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I was born in Kansas, 1 of 9 children. We came to CA when I was 10 years old. My
father went
to work in the shipyards. I attended Oakland Public Schools and graduated from
Oakland Technical High. I was very active in school programs and clubs. I loved
sports and played on the women’s basketball team.
1 married at the age of 19, and 2 children soon followed, a son Larry and a
daughter Linda. They were our pride and joy. My husband Clarence was a driver
for AC Transit. Sometimes Larry and 1 would board his bus and ride around with
him for a couple of hours. Larry loved that, he would tell everyone on the bus
that the driver was his dad. Larry never met a stranger, he was so active and
full of life, he was a handful. Linda, on the other hand was a quiet child. She
loved just sitting in her chair and watching everyone as they moved about. Larry
was very protective of her and catered to her every wish.
In 1951 my husband was close to a nervous breakdown from so much stress after
driving a bus for 5 years so he quit his job, we sold our house and moved to
Lincoln, Nebraska where his family lived. He worked for Robert’s Dairy and I
went to work for Elgin Watch Co. In the government security portion of the
plant. We made detonator caps for cannons. In 1953 I really became homesick for
my family and we moved back to California. One summer my mother-in-law came to
visit and she liked California so well she decided to stay, naturally she lived
with us. As I had a built-in baby sitter I enrolled at Laney College and took a
2 year course in Business Administration and Public Relations.
My children were very active in and Out of school doing all the kids stuff, boy
scouts, camp fire girls, little league, gymnastics, etc. My husband and I were
right there with them, encouraging them all the way. We were both very active in
PTA through their school years. We were a family who enjoyed doing things
together. We became bowling addicts, we were at the lanes 5 nights a week either
practicing or at league play. We all became quite proficient at the sport. Both
Larry and Linda were Jr. bowling champions and we did a lot of traveling to
tournaments. I became a semi professional bowler and enjoyed the competition for
about a year, but then decided I didn’t want to do this forever because it
became more of a chore than fun and 1 got tired of being away on weekends so I
decided I had better take advantage of my schooling and get started on a career.
In 1963 I went to work for Alameda County in the Assessors Office. 1 worked my
way up from an account clerk to a supervising clerk. The one area of the office
that I particularly liked was the public information counter. I helped people to
understand their tax bills, how their property was assessed and what caused
increases in their tax bills. I truly loved that position because I was able to
calm peoples fears by explaining taxation and legislative laws. My 25 years at
the office was a delightful time in my life.
While working for the County I became active in the Employees Association. We
negotiated salaries and working conditions for 4900 employees with the Board of
Supervisors. My years of hard work with the Employees Association paid off
because I was the 1st women elected to serve as President and also I became the
1st person to be elected to a second term of office.
We were apartment living in San Leandro but knew that we wanted to get
ready for retirement and started looking around for a house. My parents lived
here at the Tropics and one day when we were visiting them we started looking at
homes for sale. We really liked the atmosphere and then we talked to neighbors
and they told us it was such a nice place to live so we moved to the Tropics in
1975 but I did not become active in the Resident’s Club until 1981. After I
retired in 1988 1 dedicated my life to helping people and serving my community.
My son died in 1978 from a freak accident at his home in Auburn, CA. My husband
passed away in 1996 after a lengthy illness. My daughter lives in Naperville,
Ill. She is a graduate of university of Illinois and is Administrative
Assistant/Land Developer for a Non-Profit Corporation in the greater Chicago
area. She is happily married and Douglas is a Professor at the American Baptist
Seminar. I miss her not living closer but we talk often and 1 fly out there at
least once a year.
I am a member of Hillview Baptist Church in Union City. I volunteer my time as
Director of East Bay Baptist Association Christian Women’s Job Corps. This is
a job skills training program where we give Cal-Works recipients or any women
who needs training to get into today’s job market a chance to become
self-reliant. It is such a worthwhile program and I thank God every day for
giving me the opportunity to help women in need.
My community service is a great joy to me. I serve on the Life Elder Care Board
of Directors, Union City Senior Commission, Redevelopment Project Area
Committee, Union City Friends Board of Directors, Leisure Services Volunteer
Recognition Committee, Alameda County Register of Voters, Bay Area Sunday School
Board of Directors, and at the Chamber of Commerce whenever they need me.
I have served as the Tropics Resident’s Club President for the last 10 years.
We had 9 years of down time when Mr. Keh owned the Park and kept us in constant
turmoil, but now with George Turk of Millennium Housing as our owner, our
spirits are lifted and we can finally relax and enjoy our golden years. I
treasure the residents support that 1 have had as President over the years and
the friendships that have been made are priceless. The Tropics residents are the
greatest bunch of people and I am glad I live here
To my amazement and just a short time ago I was chosen as the State of
California 1 ~ Assembly
Districts Women of the Year for 2001 by Assemblywoman Ellen Corbett. The
ceremony in Sacramento for the honorees was a day to remember. It was such an
honor I don’t think I have
touched the ground yet.
I ARRANGED AN APPOINTMENT TO INTERVIEW IRENE.
WHEN I ARRIVED, IRENE HANDED
ME THE ABOVE ACCOUNT OF HER LIFE.
THANK YOU IRENE, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR HONOR.
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