Community : Cricket Rubino
Leadership Morgan Hill 2020-2021
Excellence in Leadership
Celebrating Cricket Rubino
by Steve Tate
She ’ s been a banker , Color Guard leader , administrator , Leadership and YMCA Board leader , and senior support leader . She is also a wife and mother who recently became a cancer survivor . Throughout , she ’ s been a smiling , enthusiastic “ can-do ” community supporter who always helps others and makes a meaningful impact .
She is Cricket Rubino , Leadership Morgan Hill ’ s 2020-2021 Leadership Excellence award recipient . Her achievements will be celebrated at an upscale gala event on September 18 at Guglielmo Winery ( see www . leadershipmorganhill . org for ticket information ).
Cricket grew up in Sacramento and started her career at Wells Fargo Bank , which transferred her to Morgan Hill in 1970 . She met husband Mike ( a previous Leadership award recipient ) and they jointly started the Live Oak Band program in 1971 with Cricket leading the Color Guard . The award-winning band traveled with the Rubinos to perform in many foreign countries . To support the band ’ s expenses , the Rubinos started a Sunday Bingo game in 1982 that is still going strong today . The Rubinos retired from Band leadership in 1998 , the year son Mikey graduated from Live Oak .
When Cricket ’ s daughter Brandi was born in 1977 , she left Wells Fargo to focus on family , but stayed with the band . She was a substitute school administrator for many years and with that experience , opened her own home-based business , Claremont Executive Services , in 1996 . It quickly became known as the place to go for an outstanding , effective resume . The Rubinos have lived in their house on Claremont Drive , where they raised Brandi and Mikey , ever since they were newly married .
Cricket ’ s leadership has made a dramatic impact on our community through her service to the YMCA , to our senior
“ She doesn ’ t see issues as problems but rather challenges she will overcome .”
citizen population through support of the Senior Center and to Leadership Morgan Hill . She served on the YMCA Board in many capacities , including chairman , and through the YMCA , became familiar with the Senior Center programs . She led the effort to form a Friends of the Senior Center non-profit organization , for which she now chairs the Board . Harking back to her band experience , Cricket started a Tuesday night Bingo game in 2011 to help finance Senior Center programs , and it continues to thrive .
Cricket participated in the Leadership Morgan Hill program in 1999 and stayed involved in the program ever since She served many years as the go-to administrative support person , taking care of all the logistics of the program , then served on the board and chaired it in 2017-2018 . She remains heavily involved as a key member of the recruiting committee .
Cricket ’ s passions include Broadway musicals and gardening . She plays golf regularly and travels frequently with her husband Mike , usually on cruises . Spending time with family is very important . She dotes on her granddaughters Leah and Lauren , the children of her son Mikey and his wife Ellen .
Brandi says “ Mom … packs a big punch ! She doesn ’ t see issues as problems but rather challenges she will overcome .” She praises her mom for always being willing to help .
40-year friend Arlene Machado says , “ I have seen first-hand the dedication , caring and generosity she brings to everything she undertakes .”
Cricket is a genuinely caring person that leads by example and by taking on and resolving tough and demanding challenges . She is very deserving of the Leadership recognition . Please join us in celebrating her on September 18 .
Image provided by Leadership Morgan Hill : leadershipmorganhill . org
30 SUMMER 2021 gmhTODAY Magazine gmhtoday . com