to 1981, when Marion was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.  According to the IHSOF website, Marion was "one of the most successful coaches in any sport" and "the world's first great synchronized swimming coach" who "did most to create the quality and class that gave her sport the world recognition that led to World Championships and Olympic acceptance."   Now, 66 years after her humble coaching beginnings, Marion is still going strong at her pool in Santa Rosa's Rincon Valley, Oak Park, with students ranging in age from 6 to 89!

While Marion is best known for her gifts at coaching synchronized swimming, having developed 51 National AAU Synchronized Swimming champions with 303 first place national and international awards by 1981, she has also coached volleyball, track and field, kick ball, and boys soccer, and has no particular favorite.  When asked what led her to coaching other girls on her competitive team, she simply replied, "you just do it" when you're asked to.  Her own success as an athlete began quite unexpectedly: at age 10, her older sister  was the one who wanted to swim competitively and she tagged along.    But it was Marion who went on to participate in 13 Senior National meets and become an Olympic Team finalist. 

What is it that makes Marion such a great coach?  First, she understands the basic elements of body movement, and credits both this understanding and intuitiveness in being able to pick out the elements that will "get to the heart of what will make someone better."   She says the underlying cause of a problem in sports is often speed, design, or control.  She also enjoys the challenge of coaching, sees talent in people of all ages, and believes every person she coaches has unique qualities which can be improved upon.   She simply meets her students where they are and  "matches their motivation" to improve.

Marion also credits her parents, Ethyl and Ed Olson, for supporting her athletic and  coaching careers. Her mother, Ethyl , was the "bedrock of the family"  and her father, Ed, became assistant manager of the 1968 Olympic Swim Team  and president of the local AAU.

 

The Olsons also helped finance Marion's purchase of Oak Park Swim Club in 1973, a family-friendly local pool and tennis club, which allowed her to continue coaching while raising her four children.  In her spare time, Marion also recruited/choreographed 36 former students to perform in the 1975 movie "Funny Lady," and Oak Park became the headquarters of the Marion L. Kane International Synchro School where she coached athletes from around the world from 1974-1982.  She also produced professional water shows at the World's Fair in New Orleans (1984) and Brisbane (1988); and another show in Hong Kong (1990). 

With 66 years of experience, one change Marion has noticed in the students she coaches in all age groups is that there's so much going on in people's lives now that it's harder to get her students to slow their minds down, feel their bodies, and focus on the task at hand.  Children today seem to expect "instant success," but Marion stresses that it takes time to perfect new skills. 

Marion Kane Elston is clearly passionate about what she does, and believes you should keep doing what you love to do.  I'll take that as a stated intention to keep coaching for years to come (lucky for her students...including myself!) 

In the words of this Wise Elder and gifted coach, if you enjoy it, regardless of your age, "just do it!"  In fact, why not head out to Oak Park, and perhaps you can make your own synchro dreams a reality?  At age 90, Marion's most senior swimmer is also a national champion, Barbara Brown of Napa, who was so inspired in her mid-50s to do just that!