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Q and A with Marinites committed to service Longtime Marin residents share life lessons Four members of the Rotary Club of San Rafael discuss their influences Oak Dowling, San Rafael What are the most important lessons you've learned? On my first-grade report card in 1946 Chicago, the teacher noted: "Oak is a diligent and hardworking little boy and I love him very much." The lessons learned are to love and be loved and keep trying. Loving my wife and family are fundamental to my life. My life in the law was exhilarating and stressful. The fulfillment of my legal career was moving to private practice in Marin and the Bay Area from corporate practice and teaching law at the Dominican University OLLI program and College of Marin. Participation in church allowed me to contemplate the eternal, learn something of the essence of good and evil, and to develop community. Community participation is immensely rewarding, including volunteering for the Marin Financial Abuse Specialist Team and treasurer for city council elections. Who has influenced you most? Mary, my wife of 59 years. She is the lady of laughter and play. Her sense of humor is thrilling. When she delivered a speech to the Rotary Club of San Rafael, she "brought down the house." She is beautiful. I won her hand and fended off pre-med students, basketball players and golf scholars. I kept trying! She is a loving and inspirational mother of daughter Julie and son David and grandmother of Jackie, Eveline and Eddie. As a physical therapist working in hospitals for 46 years, Mary brought healing and encouragement to thousands of patients. As a Kaiser volunteer in the surgery waiting room, she brought her gift of laughter and compassion. Mary has been courageous in many life-threatening situations. A lifetime partner who is immortal. If you could go back to any age, what would it be? I am happy to be the age I am now, 81, because I can look back and enjoy the memories of my life. This life has been an adventure and great theater. My 15 years in community theater taught me how to look at life. So much drama and comedy, including marriage, children and the big move to San Rafael, 48 years ago from Chicago and Wisconsin. San Rafael and California are a slice of heaven that I embrace every day. Madeleine Austin Moore, San Rafael What are the most important lessons you've learned? Life's most important lessons to me have been many but one that has moved me forward in life is to hang in there and persevere. As long as you have skin in the game, it's your game; you are in control and nobody else. Don't make excuses; be accountable for your actions. You will always go forward if you do. There are times when you can't image that things won't get better, they will in time. If you can reach out to others in need you will relieve yourself of some of your burdens, redirect your pain. It's important to remember that all people want to smile, be wanted, and loved. That making a difference makes a difference in you. Who has influenced you most? When I entered the workforce, back in the late '70s, it was truly a man's world. The company that hired me had a policy that secretaries, and I was one of them, could not be promoted to account executive positions. But this company had hired a very unique female supervisor, Sheila O'Conner. This lone female supervisor took me under her wing. She mentored me, spent time with me and taught me a boatload about myself. She really took the time to guide me in this new corporate world, one in Please see next page .. Oak Dowling "The lessons learned are to love and be loved, and keep trying. Loving my wife and family are fundamental to my life." Madeleine Austin Moore "It's important to remember that all people want to smile, be wanted and loved. That making a difference makes a difference in you." 12 October 17, 2021 Senior Style A Marketing Supplement of the Marin Independent Journal | marinij.com