Corky Mau, Author at ACC Senior Services

Illa Collin, A Treasure Among Us

By Corky Mau

It was a cold, grey day when I sat down to talk to Karen Weisner and Barbara Breisemeister, Illa Collin’s daughters. Illa, a former Sacramento County Supervisor, lived at ACC Care Center for several years and recently moved into the skilled nursing “Green Zone” at ACC Maple Tree Village.

Illa was elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, representing District 2, in 1978. During her 28-year tenure, Illa championed the preservation of Sacramento County’s open space lands. She helped create the Sacramento Tree Foundation and the American River Parkway Foundation. She was instrumental in getting Sacramento’s light rail system established. Former colleagues, including Congresswoman Doris Matsui, describe Illa as “one of Sacramento’s most distinguished citizens and an extraordinary woman.”

Illa had a great working relationship with ACC’s then President, Chewy Ito. Recalls ACC former Board Chair Winston Ashizawa, “Illa helped clear the way for ACC to use Bingo as a fundraising method. She was deeply interested in the Asian community and always found time to attend ACC fundraisers and other events. It’s just amazing how her friendship with Chewy has come full circle, as both are now residents at ACC Maple Tree Village!”

Illa retired in 2007, but stayed busy with other personal projects, such as volunteering with Rebuilding Together (a nonprofit that helps low-income homeowners with necessary repairs). Her dedication to the Sacramento community is evident as several sites in the region bear her name: the Illa Collin Preserve (Mather Field), Illa Collin Early Learning Center (a Head Start school), and the Illa Collin Park in South Sacramento.

Illa Collin was born January 24, 1932, in Rock Springs, Wyoming. After her father passed away in a mining accident, her mother moved the family to Portland, Oregon. She attended the University of Oregon, where she met her husband, Don. “My mother must have been really smitten, because she broke off her engagement to another fellow, to pursue Dad,” said Karen.

Illa and Don’s wedding on July 12, 1957. They have been married for 63 years.

After graduation, Illa taught school in Portland. Even though Don was involved with the Young Republicans and Illa was a staunch Democrat, theirs is a lifelong love story. They got married on July 12, 1957, in Portland. After their honeymoon, the couple moved to California. Don attended law school at Cal Berkeley, and Illa taught school in Piedmont. They raised their three young daughters (Karen, Anne, and Barbara) in Berkeley, Oakland and El Sobrante before settling down in Sacramento in 1968.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the family’s “fourth daughter,” Clarabelle, the family cat. Illa found Clarabelle, then a flea-ridden kitten, in a park after leaving a business meeting. The cat still holds a special place in Illa’s heart. Clarabelle lived a long (18 years), happy life with the Collin family.

It was clear from the family photo albums that Illa was the consummate community volunteer – from school PTAs, Girl Scouts, to local politics. She worked on several local political campaigns. She was active in the Women’s Movement and from 1973-1975, led the League of Women Voters in Sacramento. She strived to improve social service programs, especially to underserved areas of the county, before her stint as a County Supervisor.

Both Don and Illa had busy work and community meeting schedules. There were many times that they forgot to pick up their daughters from school. “We often tell people that we were the original latch-key kids…without the key,” said Barbara. The sisters erupted in loud laughter as they recalled, “When we got older and could walk home by ourselves, we’d wait in the garage for mom or dad to come home. Thank goodness there was a bathroom in the garage!”

Even though Illa was busy with her civic duties, she carved out time for her daughters. She planned their birthday parties and sewed all of their holiday outfits and Halloween costumes. To this day, all the Easter bonnets she made for the girls are safely stored away. Illa read to her girls most nights. Barbara recalls, “I had three favorite books. I made my mother read them to me night after night. This is my fondest memory of my mother.” Now the grandchildren have inherited these childhood books, as well as Illa’s vast collection of Beanie Babies (over 100).

In recent years, Illa has experienced health issues. But she still has her famous beaming smile, even during these challenging times when visits from family and friends are very limited. Linda Revilla, now Director of Programs at Meals on Wheels, recalls a touching story about one visit from Don Collin. In keeping with safety protocols, the couple couldn’t be in the same room or hug each other. But they lovingly “touched hands” through a window. There wasn’t a dry eye among the staff.

Today, Collin spends her days watching the NHK channel, old movies and listening to music. Illa’s favorite musicians? Gene Autry, John Denver and Johnny Cash to name a few.

Barbara adds, “She loves any black and white movie – a good whodunit or comedy. She is a MAJOR fan of Star Wars – she’s seen all the movies.” In fact, the family home has a dedicated ‘Star Wars Room’ that now houses almost 100 figurines and movie paraphernalia. Illa’s entire collection actually numbers closer to 500 pieces, but most of it is in a large storage container and several pieces are in Illa’s Maple Tree Village apartment. Last year, Illa convinced ACC to have a Star Wars Halloween party. The family loaned a lot of their collection to ACC for the event. Illa had planned to attend the party as Darth Vader. Unfortunately, she got sick and spent that night in the hospital. But the family draped the costume over Illa, so she didn’t miss out on the festivities.

Barbara insisted I drink the special green tea from Frank Fat’s – the family’s favorite restaurant – as I listened to more stories that revolved around food. Don was the chef of the family, as “Illa just didn’t seem interested in learning how to cook”. As soon as they returned from their honeymoon, he began studying Julia Child’s cookbooks. This came in handy as the couple often entertained family and business associates. But Illa had some cooking skills. Karen said, “Mom was the worst cook in the world, but she always made and decorated our birthday cakes.” Illa often whipped up family favorites like Chicken Bits & Pilaf, French Breakfast Puffs, and Chugwater Chili. Try this famous Wyoming-based recipe, which includes Illa’s secret ingredient (V8 juice):

Ingredients:

2 lbs. of lean ground beef
2 (15 ounce) cans of pinto and/or kidney beans, undrained
2 – 3 (5.5 ounce) cans of V8 juice
3 Tbl. Of Chugwater Chili Seasoning

Instructions:

Brown the ground beef, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.
Add in Chugwater Chili Seasoning; mix well.
Add in the V8 juice.
Give the mixture a good stir; now add the beans.

If you want a thicker chili, drain the beans first. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. And if you happen to run into Illa at Maple Tree Village, let her know you made her chili recipe. She’ll be thrilled and thank you with her beaming smile.

Kondos Family Donates Cache of Fine Art to ACC

As you walk through the glass doors into the lobby, you’re greeted by stunning artwork from famed San Francisco artist William Gatewood (1943-1994). Large images of kimonos and Japanese screens, enhanced by splashes of gold and silver leaf, are prominently displayed on the walls. Walk further into the building and you can take a meandering stroll along the Sacramento River Delta, courtesy of landscape paintings by legendary local artist and former Sacramento City College art professor Gregory Kondos. No, you’re not at the Crocker Art Museum. You’re visiting ACC Maple Tree Village, the newest residential community that will provide Assisted Living and Memory Care services to older adults. Located in the Pocket-Greenhaven neighborhood, Maple Tree Village will open its doors in early 2020.

I recently sat down with Moni Van Camp-Kondos, Gregory’s wife. She is also the sister of William Gatewood. Moni led the effort to permanently house a vast collection of fine art from renowned artists at Maple Tree Village. She took an active role in selecting the artists, the artwork and the specific placement of each piece. The Kondos family donated 11 limited edition and signed prints. Moni placed most of her husband’s paintings in the “Blue Jay Neighborhood,” located in the assisted living area – a most appropriate setting since the color blue is a signature feature in most of Kondos’ pieces. “Gregory is very impressed with the design of the Maple Tree Village community. He can’t stop talking about it,” says Moni. “The river has been a major part of Gregory’s life and he loves that residents will be surrounded by familiar Delta images on a daily basis.”

Gregory’s work is included in permanent collections around the world, so ACC is very appreciative of this generous donation from the Kondos family. I asked Moni why the family made such a generous donation to Maple Tree Village. “I worked with Scott Okamoto (Marketing Manager for Maple Tree) to display a few art pieces at Monroe Manor. When Scott proposed a similar, but larger project for Maple Tree Village, I was very excited to make this happen. It’s a great venue to show off all of this wonderful art.”

I recently went on a walking tour of Maple Tree Village with Scott. His pride about the modern, yet functional facility was evident as we walked and talked. The community is thoughtfully designed and built around a “person-centered program” philosophy. There are 72 apartments in the four assisted living “neighborhoods” and 30 in the memory care neighborhood. Each apartment has state-of-the-art lighting and adaptive living features. Each neighborhood has its own “just like home” dining and activity centers, with lots of windows allowing views of the lush landscaped courtyards filled with water features and native plants. Colorful, comfortable furnishings and local nature images avoid the stereotypical “institutional” look common in many residential living facilities. This unique, nurturing environment is a place I’d consider for my mother if she needed such services. And how fortunate the residents are to live inside an art museum!

Down the road, Scott anticipates acquiring more artwork and envisions the possibility of self-guided art tours. With the help of Maple Tree Village staff, Moni will create informative signage to accompany each piece of art. Moni told me many of the artists are local or have roots in Northern California. There are 17 pieces from William Gatewood. She adds, “My brother Billy passed away 25 years ago. To see his Asian-inspired art displayed in this beautiful building is a great tribute to him.”

Lotus-inspired artwork from Chinese artist, Shimo, hangs in the Welcome Center. Originally from Shanghai, Shimo moved to Sacramento in 2003 and is a good friend of Gregory Kondos. His Midtown gallery, Shimo Center for the Arts, is dedicated to promoting local artists. There is also original artwork from Oakland-born artist Fred Uhl Ball, whose parents taught art classes at Mills College.

Says Scott, “Our residents, their families, and the greater Sacramento community will have this extraordinary opportunity to enjoy this special art collection for many years to come.” Moni couldn’t agree more. “I want everyone who passes through Maple Tree to admire the beauty around them, inside and outside.”

Celebrating Our Centenarians: Tomako Mori

Tomako Mori was born in Loomis, CA in 1919. She was one of seven children raised on a 100-acre fruit farm in Lincoln. Life on the farm had its challenges. Crops had to be handpicked; there was no modern farm equipment to harvest the crops. They rode horses and buggies to haul fruit from the fields to be packed into wood crates. Tomako’s father was from Hiroshima and didn’t speak any English. “There was no telephone at home to call a doctor. So he delivered all of his children,” says Tomako’s daughter Anna Louie.

Tomako was one of seven children raised on a 100-acre fruit farm in Lincoln.

Tomako’s father returned to Japan periodically to take care of family property. In 1936, she and her father got stuck in Osaka. She went to high school and junior college there. Like all girls of her age, she learned flower arranging and how to serve tea. To make money, she ran a black market in town, selling shoyu, groceries and cigarettes to people. “I had dual citizenship, so at one point, I also worked for the U.S. government as an interpreter.”

She met her husband, Kenny Mori, in 1949. Returning by ship from Japan, she saw him standing on the pier in San Francisco. With a smile, she recalls,” It was love at first sight”. They married in May 1951. In the 1950s, the Moris started a business called General Automotive Service. He was the auto mechanic and she was the bookkeeper. Their son Kenneth now oversees the business.

Tomako recently had a big 100th birthday bash at Thunder Valley Casino. What’s the best part of making it to 100? She says, “ I feel great. My mind stays sharp because I look after my investment properties. I see friends every week. On Wednesdays, we meet at Thunder Valley for lunch and to play slot machines. On Fridays, I see them at the Japanese Buddhist Church for lunch.” Tomako and Kenny raised five children – Anna, Kenneth, Tom, Tim, and Tami. Tomako is the happiest when seeing her family, which also includes six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Tomako with her caregiver Fiona and daughter Annie Louie holding a portrait that was presented to her on her 100th birthday this year.

Celebrating Our Centenarians: Toshio Fukuda

Toshio Fukuda was born in 1917. What does he attribute his long healthy life to? Maybe it’s his daily root beer float. His love for the sweet treat dates back to when he was a kid and went to the local soda fountain in his Oakland neighborhood. Toshio simply says, “I’m very fortunate and thankful that my parents took such good care of me.”

As a child, he loved going to the theatre to watch cowboy movies and going fishing, but he admits he wasn’t very good at fishing. His parents sent him to live with relatives in Japan when he was 6 years old. He was a good student and was active in judo and swimming. He returned to the U.S. at age 14 and eventually enrolled at Cal Berkeley majoring in Political Science. Soon after, he was sent to an internment camp. It was there that he met his wife. “I always knew she was the one for me.” They married and honeymooned in Monterey.

Toshio and his late wife lived for many years in the Bay Area. He found work at the Simmons Mattress Company. “The pay wasn’t too good, but they were one of the few businesses at the time willing to hire Japanese.” They loved going to Lake Tahoe where they enjoyed seeing dinner shows. “We once met Lawrence Welk in our hotel elevator. My wife was a great fan, and we told him we had tickets to his dinner show that night. Mr. Welk wanted to bring my wife up on stage to dance with him, but she said no thank you. She was too shy to dance in public.”

Toshio now enjoys living at Greenhaven Terrace and “I’m thankful that my niece and nephew in Sacramento help me out these days.”

Celebrating Our Centenarians: Mabelle Jan

Mabelle Jan was born on November 12, 1916 in San Francisco, the oldest of 12 children. Her father owned a grocery store and worked long hours. She helped her father arrange produce for display when she was young. During this time, her mother sewed for Levi Strauss & Co.

In the 1930’s, Mabelle’s family moved to Oakland. Her father took over a grocery store from a Japanese family who had left for internment camp. When her parents got into an automobile accident, Mabelle left high school to care for her siblings. Her parents recuperated at the Chinese Hospital in San Francisco and the children would take the ferry across the bay to visit them. “On Saturdays, I took my younger brothers to the theatre on Stockton Street. We’d bring food and sit in the front row. It cost 10 cents to watch cartoons and movies,” she recalls. Eventually, Mabelle was able to return to school and graduated from Oakland Technical High School.

She met her husband, David Jan, at a YWCA dance in Sacramento. When his father passed away, David had to quit high school to help run the family business, Wing Lee, a wholesale meat market. They dated for several years. David would always take the train from Sacramento to Oakland to see her. They got married in 1942. Mabelle said, “He set the date. We had a formal wedding at the Chinese United Methodist Church in San Francisco.” They never had any children of their own, but they raised her niece from the time she was 21 months old. Many years later, David left the family business to start a real estate career. They were very proud that in the 1950’s, he went to night school and obtained his GED certificate.

Mabelle and David had been married almost 70 years when he passed away. They traveled around the world. One special memory was flying on the Concorde in the late 1980’s to New York. “It was very noisy but fast.” She learned how to play mah jong and played regularly with her good friend, Mae Chan, another centenarian. How does it feel to be 102? She smiles and says, “I’ve had a good, peaceful life.”

Celebrating Our Centenarians: Mae Chan

Mae Chan was born in San Francisco on April 8, 1917, the oldest of three daughters. She grew up on Beckett Street in Chinatown. When she was six years old, Mae went with her mother to the family village in China. Although she was a U.S. citizen, she remembers staying at Angel Island for almost six months before they got approval to go home.

She went to Commodore Stockton Elementary School and Francisco Junior High. Mae’s father owned a retail store in San Francisco. The family moved to Watsonville when he opened his second store called Jang & Company. Later, he would open a third store in Sacramento. During this time, Mae got her AA degree from Salinas Community College; then transferred to San Jose State to study business. Mae liked the fact that her father had retail stores. “I could get free nylon stockings,” she said with a smile.

When Mae was a young girl, a suitor proposed to her. But she declined his offer, partly because he was only a clerk at the Dollar Store. A relative then arranged for Mae to meet Eddie Chan. “I thought he was nice looking.” Their first date was to the California State Fair. She liked the fact that Eddie’s family had a grocery business, General Produce. Mae loved avocados; and if she married him, she’d get free avocados all the time! In March 1941, they drove to Reno to get married. Then, they turned right around to Sacra-mento to eat dinner with Eddie’s family.

In the 1980s, Mae and her two sisters (Mildred and Catherine) opened a restaurant called Chopstix Express. They eventually sold it, as Mae got tired of the work and it took time away from her favorite activity, playing mah jong. Besides mah jong, Mae’s other passions are traveling and playing the stock market. “For years, the first thing she did in the morning was check how her stocks were doing. She’d have weekly calls with her broker. She likes tech stocks,” says her daughter Victoria.

When she reflects back on her 102 years, she says “My daughter Victoria makes me very happy. I’m glad we traveled to Hong Kong to adopt her.” Mae is also grateful that two of her friends, Fannie Wong and Mabelle Jan, are also centenarians. “We just had lunch at Happy Corner Restaurant to celebrate my birthday.” What’s her secret to living this long? She laughed, “Playing mah jong seven days a week! I’d still be playing if I could see better.” These days, macular degeneration may have impaired her vision, but not her sense of humor.

Celebrating Our Centenarians: Aaron and Haruye Okamoto

Valentine’s Day has a special meaning for Aaron (103) and Haruye (101) Okamoto. It’s their wedding anniversary. They’ve been happily married for over 75 years. Both were born in Sacramento, Aaron in April 1916; and Haruye in June 1918. They first set eyes on each other while interned at Tule Lake Camp. “I thought he was a nice guy,” says Haruye. Aaron adds, “She was wonderful.”

After getting married, they lived briefly in Reno. The couple eventually found their way back to Sacramento. In 1948, he started at Campbell Soup and retired there at the age of 65. The Okamotos raised two boys and three girls – Calvin, Ronald, Joanne, Suzanne, and Dianne.

Looking back on her younger years, Haruye remembers growing up on a farm in rural Sacramento where her parents harvested tomatoes. “We moved a lot as the seasons changed,” she says. “Planting new crops required moving around.” Haruye had three brothers and two sisters. She attended grammar school in West Sacramento and went to high school in the Delta town of Clarksburg. “As a kid, I didn’t go to the movie theatres very often because we lived in the country, far from town.”

Aaron was an accomplished Bunka embroidery artist until the age of 95. He created beautiful artwork using the old Japanese technique called “nihon shishu,” which dates back more than 1000 years. Several framed masterpieces hang on the walls of the family home. He is donating one of them to ACC’s “Celebrating Our Centenarians” silent auction.

When talking about their long marriage, Haruye said they rarely had the time to go on family vacations. They’ve had many happy years together, enjoying time with their friends and family. Today, the extended Okamoto family also includes two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Celebrating Our Centenarians: Audrey Ah Tye

Audrey Ah Tye was born in Canton in November 1916. But you wouldn’t know it after having a conversation with her. She is engaging, has a wonderful spirit about her, and a great attitude about aging. Village life in China was okay. There was no running water in the house so they had to walk to the village well.

She came to the U.S. when she was six years old. Her family farmed plums, tomatoes, and asparagus in rural West Sacramento. She describes herself as “a farmer’s daughter,” doing any job that her father asked her to do. Audrey started planting tomato beds when she was very young. Since no one had cars back then, she walked the three miles to school, cutting through neighbors’ fields, trying to avoid dogs and other animals. When it rained, her father would take her to school in a horse and buggy. “It was a bumpy ride, but not bad.” Her teacher drove her into town to attend Chinese School and her father picked her up in a horse and buggy. After high school, she went to Sacramento City College.

She met her husband, Raymond, through her cousin. “My mother interviewed him first. She was very impressed that Raymond came from a big family – he was the 7th child of 15 children,” says Audrey. It was a short courtship. They met in the summer and by December, they were married. Raymond worked for Caltrans for almost 30 years. They were married for 70 wonderful years before he passed away in 2012, at the age of 97.

What’s her secret to a long life? Audrey says, “maybe because I’ve worked hard all my life.” Until the age of 95, she did her own gardening; sometimes she was outside all day tending the yard. She has been very independent and only recently surrendered her driving license at the age of 99. “I have macular degeneration now and can’t see that well anymore. But I sure do miss driving…. I wish I could drive to Target and shop anytime I want.” Despite vision problems, Audrey is content. She goes to Chinese United Methodist Church every Sunday. She enjoys time with her children, Michelle and Dale; her three grandchildren (Leslie, Tiffany, and Brandon) and two great-grandsons (Conner, Colin).

Celebrating Our Centenarians: Fannie and Annie Wong

Identical twins Fannie and Annie Wong turned 103 this year! They were born in 1916 in Red Bluff, to a family of 14 children. As young girls, they once performed on a local radio station, playing their guitars. “The sisters were full of spunk and mischief,” says Fannie’s daughter, Valerie. They took exams for each other and switched places in classes – and never got caught.

After graduating from Red Bluff High School in the 1930s, they both moved to Sacramento. They were skilled athletes in swimming and tennis. In the 1950s and 1960s, the twins spent many hours at Iceland Rink in north Sacramento. They even attempted to try out for the Ice Capades. For over 40 years, they met for weekly lunches and shopping. Disagreements were settled by playing rock-paper-scissors. Both sisters have fond memories of traveling with their families – to Hawaii, Asia and Europe. At the age of 98, Fannie swam with stingrays with her grandchildren in Mexico! The twins even went down the same path when it came to their families. They both married men in the grocery business.

While working at Frank Fat’s as a waitress, Fannie met Gene Wong. “Gene heard about a new waitress at Frank Fat’s and went there to check her out,” Fannie says with a smile. They married at the courthouse in 1943. While Gene was proudly serving with the 407 Air Service Squadron as a member of the Flying Tigers during WWII, Fannie lived in Penryn with his parents. After the war, Gene, his sister and four brothers would go on to start the Bel Air Supermarkets. During this time, Gene and Fannie raised four children – Ginger, Valerie, Gary and Gayle. Fannie has seven grandchildren. She enrolled at Sacramento State when she was 60 and got her Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences. “We were amazed, but not really amazed,” says son Gary. Fannie has lived a full life. She has taken many classes at ACC Senior Services, including hula, calligraphy, and watercolor painting.

Annie married Kai Wong (no relation to Gene), who owned a mom and pop grocery store in North Sacramento called Sincere Market. They raised four children – Virgil, Jadine, Baldwin, and Raymond. The family also includes five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

After retiring from the market in 1981, Annie volunteered her time at the Senior Paralegal Center and at the Senior Center as a food server.

Fannie and Annie take everything in stride these days. Fannie says, “The worst part is my hearing. It’s not that good.” Longevity runs in the family. Their oldest sister lived to age 99 and another sister, Pearl Jones, is 104.

Celebrating Our Centenarians: Frances Jaksich

This past February, Frances Lueth Jaksich celebrated her 100th birthday with a big party at the Elks Lodge, complete with singing and ukulele performances. The party theme was “You Are My Sunshine” which was quite appropriate as Frances “loves everyone, loves to have fun, and has an uplifting spirit.”

Frances is an original member of the YO Mamas knitting group, whose core mission is to provide clothing and gifts for local charities, including Shriners Hospital for Children and Maryhouse, a shelter for homeless women and children. She estimates she’s made several thousand tote bags.

She was born in 1919, the youngest of nine children, and grew up on a rural Sutter County ranch. France’s father, Henry, built the family home in the town of Sutter, just below the Sutter Buttes. He bought an Aladdin Home through Sears Roebuck. It was shipped by train to Marysville and delivered to their lot. Because he wasn’t much of a carpenter, it took him several years to assemble it. The house is still standing today.

When not helping the family farm their almond trees, she immersed herself in school sports – mostly playing catcher on baseball teams. “Once a bat hit me, but I must be okay after all these years, because I still have a brain to do things.” She recalls getting a special license at the age of 13 so she could drive her mother into town for medical appointments. While working at the Capital National Bank, she caught the eye of a handsome dairy farmer, Jerry Jaksich. They got married in Reno and were together for 61 years. They raised two wonderful children, Barbara and John, in the Pocket neighborhood.

Frances says she has no secret to living this long, but says, “I believe in building friendships and treating people fairly. Every part of my life has been great.” Her son John adds, “My mother has such a positive outlook on life. I’m sure she’ll live beyond 100 years.” Frances was eager to celebrate her milestone birthday with a big party…and now she asks, when is the next party?