For as long as she can remember, Jean Ingoglia has dreamt of having the opportunity to decorate a Rose Parade float. The energetic gal, who just celebrated her 90th birthday, became enamored with the idea after first seeing the magnificent floral floats up close and personal with her son and daughter nearly two decades ago.
“My goodness, when I saw the gorgeous floats and how they created them, I thought I would never have the chance to do this, and wondered how it could ever be possible,” Jean said.
Jean’s dream will come true on Saturday when she travels by bus to Irwindale and volunteer from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – carefully placing fresh fragrant flowers and other detailed fixtures onto the City’s “Making a Splash” float. She will be part of a celebration that is more than a century old – a festival of flowers, music and sports unequaled anywhere in the world.
Jean moved to Mission Viejo from the East Coast about 18 years ago to be near her children after her husband passed away. Wanting to give back to the beautiful community she quickly grew to love, Jean got involved with the City’s Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center. She spent years arranging flowers and bouquets for those who were ill or homebound. She made it her mission to volunteer as much as she could by helping with the seniors’ nutrition program, Meals On Wheels and anything else she could do to bring a bit of joy to those who needed it most.
When the City celebrated its 20th anniversary in March and decided to have a float in the 120th Tournament of Roses Parade as a tribute to the community, its past and future, Jean knew this was her chance to fulfill her longtime dream.
“I watched the parade with such joy, did the flower program and all of a sudden with our 20th anniversary came this wonderful idea for a float …I signed up immediately to volunteer and said ‘please do not turn me down because of my age,’” she said. “Now my dream has come true, and I did not even think I would be around at 90.”
Jean is certainly up for the once-in-a-lifetime task, regardless of her age.
“I don’t think about the number; I just think about my body and what it can do,” she said. “I have been honored to have done all that I have and will still continue to do as much as I can in less of a capacity. I will continue to give back and volunteer as long as God gives me the strength.”
Jean is certainly not short on strength, stamina or spunk. The longtime volunteer will join her daughter and friend in Irwindale Saturday, and she has told her sisters on the East Coast to watch the parade New Year’s Day to see Mission Viejo’s float.
“I think this is so wonderful the City is doing this for its residents. Mission Viejo is a gorgeous City and I am blessed to be a part of it,” she said.
It is truly a pity that the City of Mission Viejo staff and the adults that supervise these children are teaching them that leaching off the taxpayers is a good way to spend their time. Just as surely as if the had been given $100 bills to burn, they are doing nothing but engaging in a taking money from hard working taxpayers and throwing the money away.
Further, lying to the children and telling them this is good for the city, when in fact it is nothing but an excuse to hire more city staff is truly wrong.If we had a vote of the citizens and asked the question “should we spend over $300,000 on a float for the Rose Bowl”, I am sure the opinion would be overwhelmingly “NO”. Only those who have no concept of money and want the nanny government to take care of them “from the womb to the tomb” would support this boondoggle.