Laure Zabek had an all-American childhood. She grew up in a big family – five brothers and one sister – in the hills of Redwood City, with a creek in the backyard and lots of room to roam. That close family upbringing has stayed with her all these years, which is probably why she fits in so well with our Sterling Court community.

Laure’s family had a summer house in Clear Lake, so during the hot months she remembers waterskiing every day, fishing, and swimming – no doubt helping her become a competitive swimmer in school.

When the family kept growing, they moved to Belmont and Laure transferred from San Carlos High to Carlmont High – and it wasn’t easy leaving all the friends she’d known since St. Pius Elementary School. Laure next went to the College of San Mateo to train as a dental technician and for one year lived with her best friend’s family.

“My parents moved to Oklahoma City because my dad got the chance to open a classic car museum,” says Laure. “They only lasted a year and a half! My dad said, ‘I thought I was a conservative in San Francisco, but I was really a radical!’” laughs Laure. They moved to San Francisco, so Laure finished her schooling there. Laure’s specialty was working closely with dentists to make crowns and bridges.

Laure’s dad had worked for British Motor Cars, where he rose to vice president and was named the top U.S. Rolls-Royce salesman. Her dad’s love of cars spread through the family. “My whole life I was in love with cars,” says Laure. She has driven MGs, Porsches, Audis, Mercedes, and many others. “I appreciate everything my dad did,” says Laure. “He was a special guy.”

Laure also loved to sail and raced competitively. This is how she met her husband. They moved to Orinda, but were soon back in San Francisco, and bought her parents’ home.

After living there nine years, Laure went through a lot of changes. The tech boom hit, and she discovered a talent for technical recruiting, placing software engineers at major companies including Oracle, Intuit, HP, and Genentech. She was able to work remotely and moved to the family’s beloved Clear Lake house. Laure’s parents, who had moved to the desert, then relocated to Sterling Court in 2012 and fit right in.

After Laure’s dad passed away, her mother came to live with her in Clear Lake, and they learned they were great roommates. As her mother aged, it was time to move back to Sterling Court – but this time, Laure came with her. They continued living together until her mom passed away a year ago.

Laure’s next step was to move to a smaller apartment and really get involved in the Sterling Court community. “At first, I wasn’t sure I’d fit in,” she says, but that soon changed. “I play Rummikub, Pinochle, and Mahjong,” says Laure. She’s also a member of the Sterling Stitchers as a knitter. “I learned when I was young, so I’m picking it up again,” she says. Plus, she’s organizing a group trip to Graton Casino.

She’s on the board of the Burlingame Music Club, an organization for young musicians, and was just voted vice president. She also fundraises for charities.

Laure has lived at Sterling Court for almost four years now and has only nice things to say. “The food is great and Chef Denis is a kick! And the wait staff and everybody are just tremendous.”

“My mom’s philosophy was ‘live, love, and laugh,’ and I’m following suit,” laughs Laure. “We had good times together, and now I’ve made good friends at Sterling Court. It’s a great community.”

Carole Young’s story sounds like a TV show! A woman moves to a remote island off the coast of Maine to be their Postmaster, where she and her husband savor beautiful summers sailing idyllic seascapes and frozen winters in a close-knit fishing community of 350 year-round residents. That is just one of Carole’s many stories!

Now, as of September, she’s enjoying the much warmer California weather at Sterling Court, living close to her daughter and already making her mark.

“This is a wonderful place to be,” says Carole. “There are so many activities – exercise classes, lectures. We play Rummikub and Pinochle. That’s really fun!” Plus, Carole and another resident started a sewing group. “We just had our first meeting and 10 people signed up and more floated in,” she says. “We sat and chatted while working on crochet, knitting – you name it.”

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Carole was no stranger to the cold. One favorite childhood memory was a six-week road trip in her dad’s new 1949 Ford. “We took Route 66 all the way to California,” she says. “We’d see teepees on the side of the road and stop to buy jewelry.” They drove through a terrible storm in Kansas City, crossed the desert without air conditioning, and visited Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and even Tijuana. “It was wild!”

Carole met her husband, Howard, at Alfred State College. They raised three children – Wendy, Drew, and Kelly – in New York. When the youngest started school, Carole took a part-time job at the Post Office that grew into a full-time career.

Thanks to his work’s early retirement offer, Howard retired in his 50s and they moved yearround to Swans Island, Maine, where Carole became Postmaster and combined three post offices into one. Avid sailors, Carole and Howard spent summers on their 30-foot boat. “I loved living there – the views were beautiful and the summers were great.

The winters weren’t all that swell though,” she laughs. They later moved to Bar Harbor, where Carole served as Postmaster in Seal Harbor. “To get there, I would drive through Acadia National Park and think, ‘I must have the best commute.’”

Howard didn’t love to travel, so Carole explored with her daughter Wendy. “We did a 24-day Mediterranean cruise – from Barcelona to Venice to Istanbul. It was our trip of a lifetime.” They also visited Taiwan and Hong Kong, which they both loved.

After Carole retired, she and Howard moved to Oriental, North Carolina, then later to Gastonia to be near their son. “My daughter always says she can’t keep track of all the houses I’ve lived in,” Carole laughs.

After a long and glorious retirement, Howard passed away. Carole stayed active – volunteering with her church and spending time with friends. But after three hurricanes and recovering from floods, she was ready for a move. Happily, her daughter and traveling companion, Wendy, lives in San Mateo and found Sterling Court. Carole moved across the country sight unseen.

Now, Carole enjoys the social hours with piano music, champagne, and hors d’oeuvres. “The food’s amazing!” says Carole. “We have a wonderful chef here.” She loves the wide selection and the desserts. “You learn not to indulge every night!” says Carole. She also walks a lot and aims for 3,000 steps a day, in the courtyard and on occasional walks downtown. She joins shopping outings in the Sterling Court bus, visits with family, and calls East Coast friends to tell them about California (self-driving cars everywhere!).

Carole has made some good friends here and each night at dinner sits with new people. “There are a lot of upbeat people here and I enjoy meeting them,” laughs Carole. “We’re a chatty bunch!”

Spend a little time with Karen Yorke and Jim Smith and you’ll hear stories about growing up in Paris, life on a Navy destroyer, Madison Avenue advertising, living in Japan, dancing on a first date, convalescing in a Tajikistan hospital, and how they met working together at the highly respected Stanford Research Institute (SRI).

“We’ve been together for 39 years,” says Karen. “Right before we got married, Jim asked me, ‘Are you planning on changing your name?’ And I said ‘No,’ and that was fine.” Jim is 13 years older than Karen, and both lived full lives before they met.

They now live at Sterling Court, drawn by its flexible living plan and support. For health reasons, Jim moved into the Sterling Court assisted living residence a little over a year ago while Karen stayed in their home in El Granada, near Half Moon Bay, and did the easy drive back and forth. Recently, she joined him full-time, and they’re decorating their apartment.

Jim grew up in Berkeley and attended Cal. After graduation, he joined the Navy and spent four years on a destroyer out of Norfolk, Virginia. “Before that, I hadn’t been east of Reno!” he laughs. He later married, had a son, Steven, and moved to Connecticut before becoming a Madison Avenue ad man in New York City. “Now you understand the two personalities of Jim Smith!” Karen jokes. “Navy officer and ‘Mad Men’ executive!”

Jim enjoyed everywhere he lived but missed the California culture. He returned to the Bay Area and soon launched a new SRI program called Environmental Scanning, studying social, political, economic, and technological trends shaping the future. “I met Karen when she was recruited to be part of the program,” says Jim.

Karen began her life of travel when her father was called back to active duty during the Korean War. Her family lived in Virginia, Novato in Marin County, Paris, France, and Sacramento, then returned to Novato, where her parents retired.

After college, Karen decided to move to Japan and caught the country at the beginning of its economic boom. “From 1973 to 1990, Japan was on a continual growth pattern,” says Karen. “It was a very dynamic and fun time to be there.” After seven years, she came back to California and worked not only at Jim’s program but also studied issues that would be interesting to Japanese business clients. Karen speaks and writes Japanese with its many social nuances. When she receives occasional middle-of-the-night calls from Japan, Jim says, “I can tell by how she’s speaking whether it’s a business superior or an old friend.”

Jim was newly divorced when he got to SRI and his group became like a family. When Karen arrived, Jim knew he wanted to get to know her better. “The acid test,” Jim jokes, “was ‘Can Karen dance?’” So, he invited her to tea dancing at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco. “Thank goodness Karen was a good dancer!” says Jim.

They had a lovely candlelit wedding at the Swedenborgian Church in San Francisco and welcomed a daughter, named Aileen, who now works in Salt Lake City and is newly married. They still see her and Jim’s son, Steven, often.

They traveled extensively, including going to Tajikistan, formerly part of the Soviet Union, to visit a foreign exchange student who had stayed with them. There Jim suffered a stroke but recovered with stories to tell. “Jim goes with the flow,” laughs Karen.

Today, they’re happily settling in at Sterling Court. “The people here, from senior staff to daily care, are excellent!” says Jim. “I give them an A+.” Karen already likes the area. “Burlingame is a walkable, charming little town with lots to do,” she says. “After a very busy year, we’re just really looking forward to meeting people and learning everything Sterling Court offers.”

Kay Mangelsen is no stranger to this area. Born and raised in San Mateo, she has had an action-packed life filled with travel, adventures, family, friends, animals, and a lot of luck! Now, she’s back in San Mateo living at Sterling Court – and she loves it.

“It’s been the best!” says Kay. Before moving to Sterling Court, Kay’s hobbies included counted cross-stitch and knitting, but now she’s adding more social activities to her day. “There are so many nice people. I’m back to playing cards and I’m learning Mahjong!” (Mahjong is getting big at Sterling Court!) Plus, she’s a Bingo fan.

Kay has many compliments for Chef Denis and the staff. “The food here is really, really good,” she says. “I’m so happy to have so many choices. And the people are great.”

After attending the College of San Mateo, she married her high school sweetheart, Ken, at just 19. By age 27, they had four daughters, all with names beginning with K – Kathy, Kristi, Korene, and Karen. “We didn’t do it intentionally at first,” Kay laughs.

Their busy home also included Springer spaniels, Labrador retrievers, cats, a mule named Harry, and a family turtle who lived with them for more than 45 years. “He was funny!” says Kay of the turtle who would open the screen door to get in and out of the house.

Ken’s career took the family to Keokuk, Iowa, a small city where the Des Moines River meets the Mississippi. With Ken, an avid outdoorsman, Kay camped and fished. She also remembers hunting pheasants in snowy, nine-degree weather. When they moved back to California four years later, they settled in Concord, where two daughters still live.

Travel was always a joy. They visited Boston, Washington, D.C., took a three-month trip with other families through Canada and Alaska all driving trailers, took cruises to Alaska and along the Panama Canal, and went with a group of friends to Ireland, England, and Wales. “We took all the tours!” Kay says. They also have a timeshare in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

One favorite getaway was Reno, where they had good friends and enjoyed playing video poker. “One year we went for the Super Bowl, and they had a blackjack tournament,” says Kay. “My daughter said, ‘Why don’t you get in?’ I’d never played blackjack in my life – but I won the tournament!” Kay’s luck held out when she won the next year too!

Once the girls were grown, Kay and Ken bought acreage in Cool, a small town outside Auburn, California, and built a house where they had many happy years living in the country, says Kay.

After 56 years together, Ken passed away in 2010. Then, three years ago, Kay lost her oldest daughter. She continued living independently until her daughters – including one who lives in the San Mateo house where Kay grew up – had an idea.

“My daughter knew someone who lived at Sterling Court and thought, ‘This would be perfect for my mother!’” And she was right! “My family moved me down from Auburn, and my place was all set,” says Kay. She and her 15-year-old cat Heidi have been enjoying her apartment since May and Kay is deeply grateful to her daughters and two wonderful sons-in-law.

Kay’s life philosophy is simple: “Live one day at a time and be happy you woke up in the morning!” As she talks about making new friends, enjoying new activities, and living close to her family, it’s clear that Kay’s lucky streak continues.

Nancy Glasson is a true native. Born in San Mateo, she is not only a great source for downtown history, she’s personable, funny, and a fast talker. “I used to be in sales,” she jokes. “I keep talking until you say ‘yes.’”

Nancy has lived many lives: stay-at-home mom, successful real estate agent, bed-and-breakfast owner, world traveler, and lifelong people person. “I love life and I love people,” she says.

She brings that spirit to Sterling Court, where she’s an avid Bridge player, loves Bingo, enjoys the gardens, and is a fan of the dining room. “The food is extremely good,” she says. “I don’t eat a lot, but I taste everything. The chef does a very good job.”

Growing up, San Mateo had a small-town feel. “My mother had a dress shop downtown,” she says. “She started it when I was eight and closed it in 1970. She’d go to New York on buying trips. She was ahead of her time.”

Nancy is a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church and taught Sunday school there. She attended San Mateo Park Elementary, San Mateo High School, and then went to CSM, Coyote Point.

“I had a wonderful time raising my five children, working at their school, and volunteer- ing.” She is incredibly proud of all of them. “My oldest son is a retired judge and attorney living in Nevada. My youngest son just retired after a successful insurance career. My oldest daughter ran Fairview Manor, a bed-and-breakfast in Ben Lomond that I bought in 1986. Carrying on the mantle, my youngest daughter is very active in the Peninsula real estate scene.” Nancy lost one daugh- ter, who was a neonatal nurse at Stanford Hospital.

Once her children were grown, Nancy began her real estate career and, like her mother, was ahead of her time. “I had a successful career from 1970 until I retired in 2002. When I started, I was one of very few women in a business filled with older retired men.”

Promoting the area was easy. She loves the climate and proximity to the ocean. Even earthquakes don’t faze her. “Besides Loma Prieta, I’ve never really felt one,” she says. She
recalls being with a friend in a little shop behind the Ben Franklin Hotel when that quake hit. “When we walked out, the water in the hotel pool was swishing back and forth. I got soaked!”

Nancy was happily married for 20 years. Later she had a longtime friend until he died two years ago. “I miss him a lot.” They traveled extensively together. She has been to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii, and Europe many times, and has taken numerous cruises.

Nancy lived independently until a year ago, when a dizzy spell turned out to be a stroke. After a hospital stay and rehab, she needed a new home. Her daughter Nonnie knew Sarah at Sterling Court, so Nancy moved into an assisted living unit.

“I have a nice apartment. I go to activities and music programs twice a week, and I play cards,” she says. The dining room hosts some of her favorite times. “I really enjoy talking to all the different people.”

She is deeply grateful for her family. “I’ve had immeasurable help from them,” she says. Her growing family now includes nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many beloved in-laws.

“I’ve had a good life. I’ve had some sadness, but a lot of happiness.” She still follows world news. “I work hard to keep my marbles. I’m curious. I want to see what’s going to happen tomorrow.” She laughs. “I have a very strong heart, so I’ll probably be around for a while.”