Meet Antoinette Casselberry
Candidate for DCSD Trustee
Family Background
I was born Antoinette Marie Casselberry in New Orleans, Louisiana to Army veterans. My mom was a 2nd lieutenant and my dad was non-commissioned. I had parents who taught us to do the right thing and make a difference. They were involved with many charities and service organizations and following their example, I have been deeply involved in community organizations my whole life. For example, my mother was president of the Quota Club and my dad was very active in the Lion's Club. I have 3 brothers and when my father's brother passed away in his early 40's my parents helped to raise 2 of his children. We were and still are a very close family. Meals were together, going to church together and praying together was the norm. Every weekend we got together at my grandmother's home and had Sunday gravy dinner and had nice visits. They were married for 50 years and 8 days. My father died in 1996 and my mother followed him a couple of months later. I was raised in private Catholic schools my entire life. Even my college career was at 2 Catholic Universities. I attended Loyola dental school at 16 and graduated with my degree in Dental Hygiene with expanded duties. I went on to get a BS in Health from the University of St. Francis. All of my siblings were strongly encouraged by my parents to get a great education and make a difference in this world. One of my brothers is a decorated Army Colonel. I got married right after graduating college. I have one daughter and one granddaughter. For the most part I raised my daughter as a single parent.
I am deeply involved in the Douglas County community
I am a member of the Elks Tahoe/Douglas Lodge. I joined several years ago and was an officer for two years. I volunteered to be the chairperson for the major charity of the Nevada Elks, the State Major Project, and for two years in a row I raised the most money of all of the 16 Nevada Lodges for St. Jude's Ranch in Nevada, a rehabilitation center for kids and teens who have been victimized by abduction and trafficking.
I am also currently on the advisory board for the Douglas County Community and Senior Center.
I am dedicated to helping children
Throughout my life, I have been involved in helping and supporting children. After reading about the hot spots on the planet for child trafficking, I decided to run a marathon whose route traveled through villages in Madagascar where we were informing parents that the government would help them and NOT to sell their children. It is a very poor country and at the time #3 for child trafficking.
When I lived in California, I belonged to the Santa Cruz Track Club and was a volunteer assistant coach for the after school programs training kids 6 -12 with Track and Field. The parents loved it since the kids did better in school, slept better and were more manageable at home.
As a health professional, I have had many interactions with children who have need help. I had a 6 year old dental patient who was in foster care and who had scars all over his extremities. The social worker informed me that his drugged mother had put him in scalding water. He was the cutest kiddo ever. I knew it was time to get involved with kids in the foster care system. I was a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for 3 years. When I completed the extensive training, the judge came to me and said she had a family of 3 children that no one would take. She asked me to be their CASA because she knew I would hang in there until their lives turned around. The youngest was 5 and I was there for the 11 and 13 year old half sisters too. There were 9 kids in that lot all with different fathers, who were either incarcerated or had returned to Mexico. That took a lot of praying on my part and not judging the mother. I really wanted to foster little Cayla so I went to her school and was an assistant to the teacher in the Head Start program. I did that for one whole semester. That was an hour drive each way. I had to really cut back my work hours. This was a huge commitment.
Other Activities
I start running marathons in 1977 for aerobic health reasons and have used marathon running as a way to raise money for charities worldwide. The Avenue of the Giants marathon was the first of 68 marathons, one ultra ( 32 miles) and one triathlon that I have run. I have completed marathons on all 7 continents, the Arctic Circle, all 50 States and a 1/2 marathon in Jerusalem and several others. Sometimes running 3 in 5 days. They were fundraisers for various charities. The one in Antarctica was a charity to save wildlife, especially birds and whales. Enough money was accumulated that the South American fisherman reconfigured their nets and did not continue to take a toll on huge numbers of local sea life. The Easter Island marathon was to buy new equipment for the schools in their athletic departments and every child on that island got a new pair of exercise shoes.
And then there are The Santa Cruz Follies. They are a theatrical group who perform at the Civic Auditorium and the Market Street Theater. Their purpose is to raise money for Senior Citizen Centers in the SC area and for Senior Citizen Opportunities. I was with that group for 8 years before Covid. I still am performing with them acting, singing and dancing. I have returned several times to be in the shows since Covid. I will be in Santa Cruz Father's Day weekend to perform that Saturday and Sunday. A rough estimate is that I have been in over 150 shows and am still counting.
Professional Background
I started my dental career in 1969. I am not bragging but the patients loved me and trusted me with their dental needs. They were very, very, upset when I moved to Nevada and I still hear their laments. I loved my various simultaneous jobs. Reiki Master, Massage Therapist, Pet Sitter and taking care of people's homes when they traveled. One client wanted me to move into their 6 million dollar home so they could travel more.
I moved into my home in the Gardnerville Ranchos on Flag Day 2020. No looking in the rear view mirror.
I was known in Santa Cruz County because of my accomplishments and my duty to help others. A few years before Covid, the mayor and Supervisor made a proclamation that June 24th will forever be Antoinette Casselberry Day in the County.
My daughter says that I live like 10 people. I guess she is correct.
I say something nice and positive to people everyday and that is how my parents taught me to be, kind and proper.
My daughter said to me when I started this campaign that there would be people saying mean things to me and not behaving in a Godly manner. She had me promise that my only response would be God Bless You.