By Khalida Sarwari
On the day the Saratoga Lions Club dedicated a bench in memory of two of its longtime members, strong winds moved through the small crowd gathered outside the Prospect Center to pay their tribute. The families of Frank Lemmon and Pete Kreamer recalled a coincidental fact that tied the two men together: one was a meteorologist and the other was a sailor who loved the wind.
“The two of them got together and said, ‘That’s how we’re going to be there,’ ” said Elaine Clabeaux, president of the Saratoga Lions Club charitable fund.
About two dozen people, including Vice Mayor Emily Lo and family members of the beloved Lions Club members, gathered on April 16 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate a new bench outside the Prospect Center to Lemmon and Kreamer.
“If Frank were here, he’d say, ‘You didn’t have to do it,’ ” said Helen Lemmon, Frank’s widow.
“And [Kreamer] would be echoing that,” Heidi George said of her father. “They’d be very proud to know the Lions recognized them.”
George and Helen Lemmon did the honor of cutting the ribbon. Afterward, the brown and green bench bearing the men’s names was put into use right away as it sat directly in the sunshine.
Kreamer, a career Air Force officer, died in February 2011 at the age of 93. According to his family, he flew B-17s in World War II. He moved to Saratoga in 1972 and became heavily involved in the community, and more so after he retired. He joined the Lions Club in the late 1970s and is credited for two major contributions: revitalizing the club in the 1980s when at one point it had only two members, and introducing women to the club when it was male only. Kreamer was an avid golfer who was active in the church and is survived by his wife, Dolly, daughters Bobbi, Heidi, Gail and Judy, and son Bill.
“He had a good heart, but he had a forceful delivery,” daughter Bobbi Haskins remarked.
Added George, “And a strong will.”
Lemmon, a safety commissioner for the city of Saratoga, died in 2008 at the age of 86. He was involved in aerospace services and served as vice president of several corporations, including Lockheed Martin, Hughes and TRW, according to his daughter, Christine Lemmon-Carlson. Most notably, he managed the creation of the black box used in airplanes.
Originally from Steubenville, Ohio, he moved to Saratoga in 1968 and joined the Lions Club in the early 1980s. His contributions include helping secure grant funding for the new firehouse and raising money for the Saratoga Library. Lemmon is survived by his sons Frank and Charles and daughter Christine, who described her father as a “very giving, loyal, kind, enthusiastic people person who was passionate about serving the community.”
“I feel thrilled to have a place in memory of my father,” she said.
The bench cost about $2,500 and was paid for by members of the Saratoga Lions Club. The group is part of an international service club organization that engages in charitable work. The Saratoga club focuses on helping the blind and people with diabetes.
The Lions Club is always interested in new members. Those interested in joining can call Marge Bunyard at 408.255.3594 for more information.
