Our History from the Beginning
Profile: Ronald Peter Marden A Book in Progress by Grace W. Rogers In 1961, eighteen-year-old Ronald Peter Marden came to our cherished Valley community with his mother, May Gainer. Pete, also known as Ron, was born with Neurofi- bromatosis, a progressively disfiguring disease. However, he decided to live his life on his own terms and “leave the rest to God.” His strong moral core of independence, loyalty, pride in his coping strengths, avoidance of char- ity, and determination to succeed regardless of boulders or closed doors grew from a family mantra: The Marden Way. May, his mother, and her fierce Rhode Island char- acter was well known through her years with the Laguni- tas School District both in classrooms and as everyone’s protective School Crossing Guard. Examples of Pete’s pattern of turning challenges into strengths are numerous. In his quest to be a role model for short people, he applied to Little People of America, but was rejected as his 4’10’ height exceeded the upper thresh- old by two inches. (Ironically, at his life’s end he met that 4’8” criteria.) He turned his general love of music and ability to associate everyday sounds with particular tunes into a lifelong passion for jazz. Singing in glee clubs and choirs until he felt his vision difficulties, which slowed the following of text, not music, was problematic for other
choir members. During the San Geronimo Radio years he had his own jazz radio disc jockey show. He was an active par- ticipant in nearly every local activity, including San Geronimo Teen and Go Geronimo hitchhiking programs. From his early 20s, he stayed with his college graduate dream, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Welfare in 1985 from Humboldt
Pete as a child
State University. The crowd at his 2012 San Geronimo Presbyterian Community Church’s memorial service over- flowed beyond the available folding chairs, sanctuary and standing room capacity. I started writing Pete’s story later
that same year. Many Community members have been generous with their time and the sharing of memo- ries. Pete’s story is complex. Threads of determination, courage, and lone- liness run through the account of his accomplishments, difficulties and frustrations. Half the profits from the completed book will benefit Pete’s “second home,” his beloved church.
Pete with a statue of himself by Cornelia Nevitt
Paper Mill Creek To the Coast Miwok the stream was known as Tokelalume, then by the Spanish as Arroyo de San Geronimo. Now the “San Geronimo” survives only as the San Geronimo Creek tributary. The modern name, Laguni- tas Creek, is derived from the sev- eral “lagunitas” (Spanish for “little lakes”) which have now been turned into reservoirs by dams in the upper watershed. It was once known as Paper Mill Creek because Samuel P. Taylor built a paper mill on the creek in Taylorville. This mill, the Pioneer Paper Mill, was built in 1856, the first in California. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Lagunitas_Creek
Fishing Papermill Creek, 1922 (From the Anne T. Kent California Room Collection)
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50 th Anniversary
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