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193 - Shelia - #2
Cecy is not slowing down at 90
193 - #3
For Cecy, Tuesdays and Thursdays are her golf days on two different courses
Shelia Young
Shelia Young

Cecy Silva, Tony Lema Womens' Golf Club, San Leandro


By Shelia Young
Ceceila ("Cecy") Silva is a model citizen who just happens to play golf.

Cecy is also 90 years of age. She was born on October 3, 1927 in Oakland, attended and graduated from Oakland Technical High School and moved to San Leandro in 1955, after marrying fellow Portuguese-American Dan Silva. She and Dan had two children, Dyan and Richard ("Rich"), and she now enjoys her five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren!

During her career Cecy worked for Singer Sewing Machine in San Leandro for 18 years, until they closed. She then worked in Fremont for Xerox until she retired. She lost her soulmate, Dan, in the 90s and still lives in the same home they shared and where they raised their children. Their house payment was an astonishing $89 a month but they "managed" and today she is happy she still lives in San Leandro and wouldn't dream of moving. She repeatedly told me, "I'm so glad I have my house."

Dan initially invited her to play golf and while she mostly said, "No," once she started there was no turning back. She discovered it was a game she loved and she still plays twice a week. Dan played regularly with a group aptly named the Portuguese Golf Association (PGA) and she says when they played together, he often wore his shirt or jacket with the initials of his club on them and people would think he was a professional with "PGA" on his clothing! They always shared a laugh.

Her other great love is the Oakland Women's Rowing Club at Lake Merritt, where she has been a member for 28 years. Membership is highly sought after and over the years there have been many stories published about the Ladies of the Lake. Cecy is proudly still one of these incredible ladies.

Exercise and outside activity are clearly her passion, as evidenced by her weekly activities. On Monday, it's water aerobics; Tuesday, 18-holes of golf; Wednesday, the Oakland Women's Rowing Club; Thursday, it's 9-holes of golf at Skywest in Hayward; Friday, it's exercise at the San Leandro Senior Center; and believe it or not, on Saturday it's bocce ball. Like most of the rest of the world, she rests on Sunday.

She has thoroughly enjoyed the high tech movement and uses her iPad and home computer to write and send emails and "google" things she wants to learn about. If that's not enough, she recently decided her bathing suit didn't fit right, so she's working with Weight Watchers and happily reports she feels better and has lost 20 pounds. Did I mention this phenomenal woman just turned 90?

But enough of Cecy's personal life, let's talk golf. She's played for almost 50 years and currently is a member of two clubs. She joined the Tony Lema Women's Golf Club at Monarch Bay in 1992 and added the 9-hole club at Skywest in Hayward. Her lowest index over the years was in the 20s and even though it's higher now, she loves being out and playing, no matter the score. Her advice for younger (and older) players is to "simply enjoy being out and playing the game." Of all of her activities, golf is her favorite and she isn't slowing down.

Happy Birthday Cecy Silva! We all want to be just like you. You are a remarkable human being and a model citizen. I am proud to be your friend and look forward to many more years of golfing days with you.

Shelia Young, Golf contributor for the USG, was previously affiliated with the Oakland Chamber, the Airport Area Business Association, the San Leandro Chamber, President TLWGC, Mayor Emeritus of San Leandro, et al., and all-round lover of fun times.

Pops
3-6-17 - Pops

Michael King (left), with an associate from USF (center), and Karla Granadino-King, are pictured at the Olympic Club in San Francisco,  proudly sharing with the world their  Pops Premium Rumpopo. A King family secret, Pops Premium Rumpopo is a  delicious rum cream liqueur recipe brewed in the family tradition.  The award winning recipe is a Belizean family favorite and now available at all Total Wine & More stores in California and Bay Area retailers.
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