When she died July 21 of complications from emphysema, scores of friends and former students mourned along with McClendon's niece and nephew - former Los Gatans Susan Behnke of Arizona and Mark Mattenberger of Oregon - and their families.

A native of Lompoc, McClendon's family settled in Los Gatos when she was a young girl. A graduate of the former University Avenue School and Los Gatos High School, McClendon taught dance at several local venues, including the Los Gatos History Club, Daves Avenue School and Saratoga Foothill Club.

Over the years, she instructed everyone from children to senior citizens. Among her students were politicians, educators, journalists, musicians and community activists in the Los Gatos and Saratoga areas. She only moved from her adopted hometown once, when she spent 10 years in New York as an instructor for the Fred Astaire and Arthur Murray dance studios.

Although she was full of sage bits of advice and witty aphorisms, one of her favorites, according to nephew Mark Mattenberger, was: "Always maintain your posture, and never grow old!" She also loved repeating a line from William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing: "There was a star danced, and under that was I born."

Not content to memorialize their local star with a simple obituary and funeral, her many admirers have organized a "celebration of life" tea to which anyone who knew McClendon is invited. The event takes place Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Los Gatos History Club, located at 123 Los Gatos Blvd.

Several people who knew McClendon in various capacities will speak at the tea, according to Los Gatos artist Daved Garza, who was one of her neighbors and good friends. Garza has also taken the initiative to organize and print a commemorative booklet, which everyone attending the celebration will receive. The booklet includes photographs of McClendon over the years and clippings of old newspaper articles about her.