Friends and colleagues gathered in the lobby of City Hall to say a goodbye of sorts to Gene Cerino before he sat for his last meeting as a member of the Auburn City Council on Monday evening.
The 12-year Councilman, who lost his seat to John Partridge in the Nov. 3 general election, found himself the focal point of kind words, tributes, reminiscences, gifts – and at least one big surprise.
Mayor Pete Lewis described some of Cerino’s special qualities.
“One of the things as I was coming into the position of mayor that I learned was that if I had something that nobody else ever wanted to touch, ever, I could give it to Gene, and he would make sure it got done, and he did that consistently,” Lewis said.
Lewis declared Dec. 21 “Gene Cerino Day” in the city of Auburn. He also read a proclamation from Gov. Christine Gregoire – whom Cerino taught to drive at Auburn High School – that declared Dec. 21 “Gene Cerino Day in the state of Washington.” Gregoire cited his service as a World War II veteran, his degree from Washington State University, his 27 years as a teacher in the Auburn School District, his 20 years as a wrestling coach, his induction into the state and national wrestling halls of fame and his service on every City standing committee.
Deputy Mayor Sue Singer said she will always picture Cerino “pushing a shopping cart down the street with a dangerous dog inside of it,” a tribute to his shepherding of the city’s dangerous dog and shopping cart ordinances.
Council member Nancy Backus produced a report card and gave her former Auburn High School teacher straight A’s across the board.
Cerino responded with emotion.
“It’s been a fabulous journey, and I have enjoyed every minute of the 12 years I have been on the Council,” Cerino said. “I love the work. I want everybody to understand something about City Council people – they are not politicians, they are civil servants, and they work to serve the city they are elected from.
“The pay is not great,” Cerino noted, “so don’t think about running for Council if you need the money, because you’ll be in trouble,”
Just don’t expect this energetic 82-year-old to retire from life.
“No, no, I won’t be gathering dust, I am against that,” Cerino said.
He means it.
Cerino plans to continue to substitute teach in the Auburn School District and to stay active at the Auburn Senior Activity Center. He is YMCA-certified to run senior fitness programs, indeed, he launched the center’s senior exercise program. His close friend, senior center director Radine Lozier, will no doubt find something for him to do, he said.
Cerino said he will keep busy for at least a year working on his home in Rio Verde Mobile Estates and will restart his once-a-week exercise program with the Early Birds at the YMCA.
He also plans to make good use of the fine “man cave” he’s made for himself at home.
“I got rid of the dining room table and put a pool table in the front room. I got a big flat-screen TV and put in a surround-sound system. I have a ping-pong table in the front room and have turned it into a gaming parlor rather than a dining room,” Cerino said.
He has also reactivated an old habit.
“I’ve started smoking cigars again. I don’t smoke in the house, only on the veranda. I have one cigar in the morning and one at night, and always a glass of wine with the night cigar,” Cerino said. “I belong to a $10 limit poker group with a bunch of retired men and we meet every third Friday of the month. I figure I’ve got 10 or more years in me.”
