Page 34 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2017

Geyserville won’t be quite the same in the early mornings. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Francis James “Jimbo” Teresinski who used to stroll down Geyserville Avenue accompanied by his elderly rescue dog, Sumo. Jim served as a volunteer here at Isis
“Youth is the gift of nature. . .age is a work of art.” Stanislaw Jerry Lec
Katelynn (“Katie”) Edwards, one of Cloverdale High School’s outstanding seniors, has been selected by Children’s Humanitarian International (CHI) to join 17 other Sonoma County students for a “Summer Abroad” in Africa where she’ll study and work at CHI’s Academy, which provides 300 underprivileged children access to a comprehensive education.
Oasis Sanctuary for at least 30 years in several segments, keeping the grounds, pool, hot tubs and buildings going, tending to the exotic cats, and often manning the kitchen where he would often single-handedly turn out meals
for thirty or forty or more people without batting an eyelash. His cheerful presence and great chuckle was very welcome and he was always ready to lend a hand wherever it was needed.
During five weeks just outside of Nairobi, Katie will not only study
Kenya’s history, culture and agricultural economy, she’ll also learn Swahili.
Her afternoons will be devoted to work on projects, including building classrooms, maintaining gardens and teaching the children. Katie will also have opportunities to take part in a range of field trips, from hiking Mt. Kenya to visiting local museums to a safari in Maasai Mara National Reserve!
Jim was born in Japan in 1950 to a U.S. serviceman father and Japanese mother. They moved in 1952 to the United States, where his brothers and sisters were born. Fearing that his health was declining in the last couple of years, he was urged by many to seek medical care but he put it o as he did not have insurance and decided to wait until he would get Social Security.
At 65, he discovered he did not qualify because his parents did not file a necessary piece of paper called the Consular Report of Foreign Birth for Jim, launching a fruitless year and a half quest to remedy this lack of original paperwork. He eventually engaged a lawyer but his health situation had caught up with him in the meantime. When he finally went to the emergency room, he was diagnosed with inoperable Stage 4 lung cancer. He quickly dismissed the idea of treatment as even with radiation and chemotherapy, they gave him only a 1-5 chance of living a year. He faced the diagnosis calmly, saying that “I’m ready to go, but I’m also open to a miracle.” From
his spiritual studies, he was a firm believer in reincarnation and chatted with visitors on the subject of what he might be able to come back as. Perhaps he had an inkling because he asked our volunteer Haley Murphy to take a series of portraits of him and his dog Sumo last June, one of which is shown here. This was unusual as Jim never put himself forward for special attention, but we are so very glad to have such wonderful images of him now.
Not only will Katie learn in new ways, practice new skills, and build her resume, as CHI points out, she will also gain very personal lessons in “cross- cultural understanding and friendships”.
On returning from the hospital, he entered immediately into at-home hospice care, and passed away here at Isis Oasis Sanctuary during the early hours of the morning on Thursday, February 23rd. His last day was an exceptionally upbeat and happy one where Jim seemed more like his usual self and we hoped for more such days to follow. Sadly, this was not to be. He is survived by his son Jorma, daughter Shaleen, sisters Christie and Judy, brothers Joe and Alfred, his mother, Kimiko Teed, and several grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many friends. We give thanks and blessings here
for the many volunteers and friends who assisted and visited here in these last weeks and for the loving support of his family. Services were held in the church at Isis Oasis Sanctuary with music provided by his friend Cowboy Kent, and another observance will be o ered during our annual Symposium the weekend of May 4th-7th.
And...The Art of Aging! With the help of a very committed woman, Jani Sheppard (that’s “Janie” without the “e”!), the new Director of the Cloverdale Senior Community Center (CSCC), this truly valuable, enduring, aging- focused “work of art” keeps moving forward.
Foodie Moment of the Month
Jani brings her holistic approach to the CSCC, working to access a wide scope of resources while reaching out positively to seniors and families across Cloverdale’s diverse communities so as to draw upon everyone’s myriad strengths, experiences and potential contributions. She encourages everyone to join in and share their opinions, suggestions, concerns and expectations and believes that the variety of voices are “the heart and soul” of the CSCC and a “critical resource” in moving forward.
On lighter subjects, the “Foodie Moment of the Month” this time definitely goes to Catelli’s, where I was lucky enough to order an o -menu lunchtime special – a delicious roast beef sandwich with a sumptuous marsala mushroom dipping sauce. If you were as devastated as I was by the recent removal of the fabulous French Dip Sandwich from Cousteau’s menu in Healdsburg, Catelli’s has graciously stepped in to fill the gap. And yes, I’m mentioning it now because I am fervently hoping that it might become a regular menu item here. Help me out and go and ask for it!
If you have any Geyserville news to share!...write to me at the email above.
34 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 4/17
Every week the CSCC’s many varied activities help members make and maintain rewarding personal connections, learn or refresh skills, use their talents and experience, find their voice, eat a great meal, or just have fun. Examples from last month included: a Dinner and Cultural Share where folks brought a special treasure that might help others learn about the beauty of their culture followed by a Sitar Concert (if you’re of the right age, you’ll remember the Sitar from our Beatles days–Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!); the lively, informative TED Talks Discussion Group; low-cost “salon” haircuts; a day of Birthday Celebrations; yoga class; Enneagram (personality types) exploration; line dancing, and much, much more than we can list here. CSCC: 894-4826; cloverdaleseniorcenter.com.
And another potential “foodie moment of the month” is coming on Sunday, April 2nd when the Oriental Community Hall at 1000 Highway 128 – just past the bridge over the Russian River as you go east on 128 from downtown Geyserville – holds its annual fundraising breakfast of biscuits and gravy. Proceeds will benefit the Geyserville Scholarship Fund for graduating seniors and will contribute to maintenance and upkeep of the hall itself. Advance tickets are $9 for adults and $4 for kids, or $10 and $5 for day-of ticket purchases. Breakfast includes biscuits and gravy, eggs, fruit salad, co ee and orange juice. More “adult beverages” such as mimosas, bloody marys and gin fizzes are available at extra cost.
FYI: Library Update & Invitation! As you know, the Cloverdale Library re-opened just before Christmas with a bright, fresh new look while passage
of Measure Y also enabled extending its hours for the first time in six years. Scheduled to be open Mondays beginning in April, due to the enormous hiring and training process required by the entire county system, it’s been postponed until May 1st. To receive our community’s input, Cloverdale Library is holding a special Community Conversation to discuss the potential of 14 additional hours. We need to hear from you! Please join us in the Library Forum Room, 401 No. Cloverdale Blvd., April 12th at 6:30 p.m.
So, This Month We Focus On The Gift of Youth
Katie’s intelligence, maturity and awareness of the significance and responsibilities of being a participant in this extraordinary five weeks in Kenya are truly impressive. She’s completed all the steps necessary to embark on this adventure, including getting her shots.
All that stands between Katie and 5 weeks in Kenya is raising the approximately $1,000 balance (as of this writing) to pay her $5,400 Program Fee. A fundraising drive is now in progress. In addition to Katie’s two $1,000 scholarships (provided by CHI and Sup. James Gore), individual donations ranging from $11.47 to $2000 are all helping to ensure Katie gets to her special summer in Kenya. Hope you can help, too! See Katie’s donor page at: donate. childrensinternational.org/fundraiser/907888.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jani earned her psychology degree from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. She launched a successful career encompassing organizational development and consulting including, most recently, ten years in Hawaii’s second largest island, Maui. There she helped build the island’s human services incorporating critical programs such as early childhood education, family services and child abuse prevention and connecting them state-wide. In the process, she was among those helping to reduce a sense of isolation and give indigenous people a voice.