Roberts, Leslee K. Interview November 11, 2022.

Faye Jonason: Good afternoon. It is November 29th, 2002―22, and we are at the Marine Corps Mechanized Museum. And I am interviewing―my name is Faye Jonason and I’m interviewing Leslee Roberts, and we’re doing this for CSU San Marcos’s Program for Oral History and for Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton’s Oral History Archives. So, thank you for being here.

Leslee Roberts: My pleasure.

Jonason: And I’m going to ask you your name—your full name—and for you to spell your last name, please.

Roberts: Yes. My name is Leslee Kaye Roberts. That’s R-O-B-E-R-T-S.

Jonason: And you were in the Marine Corps!

Roberts: Yes,

ma’am.

Jonason: So, I’d like to know, very much, how you came about the decision and how you came to the Marine Corps.

Roberts: (sighs) That’s a bit of a story. Um, number one, I have a―I had a brother and it was his dream to become a Marine. He was about four years younger than I and that’s all he ever talked about. Number one. That was not originally my ambition. I joined the Sisters of Charity to become a nun and that did not work out too well. I’m very independent individual, had hard time conforming. So, I was told that I would not fit with the Sisters of Charity. So, I left.

Jonason: Now this was in Cleveland?

Roberts: This was in Cleveland. Uh, like

I was, uh, in my twenties, and I had no job, and I bounced around for a while, and my brother—bless his heart—kept telling me “Join the Marine Corps. Join the Marine Corps.” It was something that he had desired and something that he worked at for—all through his high school years. He even knew the, um, recruiter, okay? So, he introduced me to the recruiter and the young man convinced me that—what–what’s three years—okay? So, at the time I was doing nothing, and I said, all right. And I put my hand in the air and I became a Marine.

Jonason: (laughs) What did your family think about that?

Roberts: They weren’t too happy. My mom—she always went along with whatever decision I made,

within reason. My dad took it very hard. It was during the Vietnam War, and he even laid his head in my lap and cried, “Please don’t do this!” But it was too late. I already had my hand in the air and I belonged to the United States of America.

Jonason: (chuckles) Okay. So, what happened next?

Roberts: I went to bootcamp!

Jonason: Where?

Roberts: Parris Island, and spent a good s–almost eight weeks—I guess it was—in training.

Jonason: What did they train you to do?

Roberts: To be honest, as I kind of mentioned here before, um, the whole idea of boot camp wasn’t any different than becoming a sister for Sisters of Charity. (Jonason laughs) The whole idea of both institutions was to take my personality, take me

(points to herself) away and to think as one individual. I was not allowed to have individual thoughts or ideas. And the Marine Corps was basically the same. You were to think as one unit and not as a person, but as one unit.

Jonason: And so, you’re training―

Roberts: In–in the Marine Corps? Boot camp is basically the same. There was a lot of, uh, book learning to learn whatever. There was a lot of marching, learning to follow rules. Um, I don’t know if I can be any more specific than that.

Jonason: Did they teach—you know—I know the Marine Corps taught makeup to some women.

Roberts: (shaking her head) No. I was never taught about makeup.

Jonason: You were—you weren’t taught ―

Roberts: You weren’t even allowed to wear makeup.

Jonason: (clears her throat) Okay.

Roberts: Okay? The—one of the things I remember the most is your hair had to be short.

It could touch the collar (points to her collarbone) but not cover the collar. But, again, I didn’t follow those rules and I got away with it.

Jonason: Hm.

Roberts: (sighs) I have a hard time conforming, still do.

Jonason: Okay.

Roberts: The rule was it could not—it could–it could touch but not cover, you know, the–the collar (gestures to her shoulder area). So, all I did was wear it up. And as long as I got up every day before Reveille was called, I made sure my hair was up and I had eyebrows on, because you weren’t allowed to wear make up either.

Jonason: Oh. (laughs)

Roberts: (shrugs) So―

Jonason: So, you got your training in Parris Island.

Roberts: Yes.

Jonason: And then what happened? Where did you go after that?

Roberts: Uh, I was given leave, for two weeks and I—while I was in boot camp, I had choices. I didn’t

necessarily—I wouldn’t necessarily get those choices. But, I asked for San Diego, California. And I got California! (she smiles)

Jonason: And why did you ask for San Diego, California?

Roberts: Because I’d never been out of Ohio.

Jonason: Oh, okay. And did they say―I guess they sent you to San Diego.

Roberts: They did, all the way to Camp Pendleton.

Jonason: Okay. And what year was that? Do you know?

Roberts: I believe it was ’66, ’67, yeah.

Jonason: Okay. And how–how were you assigned your job?

Roberts: Uh, (sighs) that’s a good question. I assumed my job—Number one, I was a bit of older recruit, okay? And I had experience in working—

Jonason: You said you were in your twenties.

Roberts: I was around twenty-four.

Jonason: Okay.

Roberts: So, that made me a little bit older than most recruits coming in. They were eighteen, nineteen—

Jonason: Oh!

Roberts: —years old. Because I had the experience, they took that experience and they gave me an M.O.S., which was forty-one eleven, which was an Exchange person accou–accountant and Commissary accountant.

Jonason: And you say you also did some kind of interviewing or training other Marines.

Roberts: When I got into working for—in the Exchange—I did—I interviewed people to work in the Exchange, okay?

Jonason: Okay.

Roberts: And hired them. I worked in Personnel.

Jonason: Okay.

Roberts: And handled most stuff regarding that.

Jonason: And how long did you do that?

Roberts: For the three years that I was in.

Jonason: And what do you remember best about your time at Camp Pendleton during that time.

Roberts: I met my husband.

Jonason: Ah! (chuckles) And how did you meet your husband?

Roberts: He also worked

in the Exchange. Of course, he was higher up than I was. And, he ran his own store. And, um, at times I was a switchboard―I would work the switchboard and relieve at lunch time. And we got to communicating on the switchboard, and he finally come over and introduced himself.

Jonason: Oh!

Roberts: And I don’t have to tell you, from that point on, we clicked!

Jonason: Okay. Tell me about your switchboard work, because that doesn’t exist anymore, does it?

Roberts: No―

Jonason: What was that like?

Roberts: ―not that I know of. Um, I enjoyed it, okay? It was work that I also did at the hospital when I worked for the Salvation Army (unintelligible). And um, so because I had that experience it was on my record, so to speak. And when I went to work for the Exchange, I kind of relieved people. I worked in the office.

We were all in the same facility. And I would relieve them for lunch, or if someone called in sick, or whatever, so―

Jonason: How does the―most―myself, I have never run a switchboard.

Roberts: Yes.

Jonason: How would I go about doing that?

Roberts: Oh, that’s kind of hard to say! (laughs) And that’s—you know—a switchboard! Um, it was just another way of communicating from phone to phone within the offices. And each phone had a number, and there was a number on the board, and there were the cords that you would plug in outside or you could plug them into each other.

Jonason: Oh, okay.

Roberts: Mm-hmm.

Jonason: So, it’s like something you―like—I’m trying to think of what they’re called.

Roberts: I can’t think of anything at this time that would―I could compare it to, except if you had a–a phone with buttons, you know.

Jonason: Yeah. Okay.

Roberts: You just plugged them in!

Jonason: Interesting, interesting. And so, you were here for three years and what

were your uniforms that you were required to wear while you were working and while you were doing other―

Roberts: I always was in uniform.

Jonason: Which was?

Roberts: Summertime, wintertime. I worked with the uniform.

Jonason: What―

Roberts: I was in the Marine Corps.

Jonason: —what kind of uniform?

Roberts: In the summertime, we had a–a light uniform, fit for the weather. In the winter, we had a much heavier, darker-colored uniform.

Jonason: Okay. And you always had to wear a cover outside?

Roberts: Outside, always.

Jonason: Okay. Is there anything about that work experience that you would like to tell us about?

Roberts: Oh, you got to meet a lot of people!

Jonason: Yeah?

Roberts: Always. And uh, it was always—it was a bit fun, in a way, because you could for months communicate with an individual and talk and say, “How was your day?”

and “Oh, I just had a baby,” or whatever, okay? And never, ever see their faces.

Jonason: Uh, (chuckles) okay.

Roberts: So, that was kind of different. Yes. And it was always a fun experience when they were able to come and say “Hi, I’m so-and-so. I work for―” whatever.

Jonason: So, were there civilians that came in and shopped where you were?

Roberts: Uh, absolutely! I mean, this was a Commissar―uh, well, at the time it was an Exchange, the Military Exchange. And of course, all civilians, troops―

Jonason: Their families.

Roberts: Their families, absolutely. Yeah.

Jonason: Were there any special events that associated with your–your work?

Roberts: Can you be more specific?

Jonason: Did they hold any special events at—I guess—at the exchange.

Roberts: No. We–we celebrated the Marine Corps birthday, uh―

Jonason: Did they close down the store? Did you have spe―I mean, what did they do for that?

(clears her throat)

Roberts: Bec–being civilian, not a lot, okay? Because not only the military shopped there; their families did, which was not military, okay? Um, the―we would be closed on holidays. And, we were just like any outside, whether you were working at Target or J.C. Penny or whatever.

Jonason: Okay. Um―

(A second interviewer, Maryellen Cortellini, seems to be asking Leslee a question, because Leslee looks to her right, away from Faye.)

Cortellini: (less audible) Where did you live when you first got to Camp Pendleton?

Roberts: I didn’t hear the question.

Jonason: Excuse me. What was the question? (It sounds as though Jonason turns to ask the Cortellini to repeat the question.)

Cortellini: Where did she live?

Jonason: Oh, where did you live when you first came to Camp Pendleton?

Roberts: I lived in the W.M., Women Marine’s barracks. Um, it was not my cup of tea. And when I was able, I moved off base. It wasn’t quite, um, legal, but I did.

I had a― (sighs) there was a―I can’t remember her rank. I think she was a Staff Sergeant, and she was being transferred to, um, Virginia, and she had pets, and she knew I did not like living in the barracks with a bunch of teenagers. So, she offered me her home if I would take care of her pets! And—

Jonason: Oh!

Roberts: —I moved off base, oh, within eight months or so and lived in Carlsbad.

Jonason: Oh!

Roberts: And took care of her home and her pets.

Jonason: So, how long had you stayed in the Women Marine barracks themselves?

Roberts: Uh, actually, it wasn’t even a full year.

Jonason: Okay. And these were wooden buildings?

Roberts: No. At the―these were new barracks that they had just recently built.

Jonason: So, they were, what, squad based?

Roberts: Squad based! Mm-hmm.

Jonason: How many―

Roberts: A great big―

Jonason: ―bunks?

Roberts: Well, I think we had about twenty in the squad bay I lived in. And you were judged—you were put in the squad bay according to your rank.

Jonason: And so, you’re–you’re one bunk above and below?

Roberts: Exactly.

Jonason: And you were required to keep them a certain way.

Roberts: Absolutely.

Jonason: Regulation.

Roberts: You had–you had, um, I can’t remember the exact term. Forgive me.

Jonason: Junk on the bunk?

Roberts: No, uh―

Jonason: (laughs) That’s what I was told.

Roberts: We―well, not then! We had to maintain and keep them clean, okay? And so, it was a–a group thing that was done once a week, no matter what your rank was. You were required, you know. Wash floors, windows, whatever.

Jonason: Did you also do other things besides your job in maintaining the–the barracks? Did you―

Roberts: Oh! Had a good time! (both she and Jonason chuckle)

Jonason: Well, you did more than that, I know! (Roberts laughs) Did they have you do—picking

up around the barracks, and―

Roberts: Uh―

Jonason: ―all that kind of stuff?

Roberts: Yes. We had, um, um―

Jonason: Field day?

Roberts: Outside to maintain the—you know—the grass, and the bushes and whatever. Yes, that was also part of our requirement. We were to treat it like it was our home. And we would do those things if we were within our own home. So.

Jonason: Had you ever gone to the Green Hat Club?

Roberts: No. The Green Hat Club was after me.

Jonason: Okay.

Roberts: Okay? I’m not sure what year. Yes, there were a lot of, uh–uh, what do you call them, um―

Cortellini: (inaudible)

Roberts: —officers clubs. There were different clubs for different rank and of course I was a peon, so I―till I made sergeant, but yes.

Jonason: How did ch–becoming sergeant change your life?

Roberts: It gave―it made me more independent.

I didn’t have to follow some of the rules and regulations.

Jonason: So, did you live―you said you lived in the barracks about a year. So, you lived in the–in the Staff Sergeant’s house about two?

Roberts: About two years. Yes.

Jonason: Okay. And then what did―

Roberts: Not legally, but I did. (both she and Jonason laugh.)

Jonason: Well, nowadays, you’d get permissions or something. Yeah.

Roberts: I’m not sure (smiles wide).

Jonason: (laughs) Um, is there any other part of that work that you’d like to share with us?

Roberts: As far as the military is concerned?

Jonason: Mm-hmm.

Roberts: In a way, um, it was―I think once I left the military, I was more conscious of my responsibility when I was in the Marine Corps.

Jonason: Oh!

Roberts: The motto of a W.M., which we were called—Women Marines—was to release a fighting man. And of course, it was during the Vietnam War, and it was a

difficult time for the United States and for everyone. So, I didn’t think about it a lot but once I left the military, I realized what my job was or had been, to help win that war.

Jonason: You–you appreciated it more?

Roberts: Much more.

Jonason: And so, then when you left you got married?

Roberts: Yes, I did.

Jonason: And where did you go?

Roberts: In fact, I don’t know. I don’t remember all the times, but my husband who was stationed here at Camp Pendleton and his career was basically here, okay? He was a Gunnery Sergeant and he owned a home in Oceanside. And so, when we—naturally when we got married, I moved into his home in Oceanside.

Jonason: And how long did you stay there?

Roberts: (sighs) Uh, quite a few years. We didn’t move out—I guess I was there

at least five years, at least five years, and then we bought a home elsewhere in San Diego. He retired.

Jonason: Why did you like San Diego?

Roberts: He liked San Diego.

Jonason: Did you?

Roberts: Yes, I guess so. My children were born here. It became my home. Uh, yes. Yes. I liked it.

Jonason: Did you work outside the home once you were married?

Roberts: I did, but not until my children got a little older. I actually went to work for the Marine Corps Exchange. (both she and Jonason laugh)

Jonason: Okay. And how long did you do that?

Roberts: Uh, now you’re asking a question you have to think about. It was a few years.

Jonason: Yeah?

Roberts: I would say five or six years. Yeah.

Jonason: Okay. Well, that’s good.

Cortellini: What was the Marine Corps reaction to your announcement that you wanted to get married?

Roberts: I–I—

Jonason: Oh, you said—Yeah!—How did you―when you decided

to get married, there were regulations that you had to jump through before you could do that.

Roberts: (chuckles) Yes.

Jonason: Both you and your husband.

Roberts: Being―being a–a low rank, number one, and being a woman Marine, I had to ask permission from my C.O., the sergeant in charge, and—which I had to do. Uh, between you and me, I did it because it was considered one of my responsibilities. Otherwise, I thought it was a silly rule.

Jonason: (chuckles) And your husband had to do the same thing, right?

Roberts: Well, he did. He did. And my―for me, he did it for me. Not so much for himself. He’d been married before. His first wife had passed. So, um, he was a–a bit youn–older than I am or was. And um, so no he didn’t. But, he did,

for me. Yes.

Jonason: He asked permission for you.

Roberts: Right. We went together.

Jonason: Oh! Very interesting. And were there any other situa―parts of that that were required?

Roberts: No, because when we married, there–there was no problem. But because of our age, okay, we wanted a family. And the–the motto of the Marine Corps was if we wanted you to have a child, we’d issued you one.

Jonason: I see.

Roberts: So, as soon as I became pregnant, I was automatically dis–discharged.

Jonason: (coughs) Excuse me.

Roberts: I got an honorable discharge, but, yes.

Jonason: Huh.

Roberts: So, that’s how I left.

Jonason: Interesting. And were you―after you were married, you moved into his house. Were you still a Marine at that poin–time?

Roberts: Yes.

Jonason: I’m trying to clarify that.

Roberts: Uh, until I became―

Jonason: Pregnant.

Roberts: ―pregnant. Yes.

Jonason: Okay.

Roberts: Mm-hmm.

Jonason: Okay. (

Roberts: We lived there for two children.

Jonason: (chuckles)

Roberts: He retired. He went to work for the Post Office and we moved into San Diego area.

Terry Norwood: Where were your children—(barely audible) first and second—born?

Roberts: Camp Pendleton, at the old hospital.

Jonason: Because he was still in the military? Or―

Roberts: No. We were―because he was what is considered a lifer, someone who put in twenty-two years of his life. He continued to have privileges—

Jonason: Ah.

Roberts: —military privileges.

Jonason: So, he wasn’t in the Corps still, when they were born?

Roberts: No.

Jonason: And what did he do?

Roberts: My husband went to work for the U.S. Post Office.

Jonason: Okay.

Roberts: Mm-hmm. He took the test and passed and–and continued to work there for thirty years.

Jonason: Wonderful!

Roberts: Mm-hmm.

Jonason: And I understand that you’re still living in San Diego area.

Roberts: Uh, actually I live in the same house.

Jonason: (chuckles) Oh, my goodness!

Roberts: Live in the same house. We bought a new home outside of Poway and I’ve lived there ever since. I think it was 1972, or something like that.

Jonason: Wow! You must like it there.

Roberts: It’s paid for! (she chuckles and Jonason laughs) For sure!

Jonason: Are there parts of the community that you enjoy more than others?

Roberts: In–in San Diego? San Diego?—

Jonason: In Poway, San Diego County.

Roberts: Uh, you know, I had two other children born there, and, um, it—number one, it was very new. We were one of the first housing developments in the area. So, basically, I watched it grow (raises her hands to indicate something growing) into this huge community.

And, um, I felt like it was home. And yes, I do. I like it there. I can’t think of any place else.

Jonason: Yes.

Norwood: (unintelligible, but sounds like “Chopped Liver”)

Roberts: Uh, I’m not sure. A pool, oh (shrugs)—as far as activities—(looking at Cortellini) is that–is that what we’re talking about? Okay—

Norwood: What do you like about the community?

Roberts: Oh! I did—yes, I’m talking about the beginning of living in the community and why I stayed there. Uh, I’m very active. Well, I won’t say active but I have a lot of activities within the community since I’ve lived there. So— I like to swim and do water aerobics, and—

Jonason: This is a community pool, I take it? Or—

Roberts: Yes, it is. Number one, I–I got to watch the community grow. Like I said, we were one of the first developments in the area, housing developments, and so I got to watch

it grow.

Jonason: There must be a story about being one of the first of the development. Was there—

Roberts: No—

Jonason: —an event or something?

Roberts: —number one, now you want me to be silly? It was a ch—

Jonason: No. (laughs)

Roberts: Oh, okay. (laughs also) No, it was just a very new community and it was fun greeting all the new people and watching different developments grow, watching schools being built and my children being able to go to those schools. I know—

Jonason: Did you get to pick specific flooring and that type of thing in your house wh—at that time? Was that something that—

Roberts: Pretty much.

Jonason: —Yeah?

Roberts: Pretty much so. Yes.

Jonason: Okay.

Roberts: I mean, the house was built and then I did what I wanted to the inside of it (smiles wide) and outside, of course.

Jonason: But that wasn’t with the builder, though. That was on your own, right?

Roberts: That was on my own.

Jonason: Interesting. Okay.

Roberts: Yes.

Jonason: (apparently she turns to Cortellini) Are there other questions that you would like to see asked?

Cortellini: Um, it would be nice if she (rest of question is inaudible, but seems to be talking about entering something into a document)

Jonason: Well, we’ll have that in the–in the file. Um—

Cortellini: Just the fact that she left her close-knit family and friends, and her small town of Eastlake, Ohio to travel all the way to South Carolina to enlist in Marine Corps bootcamp. How brave and courageous as a young woman to make that monumental decision.

Roberts: (turning her head from Cortellini back to Jonason, smiling) She does—

Jonason: Well, I think she–she went in from the frying pan into the fire—

Roberts: The fire.

Jonason: —didn’t you! (laughs)

Roberts: Amen! (laughs also)

Norwood: But she’s a cast iron skillet.

Roberts: (turning to Norwood): Pardon me?

Norwood: But you’re a cast iron skillet.

Roberts: Oh, is that—Oh, I–I’ve never quite thought of myself that way, but—

Jonason: (continuing to laugh) Yeah, but hey—

Roberts: —I will take the compliment. (turns back to Jonason)

Norwood: And the other thing I think you could give perspective on is how the military has grown since you’ve been here.

Roberts: Oh, absolutely. Uh, as–for women? Yes, absolutely. Uh, it was—we

were considered second class citizens back in 1966. Like I think I said previously, we were given the title of releasing a fighter–a fighting man, okay? And we were supposed to, uh—our jobs basically were to fill in where the men would have to leave and we would fill in and take their jobs. So, it was—it’s different today. Women join the military exactly the reason that men do. They want the—They want to do something for their country, number one. I can’t speak for all of them, but yes. I think they—

Jonason: Okay.

Roberts: —they have the same honor and privileges that they–you–this country offers their military. So, yes.

Jonason: If you had a message for a young Marine today, what would it be?

Roberts: Whoa! (Jonason laughs)

Um, I really wouldn’t have a message for them. It—Number one, I believe it’s something that they—nowadays—let me put it this way. Nowadays, I think both men and women join the military because they want t–to, because it offers them something that they desire. Back in the day of, say, 1966, uh, men were drafted. Okay? And women were second class citizens. But they did it anyways, (shrugs) whatever their purpose—for their country; for themselves; for their family. So, times have changed.

Jonason: Okay! Well, thank you very much.

Roberts: You’re very welcome.

(the video then stops and starts, and cuts off the beginning portion of what Leslee Roberts is saying, but she continues speaking, turning to Cortellini now:)

Roberts: —San Diego people. Or we could become Poway people living in San

Diego.

Norwood: Mm. Okay. And that, I can’t tell you how huge that is to the education—well, this is not necessar—this is going off on a tangent—

Roberts: No, no. It had a–had a big—yes. Because—

Norwood: It did!

Roberts: just a community—

Norwood: It did.

Roberts: Mira Mesa, down the road is San Diego.

Norwood: Yeah.

Roberts: So, we were given a choice, and we made it. And we made the Poway U—part, we helped make Poway Unified School what they are.

Norwood: That right there tells—

Jonason: Is key.

Cortellini: —what this woman is about. So, to–I–just—and—

Roberts: I never thought about it, but—

Cortellini: (inaudible due to Jonason asking a further question)

Jonason: So, you’re saying that there was no Poway schools when you—

Roberts: Poway, yes. Poway had their own little, uh—

Cortellini: No, it wasn’t.

Roberts: —They didn’t even have a high—They—

Cortellini: They didn’t have a—They were not a unified school district until late—

Roberts: No, they weren’t. Until much later.

Jonason: But, did–did they have a school?

Roberts: Oh yes. They had several, um, elementary schools. What was that? (turns from Jonason to Cortellini) They had Poway High—

Cortellini: They had one—

Roberts: — and one middle school.

Cortellini: —Mm-hmm.

Roberts: —one middle school.

Cortellini: And they, and they were—

Roberts: (turns to Jonason) Midland. Yeah, it was Midland. (holds up her left hand)

Cortellini: They were part of Escondido. They weren’t really in their s–unified school district,—

Roberts: No, they weren’t considered—

Cortellini: but they were—

Roberts: No.

Cortellini: But they—

Roberts: It was—

Cortellini: And then we had (inaudible)

Roberts: It was–Actually, it was–it was considered—it was kind of a country town.

Cortellini: Yes.

Roberts: It was just this country little, country city. They were themselves, okay? And, um, they did have schools for their kids and whatnot. But that was very small, very limited. I can’t even begin to tell you—Even now, there’s only one main—

Cortellini: Okay. I’m st—

Roberts: —road, going through Poway, and it’ll always be the main th–main road through Poway because everyone built to the sidewalks! There’s no way of widening it. (Jonason laughs) There’s no way of expanding it. (Jonason clears her throat) It’s all the way up to, uh, Ramona, bay–basically.

Cortellini: So, now, I’m going to the Poway Museum and the R.B. Museum to see what historical data is there, because based on more—

Roberts: Now—

Cortellini: —info about the school district and how it came to be, because—

Roberts: See,

now Rancho Bernardo was—

Cortellini: —that is really—

Roberts: Rancho Bernardo was always there. It was considered more—back in (lowers voice) those (back to speaking voice) days, it was, uh, for seniors.

Cortellini: Seniors.

Roberts: It was more of a senior place.

Cortellini: It was a community planned—

Roberts: And um, yes.

Cortellini: Yeah.

Roberts: And, uh, they did attend, those that were–that lived in, say, Rancho Bernardo. They did attend the Poway school. Okay? Those were the—That was the only school district around. San Diego was a little far ou– far away for them.

Cortellini: But–but it wasn’t even a formed Unified School District in the early 70s.

Roberts: Till much later. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So—

Cortellini: Okay. And then, also, um, you’re–you’re being modest. You haven’t been asked to write your history, so I get it.

Roberts: (turns to Jonason and shrugs)

Cortellini: But just sitting here, I’m thinking of how you guys fought for the community center,—

Roberts: Oh, yeah.

Cortellini: —the pool that you swim in.

Roberts: Yeah. Oh, absolutely.

Cortellini: You know? All the things—

Jonason: And what happened with the community center?

Roberts: It was a—We wanted it. They made it. Um, (sighs) how do I say it? It–it wa–I guess—it

wasn’t—

Cortellini: The city—

Roberts: —exactly a community—how–how–what would you call the pool, ‘cuz I’ve been going there for twenty years.

Cortellini: Yeah. It was a community center.

Roberts: It was.

Cortellini: Um, and the city decided to change—all that nastiness out of my mouth real quick—

Roberts: You can say it. I–my ears are used to it. (Jonason chuckles)

Cortellini: Then, um, this—When the city decided that to change their Charter and a lot of their zoning and who they were going to support or–or–in–like–They were no longer going to have a senior center. Okay? And they were—

Jonason: Oh.

Cortellini: —no longer going to have a community pool. But the community rallied—

Roberts: But it was considered growing, and they wanted to grow into something besides Poway which we kind of fought for.

Cortellini: And, yet, they didn’t want to bring in a Y.M.C.A. They wanted to be—

Roberts: No.

Cortellini: —their own thing and have it be bigger. But it’s just not what the people wanted at the time.

So, these ladies were part of the movement.

Roberts: Well, back then, yeah, we kind of steadfast and we voted.

Jonason: How were you—How old were your kids at that time?

Roberts: Oh they were—

Cortellini: Oh, this was only like ten years ago.

Roberts: Yeah. Well—

Cortellini: But–but I—but I’ve only known you for maybe ten—

Roberts: Sss—Yeah. Bu–bu–well, when they started building schools—This was the thing that–that we fought for. Number one was technically, technically I live in San Diego. Okay? But Poway is our school district. Poway is our hospitals. Poway is, you know, all the stuff that makes a city a city. We were able to stay in that group, and—well, Rancho Bernardo, too. But we—whereas just down the road about three or four miles, we have San Diego, Mira Mesa,

some of the other ones.

Cortellini: It’s very—

Roberts: They’re all San Diego, so they have to follow the San Diego taxes, the San Diego whatever, whatever.

Cortellini: Well, we do too.

Roberts: No, no, I know. But I’m trying to think of things.

Cortellini: It’s very convoluted up where we are. It took me a while to wrap my head around—

Roberts: Everything.

Cortellini: —how in the world could we be part of Poway Unified when we’re a San Di—city of San Diego address. It was really complex.

Roberts: We—But we kind of fought for that. In fact, I can remember Mount Carmel—

Cortellini: Well, I’m grateful (chuckles)

Roberts: —Mount Carmel wa—uh, all the kids in my–in our area went to Poway High, went to Midland Junior High, okay? S–and–and the elementary school. And my kids started off at Me–Meadowbrook. Meadowbrook? (looks toward Jonason)

Cortellini: Yeah.

Roberts: Whatever, for kindergarten through ninth, (Jonason coughs) or whatever it was, until we fought for our own schools (Jonason coughs) and our own area.

Cortellini: Hhm, that’s interesting.

Roberts: So, I mean, yeah. I can remember when they built

the high school.

Cortellini: Do you?

Roberts: Carmel Mountain.

Cortellini: You’re a legend in my community, girl.

Roberts: (laughs) I don’t know about that, but— (Jonason laughs) we didn’t—Poway, um, was recognized as having a very good school system, okay? Or, whatever. And we wanted to continue with what Poway was giving to our students. Where San Diego was—I mean, look at San Diego. San Diego is a huge place, and it’s gotten huger, so—

Jonason: Is Poway considered part of North County?

Roberts: Yes.

Jonason: Okay.

Roberts: Yes. So—

Norwood: And, for many, many, many, many, many years, Rancho Bernardo, where I live—She lives in Poway, but sh–very close to R.B., um, but she’s not affected like we are because she’s in Poway. So, R.B. is the farthest north of San Diego.

Roberts: San Diego, yep (nodding).

Norwood: She is right

beneath us.

Roberts: On the edge, Mm-hmm.

Norwood: We are North County and we are–don’t—We have to fight for the city of San Diego to fix our streets, to—

Roberts: To do whatever.

Norwood: To–to do whatever we need—

Roberts: Right.

Norwood: —because we’re so far north. They forget about us. They’ll take our tax revenue—

Roberts: Oh, they do take that!

Norwood: —but they’ll forget about us, which is one of–just one of many reasons why we wanted to integrate into our own sch–school system up there.

Roberts: Oh, no. I—

Norwood: Because it was so small, we could be more vocal. We could give more input into a smaller school district versus being a part of San Diego.

Roberts: Well, parents were included. You were invited to come to the–to the school board meetings. You were, you know what I mean? You were invited to participate in becoming a school board member—I mean—so, you were part of it. Where as far as San Diego is concerned, which is—like I said—just five miles down the road, um, they were totally into, uh,

San Diego, (shrugs) Mira Mesa and all the ones around there now. So— (shrugs)

Jonason: Yeah.

Roberts: Aah, we did that a bit, I guess. I don’t— (laughs) We fought for it.

Jonason: Well, it sounds like you’re a very active person in your community.

Cortellini: Yes.

Roberts: Uh, (sighs, shaking her head), that was a long time ago. This old lady has settled in. (she and Jonason laugh) I’m not as active as I used to be.

Cortellini: I just wanted to say. You know, when I first met Leslee, before I knew she was a Marine, over time, I started calling her “our fearless leader” (Roberts and Jonason laugh) at the pool, because she had this wonderful way of recruiting more people and she—

Roberts: I had a mouth!

Cortellini: She singlehandedly—

Jonason: It’s a good thing!

Roberts: I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut.

Cortellini: She–but she s—

Roberts: When I don’t agree with you, you’re gonna hear about it. (all laugh)

Cortellini: She’s still humble about it. But, she singlehandedly turned a water aerobics, or water exercise class into a family. That’s how we became friends.

Roberts: Yes.

Jonason: Oh.

Cortellini: She roped me in, and she writes–ropes in everybody!

(laughs)

Norwood: Yes. She makes you feel wanted.

Cortellini: She makes you feel like a family, and then makes everyone feels welcome, and now, they—you wouldn’t believe the size of our water aerobics. We’re up to forty-plus people (somewhat unintelligible, faint voice, and there is background traffic noise)

Roberts: I know.

Cortellini: And that’s the summer.

Roberts: Well, I think we have around, about thirty permanent, you know, oldies but goodies.

Cortellini: That’s—but that’s also—

Norwood: (can’t distinguish what she says, due to crosstalk)

Roberts: In the summertime.

Cortellini: Seriously. I give you credit for that, and you really—

Roberts: Oh, not totally. There were—

Cortellini: But, she’s—

Roberts: Look at Doreen,

Cortellini: And see, that’s where

Norwood: (unintelligible, due to crosstalk)

Roberts: Doreen.

(Norwood and Cortellini crosstalk; unintelligible)

Roberts: Yeah. It wasn’t just me.

Cortellini: (first few words unintelligible) incorporated those values, a team and—

Jonason: You feel that? Do you feel that the Marine Corps has helped you be organized and get people together?

Roberts: I never thought about it, ‘cuz I was always a mouth.

Jonason: Well, but—

Roberts: Why do you think they kicked me out of the Sisterhood.

Jonason: Because you needed to be a Marine. (laughs)

Roberts: No. Because I didn’t fit in. (laughs)

Cortellini: What did we go to the Mayor’s office for?

Norwood: Oh, that was film week again. (next few words unintelligible)

Cortellini: Okay.

Roberts: (nodding) Yeah.

Norwood: Still! Still!

Cortellini: Leslee has—I know—Leslee has been an advocate for myself,

my project, my books. She—

Roberts: (to Jonason) Like I said, I’m a mouth.

Cortellini: She has shared my books with everybody.

Roberts: (to Jonason) And sometimes, if you’re loud enough, people just don’t say no to you.

Norwood: I called her my agent there—she still is my agent (rest of sentence is unintelligible).