All the fun stuff!

Cheers to You

Welcome to a New Year and a new column…

This is where YOU are spotlighted, treasured and looked at in a whole new light!

No longer are you the “invisible senior”, but the whole person that came before the person

we see today.

So, buckle up sports fans as we delve into the amazing life and times of our first truly

amazing senior … Jerry Rehard

When it comes to the Academy of Awards in Life…Jerry stole the Best of Show for Easy

Rider…The King of Drama in General Hospital… Hallmark has nothing on us! (For an

amazing love story…) as well as the the “Bake Because You Can” award! But it wasn’t

always so simple for Jerry…

Living with 2 parents and 2 older sisters in a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home, 10 years later being

born into a basic L.A. family, little Jerry made an entrance in 1953.

Jerry was always taught to “work hard and always show up”. He followed that belief through life.

Jerry’s Dad shared time and interest in him by taking him to the desert and racing motorcycles,

keeping him interested in mechanics and the biking sports during those hard teen years. Jerry’s

Mom died (unexpectedly) he believes now from probable hereditary kidney failure which

understandably effected the dynamics of the family. Biking, still a passion…work became a

direction.

Jerry found his first part time job at age 16, and continued to find various other jobs along the

way on assembly lines and eventually at Container Corporation in Bakersfield where he was

destined to meet his lovely wife and angel…Cathy

Now many of us wives would love for our husbands to revere us as their angel… but Cathy has

earned this title…

Jerry and Cathy met by chance, fell in love, and were married in 1982.

They both worked full time, bought a home together in Bakersfield, bought a motorcycle and a

enjoyed a lot of sailing but something was missing… they started to work on the family…but

then…

Jerry was diagnosed with Kidney failure - October 1993.

Neither of his sisters were good candidates for a kidney transplant, so a general call for anyone

interested in testing to see if they would be compatible as a transplant candidate went out. Even

Cathy tested to see if she could be compatible. Amazingly enough, Cathy had enough key

matching components that could offer potential transfer kidney success. Jerry would receive one

of Cathy’s kidney’s in a life saving surgery!!

Thirty-one years later, Cathy and Jerry still celebrate their kidney anniversary on each and every

March 18 th . They have enjoyed life together here in Oakhurst after moving 24 years ago to

pursue jobs at the “then new Rite Aid” (Cathy) and as a bus driver for the school district and

local tourism group. (Jerry)

Although life has calmed down a little (with the boating and motorcycles in particular ) Jerry

has become quite well known for his bread baking skills, and is now periodically requested as an

instructor for occasional baking demonstrations.

To know Jerry is to appreciate his optimism, calm, kindness and gratefulness to be alive… to

enjoy each day as it comes. This, you see, is the award of life…

If you know of someone who would be a great (local) senior to write about, let me know

Lori Howard- (559)683-7650

Welcome to Sierra Senior Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of senior citizens in the Eastern Madera County area. Our mission is to organize and promote education, nutrition, health, and overall well-being for our cherished community of seniors.

We go beyond just fostering well-being; we strive to create bonds of friendship, goodwill, and mutual understanding among our members, extending these values to all seniors in the region. At the heart of our mission is the commitment to open communication and the sharing of experiences.

As active community contributors, we take a keen interest in the civic, cultural, and social welfare of our area. Sierra Senior Center serves as a platform for open discussions on matters of public interest, creating an inclusive space for voices to be heard.

Join us in our journey to build a thriving community where every senior citizen can flourish, connect, and enjoy the richness of life. Welcome to Sierra Senior Center – where every moment matters!