Jeanne E. Majdick

Jeanne was born in Alameda, California in 1923. She grew up in Doris Court a small cul-de-sac in a moderate one bedroom home. Grandma's House (Juliet and Marcus Catton), was mainly a comfortable "living room" experience. It had the most wonderful "pullout sofa". There was a modest lawn in the back and side, of the house, with beautiful flowers. Jeanne grew up here. In the sixth grade she told of racing the boys in an official school race. Her sport was tennis, which was promoted by going to the local park, and putting her racket at the gate of the court, in order to wait and play. Jeanne's father was a professional pool player. Jeanne was the subject for the "William Tell" shot, where Marcus, would hit a cue ball off the table; and hit an apple off her head. The shot was "short lived" as she grew taller. At Alameda High School she had a date to go on a truck "hay ride". Her date canceled because, several days prior, she had an auto accident which knocked out her front teeth. She went "solo" to the hay ride. Jeanne considered herself "A plain girl" and liked that modest image. Jeanne was at her girlfriend's house, when President Roosevelt announced, "the U.S. had been attacked at Pearl Harbor." The boys in the room, without hesitation, went out; and enlisted immediately. Jeanne worked during the war, and participated in the officer clubs. Jack LeLane, the famous body builder, once embarrassed her; by walking on his hands down a stairway, and across the beach, to ask her out on a date. After the war, her piano teacher called; and put her on the phone with another student, named John Majdick. They met on the steps of "Heritage Hall" at the University of California, Berkeley. John and Jeanne were married in the mid 1940's. Madelyn, their only daughter, arrived in 1948. The couple moved to Burbank, California, where Marc and Michael were born. Marc can remember the days of incinerators. We lived at the base of a hill. One night a fire came and we had to evacuate; to a friend's trailer. We all drank out of "baby bottles", because the tenants preferred that style over normal glasses. Jeanne and the family moved to Van Nuys, California, where the older children went to elementary school. Our home had a swimming pool. We visited Baja, Mexico, for vacations. The Majdicks then moved to Greenwich, Connecticut, and were introduced to the snow. Our house had no outside walls, so we shared the yard with neighbors. Jeanne visited New York in "high heels", but encountered a snow storm, making that city trip "uncomfortable." After 9 months we packed up in a 1955 red Ford station wagon, and drove across the country in 1958. We brought a parakeet with us. We moved into Knapp Street, Northridge, California. The parakeet got out of the cage, and flew away. This year marked the arrival of Steven. On Knapp Street, Jeanne and John, became involved in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Northridge Little League, and Northridge Park Tennis Club. Jeanne was the Secretary of the Northridge Tennis Club. The club had tournaments and socials for a very active membership. Many of Jeanne's best friends came from this tennis group. Jeanne loved her tennis. She taught tennis at Reseda Park. The Majdicks then moved a mile away to a bigger house on Donna Avenue in 1963. The Majdicks became members of Porter Valley Country Club; and enjoyed tennis there. The Majdicks then joined Northridge Tennis Club. Here, there was a "heaven" for tennis, with much of the family playing. Madelyn was married and Mike was away at school. Jeanne became a grandma with the birth of Noelle. John and Jeanne would go to Dana Strand Trailer Park, on the weekends, with Jeanne's cousin Shirley, and her husband Bob. They played tennis and enjoyed the beach. Jeanne and John took annual trips abroad visiting Europe, Mexico, and Hawaii. Noelle became a "junior" star tennis player, which meant both Madelyn and Nana Jeanne; became very involved. John Majdick died in 1981. Jeanne became the "leader" of the family.

She had the house redecorated. She acted as father and mother for the children. She maintained her vacation trips with "tennis" friends. It was on one such trip, where she bought a timeshare at Cabo San Lucas. Her family has spent many years with her on an annual trip there. The memories in Cabo, in her older life, seem very fresh. Last summer, included her dear friend Fran Wakefield, who eulogized Jeanne at the funeral. Highlights from that speech include the terms, acceptance, responsibility, faith and loyalty, thoroughness, and generous. Fran concluded, "Most of all, in my 46 years loving my best friend, I have never heard one word of negativity spoken about Jeanne-- just respect, love and caring. This has been a life worthy of high praise and I do give it".