It was my good fortune to meet Mansfield in the early 1960s and then to be welcomed by Jennifer, Wendy and Field and their parents a few years later in northern California. Mansfield was the master of ceremonies at our wedding reception in 1974 and we have wonderful memories of visiting at Fallen Leaf.  Field might remember an afternoon spent sailing the El Toro with Jean!  (I think that they paddled more than they sailed.) I remember lots of laughter, the opportunities to work and learn from Mansfield, and racing with Mansfield from San Jose to Tallac House on Friday afternoons.  We think of those very special years often, and the memories always bring smiles to our faces.

 Ted and Jean Glattke 

I was a patient of Dr. Smith for over 25 years, both in San Jose and Sacramento, California.  He and I had a great time teasing one another about certain situations and always made me laugh.  One morning on a presidential voting day, I had
an appointment for my 6 month checkup with Mansfield.  My appointment was at 8 AM in the morning on that Tuesday and at 9 AM, Dr. Smith finally came into the room of which I was waiting for him.  He says to me in a serious tone  "I am so sorry I am late, Verna, but I had to go vote".....I then replied with "Dr. Smith.....the voting polls opened at 7 AM, not 8 AM".....When I blurted out those words, I thought "oh no....he is going to give me a bad time".   Well, he turned to me in silence and then started laughing hysterically and said "Well, Verna....you got me good this time"....It was a great moment in my life, because I shared a serious and funny moment with one of the most greatest doctor that was put on this earth.  He helped with reconstructing my inner ears of which were successful when I was told as a child after a few other surgeries that I could not longer be helped.  What a great doctor he was on this earth and  he will be a great one in heaven as well.    

Mansfield and Linda took me in for holidays in 2008, had me pack my trumpet and we played "jazz" in the dining room until past midnight. 
There really was absolutely no reason on earth for Mansfield to walk up to me in clinic and say, "your coming to the lake this weekend", but he did and I was literally changed by his approach to life.
Somehow, a story told by Mansfield sticks with you, some dynamic aspect of the storytelling, that leaves out just enough detail, so that my imagination had to fill in the gaps... and the stories.... from the Mantle pieces and the Italian stonemason, the adventures with the Fallen Leaf Fires, to his pure joy at telling about his family.  Mansfield was a man whose adventures led him to leave a little bit of decency, honesty, and confidence in each moment you shared in his world.

I am a better person, a more brave person, and a grateful person having had him walk by me in the clinic and randomly, invite me into his world.