Page 3 - NBY News October 2020
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Senior in Action: Cathy Saldin Lived Out Her Childhood Dream
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Cathy Saldin
Lived Out Her Childhood Dream
Cathy Saldin
Cathy Saldin
Lived Out Her Childhood Dream
Cathy Saldin
Lived Out Her Childhood Dream
Lived Out Her Childhood Dream
Spotlight on Cathy Saldin as told to When COVID-19 quarantines began, I
Marilee Marrero Stefenhagen started sewing again and crafted over 50
face coverings for family, friends and
Question: Where did you grow up, and neighbors. The pandemic put an end to
what were the early influences that shaped several of my previous volunteer
your personality? activities. I volunteered as a dog-walker
“I was born at St. Francis Hospital in for WAGS Pet Adoption in Westminster
Lynwood in 1952. My mother purchased a for a year before the coronavirus
home in Huntington Park before she married restrictions. I also volunteered at “The
my father. For the first three years of my Source,” outreach to homeless persons at
life, I was sick with asthma. My parents had Norwalk Library and East LA Library. For
to find a hotter, drier climate for me, so we years, I helped raise funds for Friends of Celestine, Cathy, Vivian: Above
moved to San Gabriel. My older brother, the Lakewood Libraries at “Taste of Clyde, Cathy: Below
my 3 younger sisters and I attended San Lakewood” events and book sales, and
Gabriel Mission Elementary School and San fundraised for Friends of the Norwalk
Gabriel Mission High School Mother sent Libraries at “Night of 1000 Stars” and
us to summer school every year to keep us book sales. My party-planning and Cathy Saldin, 68
out of her hair. I recall one of the teachers fundraising skills have become well-
required an essay: “What I want to be when I developed and successful thanks to these Kauai Waterfall Below
grow up” which forced me to think about ventures.
my future career. I loved spending time with The reason I wanted to retire was to
children, and I loved reading books, so I help care for my grandnieces Celestine
decided to be a Children’s Librarian. Sister and Vivian, and grandnephews Miles and
Anita was my mentor. She allowed me to sit Clyde. My niece Elizabeth and I went on
at her desk overseeing the school library movie dates before the pandemic closed
during her lunch break. On Sundays I down the theaters. She’s a fan of
practiced my storytelling skills with the superheroes, and loves drawing and art.
preschoolers at San Gabriel Mission. After Cooking is my hobby, and my goulash
graduation, I stayed in southern California meatballs are a family favorite. Since my
and earned my Bachelor’s degree in American parents are both deceased, my siblings
Studies & English from Cal State LA, then prefer to gather for holidays at my home
my Master’s in Library Science degree from in Stanton. This arrangement gives me
USC. My first school librarian position was the chance to see my wonderful Regional Rood Bank at (323) 234-3030
at St. Genevieve High School in Panorama grandnieces and grandnephews, so I to ask what is needed. See page 5 for more
City before I returned to San Gabriel Mission always agree, as long as they chip in for on the benefits of waterfalls.
School as their School Librarian. But my groceries. OK, NBY readers! Here’s your
long-term career was with LA County Public Now that I spend more time at home, challenge. Tell us how you are being
Library, where I worked for 37 years as. a my front and back patio gardens receive creative during this pandemic! Are you
Children’s Librarian, Library Manager, and plenty of attention. I landscaped both trying new recipes and sharing your
Fiction Evaluator.” gardens to attract hummingbirds for my cooking? Scrapbooking, or writing
cats’ entertainment. My four rescue cats your memoir? Building playhouses in
Question: How do you stay active in are Mirrielle, Pansy, Little G, and George. the backyard for the grandkids? We
retirement, Cathy? The cats enjoy my freshwater tropical fish want to hear your story. Submit c/o
“Because of COVID-19 restrictions, I spend tank and are amusing company.” nbynews@juno.com or mail to Not Born
a great deal of time reading novels. I can’t Question: Do you like to travel, or are Yesterday! P.O. Box 722, Brea, CA 92822
always obtain the physical book, so I’ve you an armchair traveler?
begun borrowing E-books. I won an Amazon “I celebrated my retirement by
Kindle Fire at the American Bookseller’s visiting the Big Island of Hawaii, and
BOOK EXPO, so I read on the tablet or on my Kauai. I snorkeled, took helicopter
mobile phone. My favorite genres are tours of both islands, and enjoyed
mystery, paranormal fantasy, and romantic sightseeing at the beautiful beaches,
suspense. waterfalls and botanic gardens. As a
Recently, I started working on my family’s single person, it’s challenging to save
Scandinavian genealogy. Using my library for travel, so I appreciated the
research skills, I’ve been able to find some opportunity to visit numerous cities
unique information which my family hadn’t while attending library conventions. “
discovered. For example, my family’s name During this pandemic, many families
used to be spelled Salldin with two L’s. I and pets face homelessness or hunger.
used familysearch.org, an online resource Check with your local animal shelter
developed by Church of Jesus Christ of for information on donating dog or cat
Latter-Day Saints, to research both sides of food, or go online to https://
my family. A friend asked me to help wagspetadoption.org. Check with your
document her family’s genealogy, and I local food pantry, go online to
discovered that we share an English cousin www.lafoodbank.org or phone LA How Will You Keep Holidays Safe?
ten generations back!
October 2020 3