Page 3 - NBY NEWS March 2020

Senior in Action:
Senior in Action: Marty Bunch
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Marty Bunch
Marty Bunch
Marty Bunch
Marty Bunch
by Marilee Marrero Stefenhagen she met from drawing. Besides the home churches all over the world, illustrates
books, and paints portraits. “That’s how
Marty Bunch, age 78, loved making “art” furnishings (including a washer and
as a toddler. Her school principal thought dryer!) in the contest prize package, I keep my mind active. I had to learn some
coding, a foreign language to me and how to
her drawings in kindergarten were Marty earned a cameo spot on the build a new app from scratch. I’m well-
extraordinary, and her parents often Captain Jet show. The actor Dallas versed in Photoshop, Illustrator, and
terrified her by asking that she draw McKinnon who played Captain Jet InDesign. It’s a glorious time to be alive as a
pictures on the spur of the moment. Marty championed Marty’s artistic talent at Senior. The capabilities of technology are
drew portraits of her favorite movie and Disney studios, earning her the incredible. I taught art to all six of my
TV stars to mail to them. She and her opportunity to be an Honorary grandchildren, and my granddaughter
family were often invited on the TV or Mouseketeer. Disney offered Marty a free Kassandra recently shared her art portfolio
movie sets to meet the idols. Marty college education if she would agree to with me via Facetime from her smartphone to
treasures the thank you letter she received work for Walt Disney Studios for five my tablet. It was magic!”
on official royal stationary from Queen years after graduation. Marty continued, “Four years ago, I had
Elizabeth after she sent her a drawing. By this time, Marty was in love with a pulmonary embolism which almost killed
Marty continued, “When I was 12 years her future husband, Ray Bunch, who said, me. Ray does all the cooking now. He’s
old, Vice President Richard M. Nixon was “No wife of mine will ever work.” Against her taken over the household chores. If I focus
speaking at an elementary school in Artesia, parents’ wishes, Marty turned down the happily for me, my portfolio was chosen.” Marty on what I CAN’T do, it’s dangerous. I focus
and classes were bused in from area schools. I Disney scholarship and became Mrs. graduated in the top 5% of her class. on what I CAN do. My husband and I walk
grew bored listening to the speeches, so I Bunch. She raised two sons, Karl and In 1987, her daughter-in-law Ingrid every night, seven days a week. I use a
started to draw Nixon. Two Secret Service Kristopher. Marty reminisced, “I was dragged her to LA and insisted that Marty walker, and we listen to bloody mystery
men pulled me from the bleachers. On national terrified to draw when my children were file all the documents to start her own stories in our headphones, which keeps my
television, they showed my drawing to Nixon growing up, as I feared some accident might business. Marty has managed her graphic mind off the pain. I maintain a membership
and he signed it, then returned it to me. My happen if I became too engrossed in my art. I arts business for 30 years and counting. She at Curves. The strength training machines
presidential portrait and I were featured on didn’t return to drawing until age 30, when a has taken on fascinating projects, working are gentle enough, for me. My friends at
Walter Cronkite’s news program that evening. counselor at Cerritos College encouraged me to for many artists and designing websites. Curves call me the ‘purple lady.’ Why
My father was SO proud!” enroll. After my Associates Degree, I Currently, she and her husband produce a purple? Jenny Joseph’s poem, Warning,
Next, Marty won a Captain Jet cartoon transferred to CSU Long Beach on a one-year digital monthly magazine for Centers for
contest with her essay: I Want To Be An scholarship. There were 1200 applicants Spiritual Living, headquartered in Golden, written in 1921 includes the famous line,
Artist When I Grow Up citing all the people vying for 8 art department openings and CO. Marty does graphic artwork for CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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