Meet Donna Maurillo

Scotts Valley Patch: What is your occupation?

Donna Maurillo: My seven younger siblings call me a know-it-all, so I try hard to keep up that reputation. But I earn my money as director of communications and technology transfer at the Mineta Transportation Institute in San Jose. You know what they say, the longer the title, the less important the position. I’ve also been writing a food column for the Santa Cruz Sentinel for about 20 years.

Patch: Where were you born?

Maurillo: St. Francis Sanitarium in Monroe, Louisiana. I had a hard time living that down. Back in those days, a sanitarium was often a polite euphemism for a mental hospital.

Patch: Where were you educated?

Maurillo: The nuns taught me very well from K-12 in Syracuse, NY. It was an excellent education, and I loved going to school. After that, I studied art at Pensacola Jr. College in Florida and earned my BA at UCSC, graduating at 34 years old. Then at 66, I just earned my Master of Science in Transportation Management with an emphasis in counter-terrorism at San Jose State. It proves that you can teach an old dog new tricks. But at my age, it’s often limited to “sit” and “stay.”

Patch: How long have you lived in Scotts Valley?

Maurillo: I moved here in 1995 from Aptos because I wanted to grow tomatoes. You can’t do that in the fog.

Patch: What brought you to the area?

Maurillo: I came to Santa Cruz County in 1973 to attend UCSC, but came to Scotts Valley in 1995 after discovering that there were neighborhoods here. I always thought that Scotts Valley Drive was all there was. It’s funny because I worked at Seagate in the early 1980s and never knew that people lived here. I should have found this place long ago.

Patch: What is something you are known for?

Maurillo: That depends on who you ask. And some are sworn to secrecy! I love my photography, so in the Santa Cruz Rotary Club, I’m known for taking photos at our meetings and putting funny captions on them. I’m definitely a family person, and I love to cook. I hope I’m known for being a decent and generous person.

Patch: What is your latest project?

Maurillo: Which one? I’m a multi-tasker. I just wrapped up a four-day meeting between the US Department of Transportation and the China Ministry of Transportation in San Jose. Later in the month, I’ll be in Washington, where I’ve organized a panel discussion on securing railroads against attacks. I’m also writing my family history going back to the 1500s. And I’m always working on my house.

Patch: Book you last read?

Maurillo: If you count the ones I listen to on CD during my daily commute, it would have to be “Founding Brothers.” It’s a look into the impressive convergence of brilliant minds who founded our country. They often had conflicting ideas and personalities. Our political conflicts today frequently reflect the same conflicts happening 225 years ago. We think they all got along perfectly back then. They often did not! John Adams and Thomas Jefferson had polar opposite personalities, and Adams resented that he was never fully recognized for his great contributions.

Patch: Newspaper or magazine you read regularly?

Maurillo: I read everything. My most constant “reads” are the Sentinel and the Mercury, along with various Patch publications, Vanity Fair, Time, Cook’s Illustrated, several public policy and transportation publications, and airline magazines. I’m not fussy. When I’m getting my hair or nails done, I’ll read gossip magazines. I told my kids that reading is one of the most important ways to learn, so they picked up my habits.

Patch: Movie you could watch again and again?

Maurillo: “Moonstruck.” Hands down. My entire family can recite complete passages from memory. It shows the Italian-American culture so perfectly. When I traveled to Italy with my mother and my daughter, we watched “Moonstruck” on the flight.

Patch: Favorite thing to do in your spare time?

Maurillo: I have no spare time. But if I did, I’d be working on a photography exhibition. I haven’t done one since 1980. Or maybe I’d be taking my grandkids on a road trip. That would be stellar!

Patch: What is one of your most gratifying accomplishments?

Maurillo: It sounds trite, I know, but despite several unexpected challenges, I managed to raise two wonderful kids who are terrific parents themselves. More than once, we had to depend on welfare and food stamps, and we didn’t turn on the heat because I couldn’t afford the expense. I’d find moldy cheese at Safeway and bargain with them to get it half price. Then I’d go home, cut off the mold, and make dinner. When I started buying cheese without mold, my kids knew we were finally making money. They still laugh about it. It’s why I have great empathy for individuals and families in distress.

Patch: What is your greatest indulgence?

Maurillo: Paying full price for anything. As the oldest of eight kids, I learned how to make a dollar do a tap dance. I’m always looking for a deal. If I pay full price, it means I’m feeling extravagant.

Patch: One of your most memorable vacations?

Maurillo: That trip to Italy with my mother and my daughter, Donna-Renee. We called it “Thelma, Louise and Mom.” We rented a car, picked up a map, and drove all over the country visiting friends and relatives. The locals were shocked to see three women driving alone. “Where are your men?” they’d ask. My daughter would answer, “They’re home washing the dishes.”

Patch: What is a goal you are chasing after?

Maurillo: I don’t often chase after anything. If I slow down, I find many good things chasing after me. All I have to do is let them catch up.

Patch: What do you like most about life in Scotts Valley?

Maurillo: I love the foothills and the forests. I love my view of the mountains and the valley. I love the small-town feel. But mostly, I love my neighbors. We absolutely know that we can depend on each other for anything. When you live so far from your extended family, it’s gratifying to have indescribably good neighbors who fill that void.