Just because the rest of Jennifer Tate’s life should be all
downhill, doesn’t mean the 60-year-old Morgan Hill resident has any
plans of slowing down yet.
Just because the rest of Jennifer Tate’s life should be all downhill, doesn’t mean the 60-year-old Morgan Hill resident has any plans of slowing down yet.
“Now I can do and say whatever I want,” said Tate jokingly. “I’m going to be like my mother who people said would have to be told two weeks after she died that she was gone. I still have plenty of energy.”
Ever since moving to Morgan Hill in 1977 with her husband Steve, a city councilman, she has jumped right into being involved in the community. And she hasn’t been able to stop since.
Her non-stop attitude and commitment to making the community better has earned her the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year.
“I was very pleased,” Tate said. “It was quite an honor. It made me feel very warm and fuzzy. I’ve always felt very welcomed here in Morgan Hill.”
The Tates still have the same house in Holiday Lakes that they moved into 28 years ago. After traveling from Air Force base to base as a child, she finally found somewhere she could settle down in.
“I was pleased I found Morgan Hill and they let me stay,” Tate said. “It has got to be one of best places to live in the world. The weather is great, my family is close. What more could you ask?”
Her parents branded the spirit of giving on her early in life.
“Even in high school, I got involved doing volunteer work,” Tate said. “I come from a community-minded family. It’s in the gene pool.”
Tate “…has been devoted to our community for almost three decades and has made her community a better place to live and work,” according to her nomination.
It continued by saying, “She is an active member and officer in many organizations and also volunteers her time for some for whom she is not a member. If she accepts a ‘job,’ you can count on Jennifer to get it done…. She leads by example and has fun doing it.”
While some would find volunteering a drag, Tate has made it a way of life.
“There have been way too many rewards to quit doing it,” Tate said. “The people appreciate it. It’s fun to be working with others toward a common goal. There isn’t anyone I’ve asked to help me who has let me down. They always come through and always come through with smiles on their faces.”
The Tates still find time to take some trips, do some remodeling and even play a game of Yahtzee or Sorry with the grandkids. The grandkids were even able to help decorate the house for Christmas this year.
The Tates’ daughter, Stacy Huddleston, was named educator of the year last year at St. Mary School in Gilroy where Jennifer finds time to volunteer to be near her grandkids.
“I feel like I have plenty of time to do things I’ve wanted to do,” Tate said. “Maybe not cleaning the house as much as I wanted, but I was really disappointed about that.”
Despite how busy the Tates are, they always make time for exercise. However, they seldom exercise together because Steve prefers a brisk run, while Jennifer likes a slightly easier pace.
The couple also has a different system for organizing their life.
“Steve is a fabulous list maker, but I like to carry it in my head,” Tate said. “You still have to check your calendar every morning to make sure you didn’t forget anything.”
Currently, Tate is a member of the Morgan Hill Historical Society, president of the Morgan Hill Centennial Committee and a Reach Out volunteer.
Jennifer was also the owner of the downtown business, The Morgan Hill Seed Company, for nearly eleven years and is now a personal trainer at Fitness Formula.
“It was a way to get even with people,” Tate said jokingly about being a trainer. “I still wanted to be part of downtown. It is fun watching the changes.”
Her biggest project of the year was helping with the Morgan Hill Centennial Committee, overseeing all the celebration and planning.
“The centennial is the most fun I’ve had,” Tate said. “I thought I knew a lot of people before but now I’m meeting even more people. Everyone is real excited. I’m also learning a lot of the history of the town I never knew.”
Tate, who has anthropology degree from University of California, Davis, has always enjoyed working with people and their history.
And she’s not done yet. One of her goals for the new year is to increase the awareness of the Morgan Hill Miramonte House since the historical society’s museum has moved on to the property and to better educate people on the history of Morgan Hill.
Bio box:
Jennifer Tate
Age: 60
Family: Husband, two kids, two grand kids
Hobbies: Travel, exercise, remodeling
Activies/Organizations:
Include the Centennial Morgan Hill Steering Committee (president), Morgan Hill Historical Society (vice president and chairman of the Founders’ Day Dinner for the past five years), co-chair of the first All Night Grad Party for Live Oak High School, Nordstrom Elementary School Site Committee (Chairman), Rotary Club of Morgan Hill (Volunteer), Morgan Hill Community Foundation (Logistics Chairman, “Mayor’s Ball”), St. Catherine’s Church Out-Reach Program, Leadership Morgan Hill (two year chairman of the Leadership Excellence Award Dinner), Morgan Hill Unified School District (past board member) and Morgan Hill Chapter of Children’s Home Society (past president).
2006 New Year’s Resolution:
“I don’t make new year’s resolutions because I can’t keep them.”
