Walsh Elementary, Cricket became Home
and School Club President and served
on the School Site Council. She got
to know the school’s Principal, Arlene
Machado, and they have remained close
friends ever since.
“Cricket is a volunteer extraordinaire,”
Arlene said. “She offers help without
even being asked. It’s disarming because
people don’t expect it and they can tell
she’s genuine. As a leader, she’s had
enough life experiences and knows
what matters. She doesn’t sweat the
small stuff.”
When Mike’s program with the Live
Oak Emerald Regime Band began to
grow he needed help. Knowing Cricket’s
drum and bugle background, he asked
her. She devoted the next 27 years as
Mike’s Assistant Director and the color
guard coach.
Arlene helped Cricket make costumes
and flags for the color guard.
“They had to stand out, yet be classy,
to get the judges’ attention,” Arlene said.
“Cricket always had a sense of what
would work.”
“We were the only band in the region
with a drum corps style and our choice
of music was important,” Cricket said.
“Our traditional exit number was ‘My
Way’ and it never failed to get a
standing ovation.
“Mike could bring out the talent in
every student. One day he said, ‘Let’s go
to China. I want ours to be the first band
to march on the Great Wall.’ He made
it happen.”
At its height, the band and color
guard included more than 140 students
and captured a national championship.
“They grew up as one big family,
including both of our own kids. Some of
them still take us out for lunch on our
birthdays and send us Christmas cards.”
Even the Rubino’s house has a
connection to the band.
“We bought it from a band booster.
We loved the neighborhood and could
actually see the football field from the
house. If we left the football field lights
on, we knew it!”
In 1995, Cricket read a magazine
article about starting a home-based
business and loved the idea. She
launched Claremont Executive Services
and for the next 17 years, provided
outsourced administrative services.
She participated in the Leadership
Morgan Hill program in 1999. After
graduating, she worked as a Program
Coordinator for the organization for more
than a decade, then joined the Board of
Directors, and served as President.
Cricket also served as a board
member and former President of the
Mt. Madonna YMCA (2002-15). She
credited Susan Fent for her vision
and ability to bring people together to
develop Morgan Hill’s senior center.
When the recession hit in 2007-08,
the city’s senior center budget was cut
by $30,000.
“John Tarvin and I were on the Senior
Advisory Committee,” Cricket said. “We
held an e-waste recycling event, a quilt
raffle, and a dinner dance and raised an
amount close to what was cut from
the budget.”
Knowing they couldn’t maintain
that level of effort year after year, they
decided to launch the Friends of the
Morgan Hill Senior Center under the
Morgan Hill Community Foundation.
The city rented them space to try a new
idea: Tuesday night bingo.
“Over time it did so well that we
were making rent, donating to the Y, and
funding an endowment with the Silicon
Valley Community Foundation. In 2018
we formed our own 501c3 nonprofit.
We want to ensure the Senior Center
will remain operational even if another
downturn comes along.”
Cricket currently serves on the Board
of Managers for the Mt. Madonna YMCA,
and is Funding Chair of the Friends of
the Morgan Hill Senior Center.
Her community recognition includes
YMCA Volunteer of the Year (2003), the
Gavilan College Spirit Award (2011), and
Morgan Hill Woman of the Year (2013).
Today, Cricket and Mike are carving
out more time to spend with their grand-
children: Leah, 4; and Lauren, 2.
“Cricket is always there for our
family,” Mike said. “As a mother and a
grandmother, she’s loving, patient and
nurturing.”
According to Mike Jr., “My kids know
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
WINTER 2020
their Grammy is fun-loving and always
thinking of them. Even when she’s
traveling on vacation she brings some-
thing back.”
Every Labor Day, the extended family
gathers in Aptos.
“We do something different every
year—pulled pork sandwiches, fried
chicken, burgers and dogs, tacos,”
Cricket said. “It’s great just to walk the
beach together.
“Mike and I are now traveling
together and loving it. We’ve been to
the Baltic States, Antarctica, China,
Thailand, Vietnam, Australia. In
December we’re looking forward to
visiting France and Spain.
It’s clear that Cricket’s kids adore her.
“Looking back, she always had time
for us,” Brandi said. “Every year she
made our Halloween costumes. I’m talk-
ing head-to-toe costumes, life-sized ice
cream cone, Egyptian princess, space-
man. So elaborate you would’ve thought
she bought them. Who knows how she
had time for that?!
“When I had a tough co-worker to deal
with, mom helped me keep my head on
straight to work my way through it. She
taught me never to burn any bridges and
I live my life by that rule.”
According to Mike Jr., “Mom support-
ed whatever I wanted to do during my
school years. If I had a school project,
she inspired me to go above and beyond.
To see things through and take pride in
my work.”
It’s always fun to discover that hidden
talent a person has. According to Arlene,
“Cricket can tap dance. We took lessons
from Wanda Marshal and all I can say is,
Cricket was way out of my league!”
Arlene also described Cricket as a
kind and loyal friend. “We know each
other’s families and we attend each
other’s family events. When my mom
passed away, Cricket did the flowers for
the memorial service. We’re there for
each other.”
“If I can become half the woman
she is,” Brandi said, “I will feel greatly
accomplished.”
Mike Jr. added, “The ability to consid-
er others before oneself is a rare trait,
and my mom definitely has it.”
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