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Published on 02/03/1997 All articles from this issue

Retirement doesn't slow upbeat rec supervisor

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

Probably not many folks would point to the Med-fly crisis of the mid-1980s and say that was a launching point for a career.

But Miriam Rounds Mazzi does.

She filled in at a meeting for her boss Bob Rayl, recreation director for Los Altos..

"The next thing I knew, I was in charge of public awareness for Med-fly eradication. I made the nightly recording that told people where the malathion was to be sprayed that night."

At that time an invasion of Mediterranean fruit flies threatened fruit crops in the Bay Area. Spread of the flies was contained by nightly sprayings, from helicopters, of the pesticide malathion.

Med-flies "got me into a cheerleader mode, and gave me some public relations job, and I loved that," she said.

Now, after working for the parks and recreation department since 1974, full-time since 1977, Mazzi is retiring as senior recreation supervisor. Her final day was Jan. 31.

Last August, Mazzi began a medical leave for severe tendinitis - repetitive stress injury - in both hands. The rec department held her job open for her while she rested her arms.

"The tissues were inflamed and irritated, and I will get better," she said. "But in the meantime it is not fair to hold up the rec department any more. I need to get on, too."

Since she couldn't come back to work in the foreseeable future, she said, "I decided to retire. I'm so sad. But something else is coming - I can feel it."

This cheerful, upbeat outlook made Mazzi a success in her job and a favorite with her clients. By the time of her retirement, her responsibilities had come a long way from being the point person for Med-flies.

Programs she supervised included the Los Altos Senior Center, the Los Altos Youth Theatre program, Tiny Tots pre-school, summer school programs as well as management of the recreation department office.

She particularly loved her work with youth theater, "where I'm still going to volunteer," she said. "It's been a joy to watch youth theater kids go on to do things in theater.

"A highlight for me was every opening night," she said.

She also especially delighted in her work with the senior center. "That's what I've really enjoyed - my seniors," she said.

In 1984 she made a nationwide TV commercial for Tylenol with "my tap dancers, including many former Tiny Tot preschool alumni."

The commercial aired during the 1984 Olympics and ran for two years. Instead of payment, the advertising agency donated a refrigerator to the youth center in exchange for filming on the Hillview Community Center site, Mazzi said.

It's not easy for Mazzi to slow down. But Mazzi also looks ahead.

"I hope in my new life to do some teaching - that was my first love."