After skipping down the front steps of Lincoln High for the last time, Lorraine Blinn S47, who had graduated 6 months early, enrolled in the University of Pacific at Stockton. From there she went to San Francisco City College and finished her education at San Francisco State where she acquired her teaching credentials. Lorraine taught at Lawton school from '51-'52, thence to Atherton's Selby Lane School. Somewhere amidst the schooling and teaching she managed to marry Don Sharman, (a graduate of the other 'L' school) and have two children: Kent, who lives in Oregon and Bob, who resides in Sacramento.

        After a 12 year hiatus to rear her children, Lorraine became a substitute teacher in Orinda.

        This, in itself, does not sound like your everyday run-of-the-mill overachiever. But, read what the Contra Costa Sun's Harriet Alnsworth wrote about our Lorraine:

        "When she was 5, Lorraine Blinn suffered pulmonary tuberculosis. When she was 27 and the mother of two little boys, Lorraine Blinn Sharman contracted tuberculosis in the kidney".

         A couple of weeks ago, at age 70, the Orinda resident won the San Francisco Marathon for Women in the 70 and older division. She didnšt have to worry about anybody gaining on her because she was the only woman that old running the marathon which drew more than 4,000 participants.

        Her time for the 26.2 up-and-down-the-hills miles was five hours and seven minutes.

         This was Lorrainešs fifth marathon since she started running 25 years ago after the media reported that Americans needed aerobic exercise to stay healthy. So, on vacation, she and husband, Don, first ran the beach at Mauna Kea on Hawaii's big island. Back home in Orinda, every day they ran around Lake Cascade three times, a total of three miles. Then Lorraine ŗgraduated˛ to the Lafayette Reservoir.

        Working out with Lisa Felder and Alphonzo Jackson, the Leukemia Society's East Bay trainers, she ran her first marathon - the California International at Sacramento - in 1992.

        She ran the same marathon in 1997, this time raising money for the society that battles this cancer of blood and blood-forming tissues. In 1998 she ran the Honolulu Marathon. In these two efforts she raised $22,000 for Leukemia research and treatment.

         Alphonzo, who fondly calls Lorraine his "surrogate grandmother", is continually impressed with her energy level. ŗShe's like the icon of our team. Everyone really looks up to her" he said.

        "Attitude gives you energy" Lorraine said, ŗSan Francisco is the hardest marathon Išve tackled, because of the tough terrain. But I'm a firm believer in the power of prayer and I had a lot of support. Father Joe Holt of St. Stephen's ran with me in his first marathon, led by coach Lisa Felder. My husband Don--hešs 75-- ran half a marathon, the farthest he's ever run. And my son Bob came down from UC Davis, where hešs getting his MBA, to run the last two miles to the finish with me."

         Lorraine also plays competitive tennis for fun and games, starting at 7:30 a.m. at the Orinda Community Center. But that's late in the day. Every weekday morning at 6:30 she and Don take a muscle-strengthening class at InForma fitness center in Orinda.

        And she's not just a jock. Lorraine started the valued and now extensive Intergenerational Volunteer Program in which she and many others assist teachers in Orinda's schools.

        Both Sharmans like to hike. They've climbed Africa's highest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro, at 19,300 feet; Mt. Shasta, and Mt. Whitney, California's highest but a mere bagatelle at some 14,000 feet. They walked across England. Made the trek to Milford Sound in New Zealand. Hiked the Swiss Alps for three weeks and recently came back from hiking Colorad's Rocky Mountains and then cooled down with a 10K run in Alameda.˛

         Now it is understandable why we categorize Lorraine as an overachiever. If she had accomplished just one of her many endeavors she would have deserved commendation, but combining her athletic achievements and societal largess we find in Lorraine (Blinn) Sharman a role model for Mustangs of all generations. She exhibits the qualities of the Beautiful American, she gives of herself so others may reap the benefits of her efforts. Well done, Lorraine. Your Alumni Association salutes you.