FogHorn April 27, 2017 - SHOP TALK - Rosi Fontana
Posted by Editor: FDBobko
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The FOGHORN
ROTARY CLUB OF HALF MOON BAY
April 27 , 2017
SHOP TALK - Rosi Fontana
Article by Bill Johnston
Photos by EJ Dieterle
This lady is incredible, awesome, inspiring, and exactly the woman that I want as a role model for my daughters and granddaughters. Her theme was "life is a journey".
Rosi was born in San Antonio to parents who had immigrated from Mexico. At the age of two the family moved her to East Los Angeles where she was raised. Her father was only educated through fifth grade and he worked a series of sales jobs and and he was a heavy smoker and drinker. He served in the Navy during World War II and barely survived a kamikazi attack. Subsequent to his service he received a letter from the Navy which read as follows: dear Mr. Garcia, I have addressed this letter to reach you after all the formalities of your separation from active service are completed. I've done so because without formality but as clearly as I know how to say it, I want the navy's pride in you, which it is my privilege to express, to reach into your civil life and to remain with you always. You have served in the greatest navy in the world. It crushed two enemy fleets at once, receiving their surrender only four months apart. It brought our land based air power within bombing range of the enemy and set our ground Armies on the beach heads up for final victory. It performed a multitude of tasks necessary to support these military operations. No other Navy at any time has done so much. For your part in these achievements you deserve to be proud as long as you live. The nation with you served at a time of crisis will remember you with gratitude. The best wishes of the Navy go with you in your civilian life. Good luck! Sincerely yours, James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy.
Rosi was born in San Antonio to parents who had immigrated from Mexico. At the age of two the family moved her to East Los Angeles where she was raised. Her father was only educated through fifth grade and he worked a series of sales jobs and and he was a heavy smoker and drinker. He served in the Navy during World War II and barely survived a kamikazi attack. Subsequent to his service he received a letter from the Navy which read as follows: dear Mr. Garcia, I have addressed this letter to reach you after all the formalities of your separation from active service are completed. I've done so because without formality but as clearly as I know how to say it, I want the navy's pride in you, which it is my privilege to express, to reach into your civil life and to remain with you always. You have served in the greatest navy in the world. It crushed two enemy fleets at once, receiving their surrender only four months apart. It brought our land based air power within bombing range of the enemy and set our ground Armies on the beach heads up for final victory. It performed a multitude of tasks necessary to support these military operations. No other Navy at any time has done so much. For your part in these achievements you deserve to be proud as long as you live. The nation with you served at a time of crisis will remember you with gratitude. The best wishes of the Navy go with you in your civilian life. Good luck! Sincerely yours, James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy.
It was apparent however that the glue that held the family together and that inspired success was mother. She did have a high school education. She was very active in the community. She raised five children and two disable the ants. Although trained as a bookkeeper, she worked as a seamstress, which explains some of the clothing in family portraits. Rosi's parents raised her and her siblings in a culture of social justice. They were Democrats, union supporters and devout Catholics.
Rosi was the third of five children. She survived 16 years of Catholic education. In 1962 the Catholic Church purchased their ramshackle home and her parents moved into their dream home, also in East Los Angeles, but in a much nicer neighborhood. Rosi followed her sister from Catholic high school to Immaculate Heart College. The nuns continued her exposure to the quest for social justice. She was a Spanish major and, upon graduation, achieved a teaching credential. In 1962 she met Chuck and she did not date anyone else until they were married in 1965 on the day of the Watts riots. While in college she joined a sorority, Chi Lambda Tau, and her nickname there was "Tipsy Rose Lee", Although she neither drank nor stripped. After graduation she achieved a teaching position with the Los Angeles unified school district teaching sixth-grade. Chuck work part time as a lab assistant at the Los Angeles county jail while finishing his degree. They played Vatican roulette to the tune of three children, Chuck, Laura and Matt, who went on to matriculate respectively from Princeton, Stanford and Harvard. Those children are now lawyer, banker and doctor and they have given Chuck and Rosie six grandchildren.
After 16 years of teaching, the family moved from Southern California to the bay area. Rosi pursued a PhD at Stanford and Chuck took a job in Sunnyvale. Rosi was able to finish her PhD in four years. While she was working on her PhD her mother came to visit and they took her out to Half Moon Bay. Her mother's observation was that this would be "a wonderful place to grow old in". How prescient. Sadly, Chuck passed away in 2014.
For almost 20 years now Rosi has been self-employed as a bilingual qualitative researcher conducting ethnographies, focus groups and interviews for a wide variety of clients.
In keeping with her theme that "life is a journey", Rosi's next journey involves an oceanic cruise that will include Lisbon, Spain, France, and Italy with her close friend Dr. Harold Robert Novotny.
Everyone present was delighted with this opportunity to learn more about our dear friend Rosi Fontana.
Rosi was the third of five children. She survived 16 years of Catholic education. In 1962 the Catholic Church purchased their ramshackle home and her parents moved into their dream home, also in East Los Angeles, but in a much nicer neighborhood. Rosi followed her sister from Catholic high school to Immaculate Heart College. The nuns continued her exposure to the quest for social justice. She was a Spanish major and, upon graduation, achieved a teaching credential. In 1962 she met Chuck and she did not date anyone else until they were married in 1965 on the day of the Watts riots. While in college she joined a sorority, Chi Lambda Tau, and her nickname there was "Tipsy Rose Lee", Although she neither drank nor stripped. After graduation she achieved a teaching position with the Los Angeles unified school district teaching sixth-grade. Chuck work part time as a lab assistant at the Los Angeles county jail while finishing his degree. They played Vatican roulette to the tune of three children, Chuck, Laura and Matt, who went on to matriculate respectively from Princeton, Stanford and Harvard. Those children are now lawyer, banker and doctor and they have given Chuck and Rosie six grandchildren.
After 16 years of teaching, the family moved from Southern California to the bay area. Rosi pursued a PhD at Stanford and Chuck took a job in Sunnyvale. Rosi was able to finish her PhD in four years. While she was working on her PhD her mother came to visit and they took her out to Half Moon Bay. Her mother's observation was that this would be "a wonderful place to grow old in". How prescient. Sadly, Chuck passed away in 2014.
For almost 20 years now Rosi has been self-employed as a bilingual qualitative researcher conducting ethnographies, focus groups and interviews for a wide variety of clients.
In keeping with her theme that "life is a journey", Rosi's next journey involves an oceanic cruise that will include Lisbon, Spain, France, and Italy with her close friend Dr. Harold Robert Novotny.
Everyone present was delighted with this opportunity to learn more about our dear friend Rosi Fontana.
UPDATE ON RELAY FOR LIFE
Rusty introduced the representative from the American Cancer Society.
April 27, 2017 Meeting Recap
Article by Dwight Wilson
Photos by EJ Dieterle
Call to Order – Pres. Liz Schuck started off with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Visitors and Guests
Happy/Not So Happy News
Liz read several thank you letters from students at the various elementary schools that received our dictionaries. One letter said, “You Rock!” Paul Wrubel led a cheer when he presented his dictionaries. Everyone that were involved with the dictionary distribution really came back energized. A big thank you to Rusty for organizing.
Renee Lewis celebrated her father’s last radiation and chemotherapy treatments for his cancer.
Rosi Fontana has been working with a client who received a major grant which she had a 4% of receiving.
Joe Brennan presented us a check from the Oddfellows for payment for lunch.
Mitone Griffiths was at RYLA (Rotary Youth) weekend camp where there were over 120 kids at. It was a great event as Mitone lead the Shelter Box session of the camp. She strongly recommends members participate in the camp so more kids can attend.
Charise McHugh was watching the filming of a movie her son is directing, and found herself in a minor part as Max Gale’s wife. It was a great experience.
John Evans pick up our students from RYLA camp and they are now off to Yosemite Park. He announced we have two students coming to us next year.
Bill Johnston talked about his 91 year old aunt who performed in the circus up into her 60’s. His aunt will be moving to live with him in the near future.
Ginger Minoletti is off to Africa next week with Paul.
Robin Jeffs is celebrating his one year anniversary from being out of the hospital. He gave our local foundation a $100 check.
Irwin Cohen mentioned that our presenter next week is 96 years old and will be talking about his Los Alamos experience.
Announcements
Liz read a very nice thank you letter from their Executive Director Amy from HEAL.
Liz read an appreciation letter from Tom Ogden (the comedian at Magic).
Liz read an appreciation letter from the spouse of Greg Miller (Linda) for hosting a memorial get together. She sent a joke from Greg as well.
Kevin O’Brien talked about all the good work that comes from the International Rotary Foundation which includes: mosquito netting; water sanitation; education; and other related projects. Kevin is off to Hawaii next week.
District Conference is on May 5, 6, and 7 and all Rotarians are urged to go.
Pilarcitos High School Awards by Principle Rajan Bechar
Jennifer Aquilar for Greatest Citizenship
Edgar Alvarez for Highest Attendance
The two students were there with their fathers and received a warm reception
THIS DAY IN HISTORY by Liz
Polio vaccine testing began in 1954
The play Hair began on Broadway in 1968
The record album Liz debut in 1968
NO LUCK AGAIN TODAY! GREEN AGAINCOMING EVENTS AND SPEAKERS
MAY
May 11 Mushroom Farming - Bill Cook
May 18 Shop Talk: Eric Shapira
May 25 Shop Talks: John Evans & Ed Daniels
JUNE
Jun 1 Speaker: Paula Hammack
Jun 8 Speaker: Ursula Schnyder, owner of Sweet55 who will be speaking on her passion for chocolate and how she came to Half Moon Bay and opened her dream business!
Jun 15 HEAL...Rotary Foundation Funded NEW Classroom OPEN HOUSE
Jun 22 Speaker: Caroline Gossart/Exchange Student
Jun 29 DEBUNKING LIZ
PHOTO GALLERY