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Published on 05/05/1999 All articles from this issue

Kiwanian Chronert receives an award from Rotary Foundation

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By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

In an unusual move, Cupertino Rotarians bestowed a Paul Harris Award of Fellowship on longtime Los Altos resident Walter Chronert, who is not a member of the Rotarian Foundation, but rather of the Los Altos Kiwanis Club.

The Paul Harris Award of Fellowship is usually conferred on donors to the Rotary Foundation, but in certain instances, the award may be presented for community contributions of time and devotion.

Chronert was attending the regular Los Altos Kiwanis meeting last Tuesday at Mac's American Grill when five members of the Cupertino Rotary Club arrived to present him with the award. The presentation ceremony was repeated the next day at the Rotarians' meeting at the Quinlan Center in Cupertino.

Chronert, 80, said "I never thought I would ever be surprised like this again."

During World War II, Chronert served as a military postal officer at Oakland and spent time at the San Francisco Presido. After the war, he spent time as a postal inspector in Indiana. After returning to the Bay area in 1959, Chronert worked at the Los Altos Post Office, becoming assistant postmaster within six months. He served as Los Altos Postmaster from 1965 to 1979.

Chronert discussed his time working for the postal service. "Things change constantly and the post office has really changed. When I was postmaster, carriers and clerks wore uniforms. They still get uniform allowances today, but they don't wear uniforms anymore. That's really changed cohesiveness among employees," he said.

Chronert always has been active in the community. From 1960 to 1974, he volunteered as scout master for Boy Scout Troop No. 478. In 1978, he became the president of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce. Chronert also served for many years as the campaign manager for the United Fund in Los Altos.

A member of the Los Altos Kiwanis Club for 25 years, Chronert has served as Lt. Governor for the Kiwanis Peninsula district.