Karen Crane and Rich Firato are the 2019 Woman of Man of the Year

Published in the December 5 – 18, 2018 issue of Morgan Hill Life

Photo by Marty Cheek
Karen Crane, who teaches music to MHUSD students and organizes the Freedom Fest Patriotic Sing, was surprised with the 2019 Woman of the Year Award in her El Toro Elementary School classroom last week.

Two dedicated citizens received a happy surprise last week when Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce staff, board members and ambassadors presented Karen Crane and Rich Firato with the honor of the 2019 Woman of the Year and Man of the Year respectively.

The morning of Nov. 28, Crane was busy giving singing lessons to kindergartners and first-graders in room 30 at El Toro Elementary School when she was startled to see about a dozen friends filing through the door. Holding a bouquet of flowers, Chamber board Chairman Rich Firato said: “Hello, kids, I’m looking for Karen. Where’s Karen”

“Mrs. Crane,” someone corrected.

“Mrs. Crane,” he said as he approached the woman standing by the piano. “How are you? My name is Rich Firato and I’m with the Chamber of Commerce and I want to award you this as woman of the year and give you this in front of your class and say congratulations.”

Cranes eyes winced and she clasped her hand over her mouth and started laughing. A round of applause came from the adults and students. There were hugs and congratulations. El Toro Principal Darren McDonald led the students in a chant of “Mrs. Crane. Mrs. Crane. Mrs. Crane.”

Crane’s mission in life is to keep the songs of America and its rich history alive in the hearts of school children. In 1970, she moved to San Jose and started a job as an elementary music teacher. She asked her students to sing “God Bless America” and was surprised to discover the students didn’t know the words to the song. She then asked them to sing “This Land is Your Land,” which the students also didn’t know. From then on, students learned patriotic songs.

In 1989, Crane began leading the student Patriotic Sing, an event of Morgan Hill’s Freedom Fest tradition held July 3 to kick-off the Independence Day celebration. The students also sing in the July 4 parade as well as at the commemorations for Memorial Day and Veterans Day in downtown Morgan Hill. Besides El Toro, she also works with students at P.A. Walsh STEAM Academy, and Barrett Elementary.

“I couldn’t have done any of this without my kids and without amazing educators,” she said. “I’m so fortunate to live in this community where expressing patriotism means a lot to residents. I’m so happy that I’m here. This is all something that I completely didn’t expect.”

After the surprise presentation, several of Crane’s El Toro students described why they like learning to sing.

“I like her songs. It makes me feel great when I’m singing,” said Gabriel, a kindergartner.

“I like her songs because they’re so beautiful,” said Samantha, another kindergartner. The lyrics makes her feel patriotic about America, she said.

First-grader Myla has sung at the annual July 3 Patriotic Sing and said she likes performing songs of American pride for the public. “It’s just fun.”

Photo by Marty Cheek
Chamber board members, ambassadors, staff and friends congratulate Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Rich Firato, center, with the Man of the Year Award at the weekly Rotary Club meeting.

Benji, a first-grader, said he feels “wonderful” when he’s singing the song “AMERICA” because it makes him feel confident and proud of his country. “I like all her music and all her songs,” he said.

Two hours after Crane’s presentation, Firato sat at a table eating lunch at the weekly Rotary Club of Morgan Hill meeting at the Community Center when the Chamber staff, board members and ambassadors filed in and took over the stage. Member and Community Engagement Director Brittney Sherman announced to the group that one Rotarian had been selected as the 2019 Man of the Year and said she would reveal the person with a poem.

“Our Man of the Year is a pirate

At least that’s what he says

But I think he poses as a local business owner

To keep us all misled

He says it was a while ago

Before the Friday Night Music Series, Mushroom Mardi Gras, Taste of Morgan Hill and Morgan’s Cove were yet to be

That he was a benevolent, music-loving pirate

Sailing the Seven Seas

Captain of the Chamber Board and Firato Janitorials

Author of a book which the critics praised in editorials

A well-known active Rotarian

His community service, support and generosity exceeding the word humanitarian

He can be sighted in the community around every turn

Or sitting in his Ship Yard pondering new pirate techniques to learn

This man was a pirate

Who sailed the deepest sea

But now he’s just our Man of the Year

Who’s as friendly and deserving as can be.

Congratulations, Rich Firato!”

Firato is locally famous for his Morgan’s Cove home, which is landscaped with a pirate theme and includes a life-size pirate ship in the backyard. He often opens it for use for nonprofit fundraising.

Chamber member Brian Sullivan praised Firato for his countless volunteer hours with the Chamber, Rotary, and the Edward Boss Prado Foundation run by Cecelia Ponzini. For many years, the businessman has organized the Friday Night Music Series in the summer that attracts music fans from throughout the Bay Area to downtown Morgan Hill.

“When you’re asked by somebody that they need your help, you don’t hesitate,” Sullivan told Firato. “You get right there and do it. Not only do you do it, but you do it right away. I have heard from Cecelia Ponzini about one time when she asked if you can clean the carpet over at a school, and you said, ‘When?’ and she said, ‘Well, whenever you can.’ You were there within two hours.”

Firato pointed out how his son Nick’s leadership of the family business gives him time to do volunteer work. He said that receiving the award in front of his fellow Rotarians means a lot to him and two of the club’s members — Bob Foster and Mayor Steve Tate — have inspired him to give back to community. Foster this year received the Leadership Morgan Hill program’s LEAD honor.

“Listening to Bob Foster’s award from Leadership really set the tone for me to look up and be like him,” Firato said. “Then I read some stuff about our mayor and working with the mayor for the last eight years and realizing what he’s accomplished in his career and volunteering as a community leader, there’s two men that I really want to take after… Bob Foster and the Mayor. So thank you very much.”

Editor’s Note: The remaining Celebrate Award winners will be featured in the next issue of Morgan Hill Life. Visit morganhilllife.com/2018/11/30/2019-morgan-hill-chamber-celebrate-surprise-videos to see the presentations.