July 31, 2002     Los Gatos, California Since 1881 Main Street Betty McClendon's dance shoes hard to fill By Mary Ann Cook HOMAGE TO A LOCAL LEGEND: The world is a duller place now that Los Gatos is minus one of its first citizens and brightest lights. Betty McClendon died last week after a lengthy siege of living with emphysema and then having to combat cancer as well. Her distinctive Tallulah-type voice may have foretold the difficulty she would have breathing in her last few months. Ms. McClendon, who never married, nevertheless managed to smooth the rough edges of hundreds of admiring offspring. She taught generations of young Los Gatans and Saratogans not only the finer points of dance, but the social graces as well. She was our Arthur Murray/Miss Manners all at once, with a ribald sense of humor and a zest for the finer things of life thrown in. Who else could wear black leather pants at age 87 and look sensational? Who now will fill the room with great peals of heartfelt laughter, simultaneously delighting in our foibles and applauding our witticisms? No one. Good things come in small packages, 'tis said. In this case, great things came in small packages. It was always a wonder to me that a woman that compact could generate so much electricity, energy and magnetism. Those were small dance shoes that danced their way into our hearts, but impossible to fill. TRIBUTE TIME: It's time to give tribute to Bob Crowder for all his volunteer work toward the new high school swim centers - both the completed pool at Saratoga High and the proposed new pool at LGHS. So attests Crowder's colleague at Gilbane Building Company, John Kessler. Crowder has given countless hours of his time and pro-bono services to the projects on the two campuses. With Principal Kevin Skelly and Assistant Principal Karen Hyde he helped plan, design and manage the construction phase of the project at Saratoga High. After the success of that venture and seeing a similar need to replace the outdated aquatics facilities at LGHS, Crowder was a founding member of a parent group that is working with Principal Trudy McCulloch to plan and raise funds for the Los Gatos Aquatic Center, now in its design phase. In his professional life he works for Gilbane Building Company and was supervisor of project management services for the school district bonds passed in '98. Those bonds were earmarked for maintenance, a new science building and library, had nothing to do with funding for pools. Pool funding was acquired through community fundraising. Crowder was an outstanding swimmer in his school days and his sons, Bobby and Richie Crowder, are following in his watery wake. MATCHMAKER.COM: Los Gatan Marianne Lucchesi met her husband Doug Hamilton online through Matchmaker.com in June 2000 and the two were married recently, so there's a rarity - a dot-com success story. The nuptials were performed at Silver Mountain Vineyards, a small winery just off Summit Road, which was the setting for their second date. In their wedding invitations the two requested contributions to the Avon Breast Cancer Walk, rather than gifts. Thus, when the new bride walked all 60 miles of the three-day walk from Santa Clara to San Fran she was able to contribute nearly $4,000 to the cause of breast cancer awareness. This was her third year as a walker, and husband Doug joined as a crew-member, in traffic control. In another local connection, the new Mrs. Hamilton hooked up and walked daily with Nancy Reineking, the manager of the Los Gatos version of Willow Street Wood-Fired Pizza. This eatery was also a player in the Hamiltons' dating life. Fellow Avon Walk marchers dubbed her group "The Princess Bride and Her Court." Marianne is owner/president of Lucchesi Communications, a writing services company now four years old, and Doug is general manager of the Silicon Valley Conference Center in San Jose. YOUNG THESPIANS: These youngsters are treading the boards as part of the cast of The Wiz, now playing at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts: Jonathan Friedman of Los Gatos and Chip Kraemer and Meg Stevens of Saratoga. The play is being produced by the Peninsula Youth Theatre. The Wiz, a retelling of The Wizard of Oz, plays at 1 p.m. Aug. 1 and Aug. 2; and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 3; and 2 p.m. Aug. 4. Cost is $6 for the 1 p.m. performances; $13-$15 for weekend and evenings. The box office number is 650.903.6000. This is the 10th anniversary year for PYT. MEN'S CLUB OFFICERS: New Saratoga Men's Club officers are Marlon Smith, president; Bradley Wyatt, vice president; and Stephen Rice, secretary/treasurer. Other board members: George Roupe, Martin Trieb, Alan Alameda, Carl Cardona and Armon Mills. Despite its name, many Los Gatans are part of this group. GRAND JURORS: These folks are part of the 2002-2003 Santa Clara County Grand Jury. From Los Gatos, Leo B. Mark, and from Saratoga, Donna J. Butcher. Got a tip? My email is maryanncook@earthlink.net.