Interesting People
Marching Orders
When Daniel Fong says Mandarins of Sacramento—now called Mandarins Performing Arts—is “kind of my whole life,” it’s no exaggeration.
Fong has been part of the drum and bugle corps for decades. His interest began in third grade when his older brother joined Mandarins. Fong played in the corps from 12 to 21, the age limit.
He stayed on as brass instructor and music arranger while studying zoology at UC Davis and optometry at UC Berkeley. He joined the Mandarins board in 2017 and became CEO in 2021.
“People form lifelong relationships in the Mandarins,” Fong says. “My best friends now are the ones I marched with back in the 1970s.”
Looped In
A chat with Nisa Hayden explains why she has so many successful careers. It’s about people skills.
As an actor, freelance writer, gallery director, arts consultant and garden manager, Hayden’s ability to connect led to a wildly diverse employment history.
The Alaska native grew up in the East Bay and planned to become an attorney. A summons to jury duty at age 18 “turned me off the process,” she says, and prompted her to forego a partial college scholarship.
Giant Steps
Crossing the finish line at the Boston Marathon is an achievement. Doing it 30 consecutive times is monumental. That’s what Pocket resident Jim Geary accomplished at age 79.
He’s worn out hundreds of running shoes since taking up the sport in 1968 at Marine Corps officer candidate school. The retired attorney estimates he’s run almost every race, from 5 kilometers to marathons, in the Sacramento region.
Life Lessons
Jilian Bar-or has a sign in her office that reads, “This is the Work.”
It’s a reminder why she loves her job as head of Shalom School on Sierra Boulevard.
“I’m so committed to the work Shalom School is doing,” says Bar-or, entering her 12th year at the school. “We serve such a specific purpose in the region that’s very important and valuable.”
An independent day campus that serves students age 2 through sixth grade, Shalom School offers rigorous academics and a nurturing environment rooted in Jewish traditions.
Class Of 60
In September 1964, a handful of teachers, 12 students and a secretary held the first classes of what would become Sacramento Country Day School.
In March 1986, a baby was born at Sutter Memorial Hospital who would eventually attend Country Day for 13 years, making her a “lifer” of the independent PK-12 school. That baby was me.
The school’s educational philosophy said its students were to be “grounded in the academic disciplines, proficient in reading, speaking, writing, listening, and mathematics, and with a development of perceptual awareness and creative talent through music, art, and writing.”
As Country Day celebrates its 60th year, a lot has changed. But I can confirm the original philosophy still rings true.
Star Turn
When the call came saying Roberto Fatal’s short film “En Memoria” had been accepted to the 2025 Sundance Film Festival out of 8,000 submissions, Fatal almost crashed the car.
Back home in Land Park, Fatal told co-writer and girlfriend Ali Meyers-Ohki. Then they called the cast and crew.
It was a dream come true for the team that brought “En Memoria” to reality.
“I’ve been in love with movies and sci-fi since I was a child,” Fatal says. “But being queer, in the closet, Latino and mixed Indigenous, I didn’t see a lot of my community in sci-fi, which scared me a little bit. I’d think, Oh, my God, I think this means we don’t make it to the future!
