Los Angeles
County
Biographies
MAXINE HINDT
Probably
in no other community undertaking has there been more co-operation and
widespread support, than in the Mentally and
Emotionally Retarded Children, Inc., or short—M.E.R.C.I.
The
guiding light is Maxine Hindt who with inspiration and practical application
laid the foundation to MERCI, to give each mentally retarded child an
opportunity to reach his highest development through specialized teaching. Her training as accredited school teacher,
combined with sympathetic understanding and infinite patience, helped her in
teaching her retarded son with such astonishing results, that in 1949 the
parents of five severely retarded children asked her help in teaching these
youngsters. Again her teaching methods
showed results. This small beginning was
the spark to organize the Retarded Children’s Association of the San Gabriel
Valley. Mrs. Hindt was hired as
teacher. Her capable assistant is
Jeanette Giliassa.
In 1960 Beulah Stromwatt joined the
staff. Under the guidance of these three
teachers, seventeen pupils from 3-1/2 to 17 years of age are now in the training
class of MERCI School at 525 North Chandler Street in Monterey Park.
Mrs.
Maxine Hindt was born on May 2, 1906, in State Center, Iowa. She is one of ten children of Corodon Buck and Olive (Beatty) Buck.
She
attended elementary and high school in State Center, Iowa, and graduated from
Iowa State Teachers College in 1927. She
held a teaching position in Iowa for seven years.
Her
wedding to William J. Hindt, a disabled attorney, took place on March 25, 1934,
in Rock Rapids, Iowa. They have two
sons, William J. Hindt, Jr., is 25 years old.
Max Buck Hindt, 22 years old, is a cabinet maker, and lives with his
wife and son, Ronald, in Monterey Park.
Mrs.
Maxine Hindt is a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Monterey Park.
They
moved to Los Angeles in 1941, where they lived for two years. The next move in 1943 was to Monterey
Park. From then on the purpose of Mrs. Maxine
Hindt’s life has been to educate and guide mentally
retarded children, so they will become happier, less dependent individuals.
Mrs.
Maxine Hindt is hoping and planning for a new building on the property of
MERCI, to have a modern training center for adult retarded people also.
Mrs.
Hindt was named Monterey Park Career Woman of the Year 1958 – 59 by the
Monterey Park Business and Professional Women’s Club, and in 1961, was awarded
a plaque for her ‘Outstanding Service to MERCI’ by the members of MERCI.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 762-763, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES