Page 42 - Sonoma County gazette September 2018

Most of you know that Suzi Schaffert, former co-owner with her husband Don, of Don’s Dogs and the Rio Theater, passed away last month from pancreatic cancer at the age of 63. A wake was held August 25th at the amphitheater.
September is upon us: WOW! Its back to school cutting Summertime fun short for all the kids! Guess I got lucky when I was attending school because we had three full months of summer. I believe kids should go back to school after the Labor Day holiday. By the way, the official last day of Summer is September 22nd. Rio Nido is still bustling with Vacationers all over the Canyons, many of which have decided to call Rio Nido home.
It’s a great place to be! Indian Summer is fast approaching. And then there’s fall, my absolute favorite season of all.
The Last Hoorah: Well its been an eventful summer with all the family friendly summer events the Rio Nido Homeowners Association has put on this past summer. The Labor Day picnic is the last of the season! I’m sure it will be packed and well attended. Pee Wee Mini Golf will be shutting its doors after the holiday till next Summer. A big thanks for making this summer fun for everyone goes to Doug Misner, Beverly Bird Misner, John Calonico and the other members and volunteers who donated their time to make these events special for all those in attendance. Rio Nido wouldn’t be the same without you. See you next summer!
Friends of Rio Nido: Why do I love the Friends of Rio Nido? Because they are awesome. What were they doing you may ask? They went door to door canvassing all around Rio Nido passing out “the little book of the know” (about Rio Nido), a membership form and a magnet for everyone’s refrigerator with important phone numbers for Sheriff’s, CHP and many others. This is not only thoughtful but extremely useful. Thanks FRN! www.friendsofrionido.com.
Longtime Resident: John Uniack, long time resident and past president
of “The Friends of Rio Nido” celebrated his 81st Birthday on Saturday, August 25th. A party with a great turnout was held at Casa Larry & Elena’s at El Sierra Vista on Canyon 7. A beautiful afternoon spent with good friends, food and libations. Happiest of Birthdays John!
Rio Nido Lodge Coffee Shop: The Lodge Coffee Shop is having its grand opening on Saturday, Sept.1st.....come on down for some specialty coffees, good pastries, salads and sandwiches. 8am-2pm. See ya then!
Rio Nido Pet of the Month: Dufresne pronounced DOO-FRANE is an Australian Shepard and Poodle mix. He just celebrated his first Birthday. This spunky little pup
is the friendliest pup in the yard weighing in at a mere 35 pounds. He loves dogs of
all sizes and is always the first to meet and greet, whether it be a Jack Russel or a Great Dane -.he is game. Dufresne loves sticks and balls and stealing socks, so don’t leave them pool side at the Roadhouse or you may see
a gray flash out of the corner of your eye dashing around the yard with your sock hanging out of his mouth. Dufresne is often sited at the RNR due to the fact he is the Owner’s dog and favorite mascot. So, feel free to say hello anytime. He will snuggle you and give you a high five and probably leave you a kiss or two or three.
Suzi also wrote the Monte Rio Musings column for several years. In her column dated 8/13/09 she wrote: “Here I sit, rushing with writing my column, which of course is
late. By the time you
read this most of the
kids will be back in
school and summer
will be winding
down as we get
prepared for fall,
which is my most
favorite time of the year.”
She thanked the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and the Russian River Redevelopment Agency for the $144,000.00 grant that Monte Rio Recreation & Parks just got awarded to repair and rebuild the tennis courts.
She always mentioned birthdays and anniversaries in her column. In this column she wrote, “Suzi Schaffert entering senior citizenship, 55, on Aug 25, and on Sept 23, hard to believe but Don and I will celebrate our 30 years together!”
Suzi served on the Monte Rio Recreation and Park District Board for ten years (until 2012), half of the time as Chair. Her community work was also instrumental in getting Monte Rio a renovated Community Center. I believe Monte Rio obtained most of the Russian River Redevelopment funds, beating out other hamlets, due to her efforts.
In 1949, Sid Bartlett, a Monte Rio merchant, bought a surplus Quonset hut from the U.S. Navy and began converting it into a movie theater. Suzi and Don owned the Rio Theater for over 20 years from 1993 to 2014.
Owning that old theater and working there day in and day out for over 20 years? You have to admire that work ethic and that passion. Taking the ticket money at the booth, serving the food, passing out the blankets, then running the reels starting with the old travel videos of their trips to Mexico, before the feature presentation began.
One day I was coming home from work and heading to the Village Inn for a birthday dinner with my husband Patrick. I turn the corner to approach the bridge and see Happy 50th Birthday Chuck on the marquee. Patrick had arranged neighbors and even co-workers from Santa Rosa to be at my party. Where else can an event like this be something you will never forget?
Suzi and Don were part of the small town magic that brought Patrick and me to Monte Rio.
I also read an article that after paying too much for a coffin for a relative that had passed and was cremated, Suzi decided to buy one of Broderson’s pine box coffins when she was 43. She kept the coffin in her Villa Grande living room and used it as a coffee table and storage box. She figured the coffin would be used for a long time, and she decided to plan ahead. Like she always did.
Happy travels Suzi. Thank you for enriching my life, and our little hamlet, in more ways than you could ever know.
42 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 9/18