I moved to Arcadia when I was in first grade and attended Arcadia schools. I was then off to UCLA for both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Public Health Nutrition and, although retired, I am still a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. I worked for the Women, Infants and Children Program – WIC – for 44 years and loved every minute of educating families on the importance of raising their families with good nutrition. I love to garden, sew, walk and embroider using my embroidery machine that I bought myself when I retired. I have an incredibly patient husband, three daughters, three sons-in-law, two energetic granddaughters and a grandson on the way.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your origin story. Share a little about your childhood and your family.
My grandparents on my mom’s side immigrated from Italy, and I am proud to be half Italian! My husband and I moved to Monrovia forty years ago and raised our family of three daughters here. They all attended Monrovia schools, went off to college, and returned here to raise their children and puppies.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I am a Master Gardener, a Master Composter, and a Certified CA Naturalist. I love volunteering with the Monrovia Community Garden and Food ED. The community of gardeners and people working to make this earth a better place are my inspiration.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Diplomat, Las Marias and Sena
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community? Tell us about your favorite memory or experience living in Monrovia.
One of my favorite memories was helping to form the Monrovia Old House Preservation Group many, many years ago!
Q: None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person you’ve met here in our community who helped you get to where you are or inspired you?
Giangelo Leos…he is one of the smartest people I know. He has taught me so much about gardening, plants and bugs!
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I love staying close to home…so I would have to say going wine tasting in the Central Coast of California. It helps ground me.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies of all time? Do you have a favorite TV show or shows?
I don’t go to movies, although my husband goes to Look at least once a week. But looking back, I would have to say White Christmas. My favorite TV show is anything on HGTV.
Q: What advice would you give to people? Do you have a Life Lesson quote?
Make a genuine effort to help someone every single day.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Nothing. My bucket is overflowing already.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what music to listen to?
The acapella group, Pentatonix. I can close my eyes and be anywhere.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
McBratney’s. I used to get fabric there to sew my own clothes.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Any good cookbook author. And I would let them choose where to eat.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Monrovia or something unique about our community that you like?
I love how I can walk my 10,000 steps every morning and everyone I pass says HI!
Q: Sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you’ve ever made?
My dad thought it was a HUGE mistake that we bought an old house in Monrovia that needed so much work. But it definitely was not a mistake.
Q: Even for friends or family, what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I wish I was an artist.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Big Sur
Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My family…oh and the Zucchini Cookbook I wrote forty years ago.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Composting
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
Myself
Q: If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be?
Recycle, reuse, restore, reduce, recover.
Q: Finally, what three character traits come to mind when you think of your success in life?
Humor, reliability, giving,
