Point Reyes Light - December 23, 1999
Valley collects cash to cover shopper's loss
Woodacre resident Zoila Berardi, the director of the San Geronimo Valley Day Care Center, lost $1,500 cash in a wallet-sized purse as she shopped the week before Christmas at a Corte Madera mall.
"It was late at night. I was tired, and I guess distracted," said Berardi, 58, who has run the day care center for the last 22 years.
Berardi recalls last seeing her savings while making a purchase at JC Penney's around 8 or 9 p.m. Saturday. She realized the purse was gone when she got back to the San Geronimo Valley, and reported it missing to the Town Center Mall and the Corte Madera Police Department the next morning.
But since the purse had no identification inside, she doubts it or the cash will be returned. Resigned to the loss, Berardi told The Light that she simply hopes somebody spends the money well.
Berardi said she's been able to finish her Christmas shopping, and that none of her six children or nine grandchildren will have to be disappointed this year.
But to some of the families who have sent their children to the day care center, the news of her lost purse is disheartening.
"Zoila is one of the really great souls of the San Geronimo Valley," said landscaper Richard Gray, whose son went to the day care center, which is located at the San Geronimo Valley Cultural Center. "She's been a surrogate mom to hundreds of San Geronimo Valley kids."
Bernardi is not the only Woodacre resident to report a holiday loss to lawmen. Virginia Digesti had her Christmas collection stolen, only to be replaced by sympathetic deputies.
Those wishing to contribute money to help Berardi make up for her loss can send donations to the San Geronimo Valley Cultural Center, PO Box 194, San Geronimo, 94963.