Page 23 - SD Woman Glace Ziperovich Issue

Café for 13 years, until they decided to Beverly Stavron is another one of our get into a routine of going there twice a
relocate. It was at that point that Gail favorite servers. Beverly was the employ- week. I felt better and soon built up the
decided that it was time for a change. She ee with the longest tenure at the club. “I nerve to even try playing tennis. Well,
came upon an advertisement for a server started working here in 1995, so this is not sure that is the right term. I attempt-
at El Camino and was called in for an in- my 27th year as a server here and I am ed to hit the ball as it came toward me. A
terview. She was surprised to see a former still happy to come to work every day.” funny thing started to happen, I actually
customer of hers from Bobby’s and when This is so evident whenever she waits on started getting a little better at it and that
she heard that she was interviewing she you, she is so pleasant and it is obvious made me want to do it more. There are
went directly to Mike Vyncke, the Food that she loves people. two tennis pros at the club, so I was even
and Beverage Director and told him that One of the things that Beverly has enticed to take a lesson and John Topper,
he had to hire her, apparently her reputa- loved over the years is seeing families one of the two pros, suffered through it
tion as a superb server preceded her. grow here. “ I have seen several genera- with me. Luckily, he is an extremely pa-
When Gail’s husband suddenly tions of families come through the doors. tient man and managed to teach me the
passed away, she was devastated and I have watched these little kids coming basics so I could get to the point where I
knew she had to do something to occupy with their parents, I have served at their would be able to walk on the court with-
herself, so she decided to go back to birthday parties, worked their wedding out breaking into a cold sweat.
school to become a veterinary assistant. showers, watched them walk down the
Not being limited to morning work aisle at their weddings, and served them
hours, as she was at Bobby’s, gave her at their baby showers.” Beverly admits
more flexibility so she could work eve- that the members are more like family
nings while going to school. Gail com- than customers. Though she now only
pleted her training and began working works part-time she holds her own with
part-time for a local mobile veterinarian, the young ladies who work alongside her. Photo Courtesy of Laura Condon-Eyler
a job she truly loves. She has a love of It is obvious that she loves what she does
animals and enjoyed being around them. and that the members all love her as well.
She especially has a great love of cats and “No one is pretentious here; they treat
decided she needed some companion- everyone with the same level of respect
ship. Before she knew it, she was adding and love!” I asked how much longer she
more cats to her family and today lives planned on working and she responded,
happily with her 7 beautiful cats. “As long as I can!”
I asked Gail about El Camino Coun- This definitely proves what a great
try Club. I asked her to tell me honestly club this is. I guess it is not just me who
what she loved about her job and what is so happy to have found this home away
was not so great. Her response was, from home. Laura Condon-Eyler
“There are no negatives to my job at the Aside from the social aspect of El
club. I love everything about it. I partic- Camino Country Club, there is probably I have to report that I have now
ularly love my co-workers. We all work the main reason most people decide to become a weekly player and am loving the
together so well. Everyone looks out for join a club. They want a place to play game. I took some time to sit down with
each other and are like family. I also love golf, or tennis, or swim and work out Head Tennis Pro Laura Condon-Eyler
seeing the members. It is great getting to among friends. I must admit I am not the to ask her about her time at El Camino
know everyone and it is so much nicer to athletic type so although the pool and Country Club and I found out some really
work in a setting where the same people gym were a great enticement, I wasn’t interesting facts about her and the club.
frequent the restaurant, and we really sure how much of the athletic end of this I must admit, being a tennis pro has to
get to know all of them. I think one of club would become my favorite place be one of the coolest jobs. Sure, there are
my co-workers said it best. When you to embark upon. When our neighbor some downsides, like players like me, and
work in an environment like this your suggested that we try playing tennis, a the constant need for SPF 50 sunscreen
customers are here to have fun. They will nervous laugh erupted from my lips. I to brave the San Diego sun, but all in all I
come into the restaurant after they played knew that the last time I played was in think it is probably up there as one of the
a game of golf or tennis. They are happy college and even then, I wasn’t very good. best professions. The title doesn’t come
and doing what they love so we are met My interests never leaned towards sports. easy though. Most pros have been on the
every day by happy smiling members.” I would watch them but play them….no professional tennis circuit and spent most
The consistent theme continues on not for me. I tried golf before but found of their lives working long grueling hours
and as a member, I can tell you they are the best part of my golf game was driving to stay competitive and remain on the
not exaggerating or saying what they the golf cart, and if I am honest, I wasn’t circuit.
think their employer wants to hear…they even very good at that. Since I had never had the pleasure to
mean it. Many people may find it hard to I realized that working out in the interview a tennis pro, I was excited to sit
believe but they simply love their job. gym would be my first step and I did down with Laura. “I come from a tennis

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