UP CLOSE -- Celeste Jardine-Haug

CITY OF RESIDENCE: Laguna Niguel

CITY OF WORK: Newport Beach

WHEN WERE YOU HIRED? May 9, 1998

FAMILY STATUS: Married with two children, 11 and 9.

AGE: 40

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in

gerontology and administration.

PAST POSITIONS: I have worked as a program officer for the New York

City Department for the Aging, resource specialist for Westside

Independent Services for the Elderly, coordinator at the Culver City

Senior Center and UCLA long-term care Gerontology Center.

PRESENT OCCUPATION: Gerontologist with the city of Newport Beach at

the OASIS Senior Center.

EXPLANATION OF JOB IN 15 WORDS OR LESS: Managing a multipurpose senior

center that provides both recreational and social service programs.

YOUR GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Expanding the OASIS Senior

Center into a comprehensive service center that meets the needs of the

senior population.

YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO: If you don’t have a dream, you might as well stop

living.

THE COMPACT DISC IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW: Jim Brickman, “Destiny.”

YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION: My family.

WORD OR PHRASE YOU MOST OVERUSE: Quite frankly.

WHAT CAN YOU COOK? My father was a gourmet cook, so I grew up

surrounded by the best. When I have time, I love to cook special meals.

A HABIT YOU WISH YOU COULD CHANGE: I change subjects in the middle of

a sentence because I’m always thinking ahead of myself.

THE COLLEGE MAJOR YOU ALMOST TOOK: Communications.

YOUR LAST CHARITABLE ACT: Sponsored a child in the St. Joseph’s Ballet

Company.

AS A CHILD, WHAT DID SCHOOLMATES TEASE YOU ABOUT?: My last name.

WHAT IS IN YOUR TRUNK RIGHT NOW?: My soccer bag, five soccer balls and

muddy cleats.

THE FIRST THING THAT ATTRACTED YOU TO YOUR SPOUSE OR PARTNER: His

intelligence and warm manner.

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES?: Martin Luther King Jr. and Franklin D.

Roosevelt.

FAVORITE ESCAPE FROM REALITY: Reading the creative stories written by

my children.

YOUR IDEA OF EXERCISE: Playing soccer with my kid and walking the dog.

THE THING YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR APPEARANCE: My nose.

I HAVE A DREAM THAT: One day, people will be judged solely on their

merits, regardless of their skin color.

PHONE WHERE PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU: (949) 644-3244.