Take a passion for medicine and combine with one for art; stir in a desire for service; add slowly to a long-term, successful marriage partnership, and simmer gently for decades. The result? A better world.
This is the “recipe” by which Jerry and Charlotte Severin have made a difference, for our community, the Tri-Valley region, and in other parts of the world. Heading toward their 50th wedding anniversary, this couple can look back and see many positive results of their careers and their volunteer efforts.
For example, one of their ongoing, joint projects is raising funds for a children’s burn center in Santiago, Chile. Jerry and Charlotte visited Coaniquem Burned Children Foundation Center as part of one of Jerry’s professional association conferences during his long career in dermatology. The center provides care and treatment for children from South and Central America who otherwise could not afford it–and there are many of them: each year, an estimated 7 million children are injured and disfigured with burns, due to cooking done over open fires, household accidents, or improper use of fireworks. Jerry and Charlotte, trained as a doctor and nurse, respectively, took an interest in the medical program of the center. Widely known as an artist, Charlotte also saw firsthand how art projects could help the young patients cope with treatments while far from their homes.
As a result of that visit, the Severins have become involved as planners for an annual local fundraiser for the clinics. Called “Fiesta of the Americas,” the event will take place from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 5 at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville. The surgeon who heads the clinic, Dr. Jorge Rojas Zegers, is also an accomplished classical guitarist, and he will perform during the benefit banquet. Tickets are on sale for $75 per person, and the Severins are hopeful that individuals or groups will “sponsor” a young burn victim for a donation of $600 to cover the cost of their treatment. For information, call 510-769-9661.
Closer to home, there are other tangible results of the Severins’ commitment to service. Charlotte was a founder and first president of Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council (PCAC) a group she describes as “including patrons of the arts as well as representatives of art groups–performing arts, painters, and so on. Basically, it’s people seeing the arts go forward.” Working with the Pleasanton Art League, PCAC successfully lobbied the city for a visual arts workshop in the parkland adjacent to the Delores Bengtson Aquatic Center on Black Avenue. Another PCAC goal was establishment of a center for performing arts, and Charlotte led the way to an unusual arrangement whereby the city took over ownership and management of Amador Theater on the Amador Valley High School campus. Renovating the theater took many volunteers and a decade, with completion celebrated in 1990. A PCAC president, Charlotte accepted the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce’s Community Development Award that year.
While Jerry was busy with his 32-year private practice in Livermore and serving as the chief of staff (1977-79) of the (then) Valley Memorial Hospital, Charlotte was involved in the local projects to celebrate the nation’s Bicentennial. Funds were raised for the Chan Henderson Memorial Bandstand in Lions Wayside Park, First and Neal Streets. Charlotte was asked by City Councilman Bill Herlihy, “If we have a bandstand, how about a band?”–and she hurried off to see if the Amador Valley Adult School would sponsor such a group. They would, and they still do. “The band has been continuously getting better,” Charlotte said. “It allows people who might not otherwise get the chance to play their instruments. As with art, music provides a balance in our lives.”
How appropriate that the all-volunteer Amador Community Concert Band was performing on this past Fourth of July when Charlotte was applauded as a recipient of the Ed Kinney Community Service Award.
Next to Lions Wayside Park is the brick building that formerly housed Pleasanton’s first fires station. Since the new fire station was completed on Bernal Avenue, plans are underway to convert the old station into an arts center.
“We have needed a smaller theater, plus a gallery and classroom space,” said Charlotte, who is serving on the city’s task force for Old Firehouse Arts Center. “We have all sorts of opportunities to have internationally known artists come to speak and give workshops. We also need to preserve the historic firehouse. This is a project for all ages, from children who might take classes through adults who may attend performance in the 240-seat theater.”
A nonprofit Pleasanton Community Arts Foundation has been established to create an endowed fund not only for the Old Firehouse Arts Center, but, in the future, an additional arts center on the Bernal property.
Pleasanton residents who appreciate the convenience of watching city council and school board meetings on television in their own homes owe a debt of gratitude to Charlotte (and others). Community Television (CTV) became reality here when Darla Stevens began showing up to videotape public events.
“Darla was pulling the little red wagon she used to haul videotape equipment, and she was taping the time capsule being buried at the Century House,” Charlotte said of their first encounter. “I became the behind-the-scenes political organizer [for CTV], while Darla was the hands-on one.” One of the awards on display at the Severin home was presented to Charlotte in 1999 with the inscription, “CTV 1976-1999: Founding member and chair of the Board of Directors–Given with great appreciation for ongoing work.” Charlotte also was name “Woman of the Year” in 2003 by the Pleasanton Weekly.
Jerry was serving on the Voluntary Clinical Faculty at Stanford Medical School when he was tapped to become the geriatric dermatologist at the Livermore Veterans’ Administration Hospital, a position he enjoyed for the six years prior to his retirement.
“I just loved it, hearing the amazing stories they had to share,” he said of his military veteran patients. Although officially retired, Jerry still volunteers one day per month at the Axis Community Health Center, where patients without health insurance can receive treatment for low or no fees.
The Severins’ love story began on Valentine’s Day while both were in medical school. Their graduation on June 14, 1958, was also their first wedding anniversary. Between medical school and Jerry’s military service, the young couple saved their earnings for world travel. They embarked on an eight-month trip, exploring Iraq, Pakistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Burma, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and the countries of Europe, bringing back a lifetime’s worth of memories and tales of their adventures.
Son Jack was born in Germany (1962) while Jerry was serving as battalion surgeon. The family moved to their Pleasanton home in 1967, and daughters Kim Severin Coberg (1964) and Julie Severin Frey (1973) also were raised here. Now the family includes eight grandchildren: Jonathan, Michael, and Lanae Severin; Brenna, Benjamin, and Emma Coberg; and Annika and newborn Lydia Frey.
“All the things that happen in life can be turned into ways to help people,” Charlotte likes to say, and she has demonstrated that belief in a most personal way. Charlotte is a survivor of breast cancer–twice. That health challenge, plus her medical training, prompted her to volunteer with the American Cancer Society to educate thousands of women in this area about the importance of regular breast self-examination in order to quickly get treatment if a lump is detected. Charlotte has spoken to local service clubs, employees of Livermore and Sandia national laboratories, and even to inmates of the nearby women’s federal correctional facility. Several individuals have credited her with saving their lives.
The world travels that the Severins began soon after their marriage have continued, not only through Jerry’s medical association conferences, but also due to Charlotte’s art career. She specializes now in watercolors painted en plein air, or outdoors at the scene. Her adult students are sometimes seen around the community, carrying out their lessons under her guidance. In addition, many aspiring painters have accompanied Charlotte on art tours to France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, China, Tibet, and Mexico, plus Alaska and Arizona in this country.
Another way in which Charlotte has shared her passion for art is through local public schools, where she has instructed thousands of students in Japanese brush painting. So great has been the demand for her skills that Charlotte has videotaped a series of five lessons, “Art Made Easy,” (now also on DVD), which she has donated to the local school district and which also are available in the public libraries of the Tri-Valley. As part of the local Make A Difference festival for eight years, Charlotte helped collect art supplies donated for use by children temporarily living in shelters nearby.
As they approach their golden wedding anniversary, it seems appropriate to ask the Severins for their recipe for a successful marriage. What advice would they have for those aspiring to live “happily ever after”?
“Take care of your wife,” Jerry unhesitatingly answered.
“And he does,” added Charlotte, noting that her husband is the “consummate gentleman,” who never fails to hold her chair for her at every meal, even breakfast, before he himself sits down.
“Work together as a team,” is Charlotte’s succinct advice for married couples, to which she added, “Part of that is appreciating the little things and letting your partner know. Loving each other–never losing that. Always thanking each other. Surprising each other with little things; making life fun. Oh, and having a sense of humor.”
Although neither one stated it, “Thinking of others” beyond the family might be considered another essential ingredient for the long-term partnership they continue to enjoy. Both Jerry and Charlotte Severin have coped with recent health challenges. Charlotte said of their relationship, “It doesn’t seem like 50 years. We’re very lucky to be here, and still be able to dance, somewhat.”
Jerry & Charlotte Severin support many worthwhile causes. They are on the planning committee to help fund a children’s burn center in South America.
WHAT: Fiesta de las Ame’ricas
WHEN: Friday, October 5
WHERE: Blackhawk Museum, Danville
WHY: Benefit for COANIQUEM Burned Children Foundation
HOW: $75 per person; ticket includes dinner, dancing, no-host bar, silent auction, charity drawing, and a classical guitar concert by the burn center’s director. Call 510-769-9661 for reservations or further details.
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