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Published on 05/04/1998 All articles from this issue

Former mayor Marge Bruno thrilled with 35th Community Service Award

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By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

Former Los Altos mayor Marge Bruno appeared overwhelmed with gratitude and on top of the world after Los Altos area Realtors presented her with the 35th Community Service Award during the annual luncheon held last Thursday at Michael's At Shoreline Restaurant in Mountain View.

Seville Realtor Lissi Bedford, who emceed the event, has called Bruno "the most perfect person to be chosen" for the honor. Those who qualify for the award, according to the awards committee, have a proven record of contributing to the community "in a meaningful way."

Presenters cited a long history of Bruno volunteer affiliations, from tutoring students through the Los Altos Rotary Club to her work benefiting the needy at the Community Services Agency.

"My life has turned out so much more than I ever dreamed of. It's a long way from Corona, N.Y., to Los Altos," Bruno told the packed house of admirers.

This year's event, sponsored by the Peninsula West Valley Association of Realtors and co-sponsored by the Los Altos Town Crier, was themed, "The Magic of Involvement," referring to community "magic" that happens when people volunteer.

Penny Lave, the 1996 Community Service Award recipient, introduced Bruno as the 1998 recipient with an outline of "The Marge Bruno Story."

"Our community provides leadership to any citizen who exercises the option. With her talent and energy, during her time on the Los Altos City Council, Marge Bruno planned the future of Los Altos and represented the best uses in the community," Lave said. "She was instrumental in the Pilgrim Haven remodeling program and the senior home repair program, the first woman president of the Los Altos Rotary Club and many other community involved projects."

"I'm basically a busy-body," Bruno said. "I want to know what's going on in the inside, and that's why I volunteer and get involved. This is a community that doesn't have any real problems because of the many volunteers within the community.

"We have to do something in this world, so make yourself useful because you have to pay for the space you use on this earth," Bruno advised the audience. "Give me a chance to work with the doers. ... We need everybody to volunteer and once they get involved they will never regret it."

Those extending congratulations to Bruno included state Assemblyman Ted Lempert, and representatives for state senator Byron Sher and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo.

Numerous past Community Service Award recipients were present at last week's event, including Roy Dunnett, the first recipient back in 1964, Walter Chronert, Mary Lou Zoglin, now Mountain View vice mayor, and last year's winners, Bob and Lynn Davidson. Also present was Calvin "C.J." Fontenot, who started the annual tradition 35 years ago.