Senior Dog Squad
What happens when you combine the youth of Fresno State cheerleaders with a group of young at heart senior citizens? The Senior Dog Squad is born. Back for its fourth season, the Senior Dog Squad - made up of residents from the Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens - will join the cheer team to perform at two football games (10/13 and 11/17) and two men’s basketball games (02/02 and 03/09) during the 2018-19 season.
| THE TEAM |
Sue Stoltenberg, 93
This is Sue’s fifth year as a resident at TSJG and her 4th season on the Senior Dog Squad. Before she retired, she worked at a doctor’s office. She is proud to be the most “Senior” of the Senior Dog Squad! She truly enjoys the comradery and all the social activities with the Senior Dog Squad.
Patty Dennis, 87
Patty has been at TSJG for a year and a half, and this is her second season on the Senior Dog Squad. Before retirement, she helped to shape our young minds as an educator, principal, and superintendent. She has 17 great- grandchildren! Her hobbies include reading, traveling, and painting. She spent the earlier part of her life being raised out in the country. Being a Fresno State alumna, her favorite things about the Senior Dog Squad are the fellowship, and the fun activities.
Ruth Kallenberg, 75
Ruth has been a resident at TSJG for the last three and a half years, but this is her first season on the Senior Dog Squad. She worked as a librarian before retirement. As a child, Ruth was born and raised in Hawaii, and both of her parents were teachers. She loves getting to know other residents better by being on the Senior Dog Squad, and it is helping her to try something new that is out of her comfort zone.
Verna Healey, 92
This is Verna’s first year as a resident at TSJG and her first season on the Senior Dog Squad! Before she retired, Verna was an accountant. She was also on her high school cheer squad! Verna believes herself to be an optimist, who can do anything she puts her mind to. Her favorite parts about being on the Senior Dog Squad so far are the fun and fellowship with everyone.
Bev Fix, 87
This is Bev’s first year as a resident at TSJG, and also her first season on the Senior Dog Squad. She previously worked as a wholesale drug sales representative, before retirement. Bev was a Navy wife for 21 years! Two of her three children are Fresno State alumnae. She has 7 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. She is truly enjoying the fun she is having with the Senior Dog Squad, and she loves getting to meet more residents.
Michael Jordan, 73
Michael has been a resident at TSJG for just a year, and this is his first season on the Senior Dog Squad. He was teaching the next generation as a faculty member of CSUF’s School of Education. Michael helped to serve his country as a B-52 pilot and is a Vietnam Veteran. His favorite parts of being on the Senior Dog Squad are the comradery, the exercise, and the fun!
Margie Winters, 82
Margie has been a resident at TSJG for the past five years, and this will be her fourth season on the Senior Dog Squad. Margie used to work in farming before deciding to retire. She was previously also on her high school cheer team! Margie is a proud Fresno native, and has lived here her entire life. She has even drove a race car in a Powder Puff Derby! She is having so much fun meeting all the new residents, and sharing so many fun and special times with all of them. Margie also wants to thank the Fresno State Cheer Squad for being so helpful and for being such a wonderful group of young people.
Maxine Madden Spencer, 90
She has been a resident at TSJG for the last six years, and this is her third season on the Senior Dog Squad. Maxine is a violinist and was previously a Fresno Unified music teacher. In college, she was on the school’s pep club. Maxine has played violin in the Monterey Jazz Festival, headlined shows in South Lake Tahoe, and played with both the Fresno Philharmonic and Sacramento Symphony! She is enjoying the social aspect of being on the Senior Dog Squad, especially learning the new steps and meeting the challenge of being out of her comfort zone.
Nancy Fuller, 82
Nancy has been a resident at TSJG for the last four and a half years, and this is her fourth season on the Senior Dog Squad. Before she retired, she worked as an executive director. In high school, Nancy was on the cheer team! She loves playing her keyboard, and entertaining others. She has three wonderful children, four grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren who all still live in Fresno! Nancy is enjoying the music and the dance aspect of the Squad. She has also loved making friends at both TSJG and Fresno State, and especially how well the fans welcome the Senior Dog Squad at Fresno State!
Patsy Agee, 80
This is Patsy’s second year as a resident at TSJG and this will be her first season as a member of the Senior Dog Squad! Patsy worked previously as a payroll clerk before retirement. In high school, she was a part of the pep team, and sang in an all-girls quartet! Patsy is excited about her new friends on the Senior Dog Squad, and having her grandchildren see her perform at the games!
Terri Painter, 68
This will be Terri’s first year as a resident at TSJG and her first season on the Senior Dog Squad! Terri is still working as a Substitute Teacher in the Central Valley, helping the next generation. Fun fact: she and her husband brought kettle corn to the Central Valley and have worked events in the area for over 20 years! Terri is really enjoying doing things with her new neighbors at TSJG!
Connie Lingerfelt, 82
Connie has been a resident at TSJG for the last three and a half years, and this is her fourth season on the Senior Dog Squad. Previously, she worked as a receptionist in a doctor’s office before deciding to retire. Connie has four grown children, 12 grandchildren, and will soon have a total of 12 great-grandchildren! She also loves to travel. Her favorite part about being on the Senior Dog Squad is, not only the fellowship, but knowing that she can do it!
| THE SUPPORT TEAM |
Jess Stepp, 42
Jess has been a Team Member with TSJG for four and a half years and has been a part of the Senior Dog Squad for the past four seasons. Jess is the Senior Dog Squad Coach and a Lifestyle Enrichment Coordinator at TSJG. At the very first Senior Dog Squad practice in 2014, she showed up just to take some pictures! She never intended on being on the team, and now she’s the Coach! Jess is so proud of the Senior Dog Squad! They inspire her every day and they bring so much joy to everyone. She loves her Senior Dog Squad family!
Elizabeth Mendez, 27
Elizabeth has been a Team Member with TSJG for the last three years, and has been a part of the Senior Dog Squad for three seasons now. She is the Assistant Coach for the Senior Dog Squad, and a Lifestyle Enrichment Manager. Fun fact: Elizabeth was born on New Year’s Day! She is inspired by the residents, their drive to try new things, and their ability to step out of their comfort zones. She loves the sense of family that the squad has and getting to share laughs with residents and Team Members.
Phoua Bauer, 31
Phoua has been a Team Member with TSJG for the last ten years, and this will be her fourth season with the Senior Dog Squad. She is one of TSJG’s Billing Specialists. Her favorite things to do are photography and cinematography with her husband. For her, the best part about being on the Senior Dog Squad is building lasting friendships and having fun!
AJ Castillo, 27
AJ has been a Team Member with TSJG for the last two and a half years, and this is his first season on the Senior Dog Squad. AJ serves as a Fitness Coordinator for TSJG. He played football in college at Humboldt State University, and he currently coaches football at Kingsburg High School! He enjoys encouraging residents to keep moving and doing what they love!
Pam Severns, 59
Pam has been a Team Member with TSJG for the last four years, and this will be her first season with the Senior Dog Squad. Pam currently works as a stylist at Spa Bella. Last year, she decided to go skydiving with her 30-year-old daughter, and loved it! Next on her list is white water rafting! She enjoys her residents, and how young she feels because they all have that “young at heart” attitude!
| PHOTOS |
