June 29, 2007

City's 50th Anniversary: Bringing a bit of pageantry to Fountain Valley
Miss Fountain Valley is still a hometown gal.
By CURT SEEDEN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rosemary Kelly's photo showed up in the newspapers pretty often back in 1970. She was the one with the crown atop her long, dark locks and the sash that read Miss Fountain Valley.

Rosemary did all the ceremonial things a beauty pageant winner does – in fact, she went on to earn the titles Miss Southern California and Miss Orange County Press. She also took part in lots of photo-op ribbon-cuttings, including the one that christened Fountain Valley's Vons when it opened its doors at 16201 Harbor Blvd.

"I think Vons was the only store around back then," said Marti Kelly, Rosemary's mom. "I remember all the working men would go to Vons to get their paychecks cashed on Fridays. I don't even think there was a bank around here back then."

Tom and Marti Kelly and their children emigrated to the United States from Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1955 when Rosemary was just 5 years old. Rosemary made all the papers in Belfast in 1970 when her family returned to Northern Ireland for a vacation.

"Beauty Queen Calls on Lord Mayor" read one headline, referring to 20-year-old Rosemary.

The Kellys moved to Fountain Valley in 1967.

"I was right at home when I moved here," Marti said. "We had lived in Rancho Cordova up north, and at the time, that was a great place to live."

The Kellys first moved to a house on San Antonio Street, but years later bought a house on Amerwood Circle where they still live today.

Their son Michael "was a very good swimmer and he got a full ride to USC," Marti said, adding that he still holds records at Fountain Valley High.

The Kellys have two other daughters – Patti who lives across the street from them, and Sharon who lives in Newport Beach. Michael now lives in Washington.

When they moved here, Tom was an engineer and worked in aerospace and later at the Nissan corporate headquarters. Marti took care of the kids and later the grandchildren.

Today, the Kellys still work out six days a week at Los Caballeros Sports Village, they enjoy gardening and they attend All-Saints Anglican Church.

Today, most people in Fountain Valley know Rosemary Kelly as Rosemary Eadie, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the Fountain Valley School District.

"Rosemary was out of college (Cal State Fullerton) when she was 20 years old and she was married (to Dave) before she was 21," Marti said.

"Her mom was a little upset about that back then, but it's been a very good marriage," she added.

Rosemary later earned her teaching credential, and her first teaching assignment was at Plavan Elementary School.

"We actually moved to Fountain Valley the day after I graduated from high school in Rancho Cordova," Rosemary said. "I got a whole new group of friends at both Orange Coast College and Cal State Fullerton."

Rosemary's daughter, Colleen McNally, incidentally, is keeping with the tradition – she teaches at Talbert Middle School and also lives in Fountain Valley.

"I love the city, and I love the school district," Rosemary said, adding, "and I love the family atmosphere in our district."