Los
Angeles County
Biographies
JESSIE GARIGEN
The
care of pre-school-age children has become absorbing work for Jessie Garigen,
who operates the Childlife Nursery School at 604
North Atlantic Boulevard in Monterey Park.
In operation since 1952, this school is licensed for twenty-two children
from two to six years of age, and is always filled. City, county, and state licensed, Mrs.
Garigen’s nursery school employs six people, and is the only school in the area
open from six in the morning until seven in the evening, serving mostly working
parents. Individual attention is given
each child whenever necessary. Mrs.
Garigen formerly operated a day care nursery for children under two for nearly
two years in Spokane, Washington, coming to Monterey Park in 1958. She is in partnership with Mr. L. J.
Clifford, a teacher in the Pasadena area.
The Childlife Nursery School includes
kindergarten and provides its children with a number of activities such as free
and constructive play, music, reading, storytelling, and indoor and outdoor
dancing.
Jessie
Garigen, a widow, was born on May 23, 1922 in Oroville, Washington. She is the daughter of John A. and Ruby
(Sutton) Johnson, both of whom have passed away. They were both natives of California, Mr.
Johnson from Willows, and Mrs. Johnson from Shasta. Mrs. Garigen received her elementary
education at Oroville, Washington, and attended high school in Okanogan, in the
same state. She also took special
college courses in psychology and scientology—the art of knowing how to
know. Before coming to Monterey Park
Mrs. Garigen owned a laundry, and was in the restaurant and apartment house
businesses, in addition to her child care experience.
A
member of the International Order of Foresters, the San Gabriel Valley single
people’s group, Mrs. Garigen is also a member of the Nursery School Association
of San Gabriel, and the Exceptional Children’s Association, the San Gabriel Valley
Chapter. She also belongs to the Mark
Keppel High School Parent-Teachers’ Association. Her religious affiliation is with the Church
of Religious Science.
Mrs.
Garigen is the mother of three daughters:
Mrs. Edward (Donna Ruby) Harding lives in Hayward, California, with her
husband, a traffic manager for Montgomery Ward, and their three children,
Patricia Jean, Andrew James, and Michelle; Mrs. Gabe (Marlene Dolores) Potter
lives in San Diego with her husband, who is in electronics; Lynda Gale Garigen
is a good student at Mark Keppel High School, where she had a leading role in
the school play, “Best Foot Forward,” and is studying arts and drama.
Mrs.
Garigen has many interests outside of her work—lively ones, such as hiking,
horseback riding, and dancing, and thoughtful ones, such as reading, and
studying science, philosophy and religions.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 565-567, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES