Keeping Up with the Active Valente Family

Many longtime La Cañada families have moved to the beach area and, of course, being an ocean lover, I don’t blame them.

Chris and Nancy Valente and family are a good example. They all live in the Dana Point area and are loving it. Nancy was dental assistant to Dr. Don Kraus and also Dr. Lee while living here and is now managing the dental office of Dr. James Boger in Newport Beach. Chris donates time at the Hoag Hospital on Thursdays, as those who know him might expect.

While living here, following in the footsteps of the beloved Gilbert “Smitty” Smith, Chris was director of the Youth House for 20 years. He also taught at St. Francis High School for 25 years.

Chris was involved in so many civic affairs and loved riding on a big red fire truck in so many of our Memorial Day parades along with his “kids” of the Youth House. He was elected honorary mayor of our town in 1981, ’82 and ’83. Then in 1987 he was elected La Cañada Chamber of Commerce president twice. Whew. As if that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, he served as president of the Humane Society and also president of the local Red Cross. To top it off, he served as parade grand marshal.

The Valente “kids,” Teddy, Chris, Dina and Anne Marie are loving the beach area also. While growing up here, the boys graduated from St. Francis and the girls from Sacred Heart Academy.

Both Dina and Anne Marie are married. Dina is the mother of two, and Anne Marie has three children, so they keep busy. Nancy and Chris are proud grandparents that’s for sure. Son Chris had longed to become a firefighter and had studied hours and had applied to many cities. Now he has just joined the Anaheim Fire Department. Good for him. Teddy keeps busy working and producing television and movies.

Back to Chris. He retired as CEO from an international corporation affiliated with the United Nations and has traveled in 100 foreign countries...WOW!

‘Till next time.