By Derek Wilson
Marinscope
Her large family and the Town of Corte Madera are all coming out to celebrate Helen Otero.
The longtime Corte Madera resident was joined by her daughters and son and grandchildren as she turned 93 on July 24. Friends arrived at her doorstep bearing gifts on Sunday as part of Age-Friendly Corte Madera’s celebration of the lives of the town’s nonagenarians and centenarians.
This is the sixth year the town has honored its residents, ages 90 and older, as living connections to the town’s history. In the past, the celebration would be a public affair, usually at the Community Center. Due to COVID precautions, this year’s event was a more intimate affair, with representatives from Age-Friendly Corte Madera and the Town of Corte Madera bringing gifts to the homes of the town’s respected elders.
Members of artist Debra Maddox’s Watercolors class at the Age-Friendly Intergenerational Center created paintings that were presented to each of the honorees. Class member Teresa Fiorentini penned a beautiful calligraphed congratulatory note that accompanied each painting.”
“We often see older people marginalized, and the goal was to do the opposite,” said Patricia Stoliar, chairperson of Age-Friendly Corte Madera.
Corte Madera Mayor Eli Beckman presented a gift package to one of the town’s most recognizable citizens, Pauline Angleman, who turned 112 years old last October.
“I hope I can be like Pauline,” Helen Otero said. “I saw her when I was out on a walk recently and she was walking around, looking good.”
Otero was born and raised in New Mexico, the daughter of a Depression-era sheep rancher. The family moved to Tucumcari, NM, when she was just 7 years old as her father sought work on the construction of a dam.
It was a tough time to grow up, and with war in Europe on the horizon, there were more challenges on the way, but also some joy. As a freshman in high school, Helen caught the eye of senior classman John Otero.
John Otero joined the conflict right after graduation and was assigned to a U.S. Air Corps unit stationed in Italy during World War II. After John returned home, he and Helen were married in 1946.
“I’ve had a good life,” Helen said.
John Otero worked with the New Mexico State Labor Commission in the 1960s and the family moved to Corte Madera in 1967 when he accepted a job with the federal government. Here, they settled down and raised a large family.
John Otero Jr. and his sisters Margaret, Dorothy and Mary Francis all live in the Bay Area with their children and arrived at Helen’s Corte Madera home for a party. Helen has 22 grandchildren living in the Bay Area, and is proud the family has remained close.
Helen has found an extended family in Corte Madera during the past 53 years, playing bridge with member of the women’s club, painting and taking yoga classes at the recreation center.
“I’ve always remained active,” said Helen, who is living proof that staying busy keeps her looking young.
“I’m happy here,” she said. “I’ve got good friends and good neighbors.”
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