Biographical sketch of Elva Jean Ledwith
(Originally published in Panther Tracks 1995 for our 40th Reunion)
I married Richard Hoogner (BHS Class of 1954) and have three grown children. Cathy is a Script Supervisor in the film industry. Kim has a degree in architectural photography from the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara and works in a professional color lab. Scott has a degree in communications from Menlo College and works for a communications company in Santa Clara. They all live locally so we get to visit with them often.
I returned to college while home raising a family and earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration. I am currently an assistant to Sr. VP & CFO of a company in Menlo Park. My husband, Rich, was with Hewlett-Packard in the corporate area for 25 years, but is now working as an Engineering Manager for Perkin Elmer in Foster City.
And, yes, sisters Peggy and Elva are in daily contact and get together frequently.
All three children were married (one divorced), and we have twin granddaughters who started kindergarten this last August.
Rich and I retired in 2003 and moved from Sunnyvale to Bonny Doone. We live on a beautiful piece of property that includes a 2100 foot runway, a small house and a hangar (which houses Rich's airplane). We are also working with two of our children (and their spouses) to establish a lavender farm on part of our property.
Who says life slows down after retirement? We are busier now than when we were both working!
(Submitted by Elva and posted here with permission)
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Santa Cruz Sentinel, 5/23/2009
Bonny Doon airport for sale for $3.2 million
By Jondi Gumz
BONNY DOON -- Rich Hoogner, owner of the Bonny Doon Airport, has put the property on the market just in time for the Watsonville Fly In and Air Show this weekend. The asking price: $3.2 million.
"It's a beautiful place," said broker Tom Stelling of KW Commercial in Santa Cruz. "A well-to-do pilot would call it heaven."
The deal includes about 23 acres at 8657 Empire Grade, a 1,300-square-foot home with landscaped grounds and the newly paved airport runway, with landing lights, and a 2,000-square-foot hangar big enough to house two planes.
Hoogner bought the airport in 1993 for $400,000; it's currently assessed at $455,451. He owns another 15 or so adjoining acres with a house that are not included in this listing, Stelling said.
A retired high-tech executive who has been flying for more than 50 years, Hoogner has enjoyed the convenience of landing in his own backyard. His grandchildren from over the hill used to visit, but now that they are older and spend weekends playing sports, he and his wife Elva would rather move closer to where they live.
During the Martin Fire last year, Hoogner allowed firefighters to use the FAA-approved airport as a staging area for their aircraft and water tankers. "I'm sure this saved some homes, and maybe some lives," Stelling said.
An investor from Aptos has expressed interest in the property, according to Stelling, adding that pilots are welcome to fly into the airport as long as they sign a waiver.
If a deal isn't struck this weekend, potential buyers can get a look when the Bonny Doon Airport hosts the seventh annual Art and Wine Festival, a benefit for the Bonny Doon Community School Foundation, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 6.
Attendance will be limited to 400; advance tickets, which cost $30, are available from Aleene Althouse. 420-1555.