Fence Chat September 30, 1999
By Petra Dean
Community Close-up
 r. William Eller,
Superintendent of Cypress School District, once asked Michael Masotto
what efforts the parents at Luther Elementary had made to acquire
computers and set up a lab. The father of three students at the school
didn’t know, but promised to get back to him. He polled the parents and discovered nothing had been done. But one of them mentioned that UPS, the company she worked for, would soon upgrade its computers. The school received 19 of the older models 14 of which Mike rebuilt. He also designed the lab and helped install the electronic brains before volunteering to work there one day each week. Also, while acting as chairman of the Cypress School District Advisory Committee, as he has for the past two years, Michael questioned Governor Davis. He inquired, by mail, about the State increasing instructional minutes (classroom time), without allowing for additional days and teachers. The governor’s response didn’t really address the issue, Michael said. It was disappointing. But the go-getter won’t stop there. He’ll present the letter to the committee, when it reconvenes, and propose to write to the Governor again for clarification. Michael exudes energy and enthusiasm. The man is on a fast track. On any given day, he may be banging out a letter, say to the Governor, or designing a Web site. Then again, the spouse of Denise and father of four (the eldest is a young adult) might be chairing the Advisory Committee, or helping out at Luther School. |
The air traffic controller never suffers
boredom. He managed to write a novel, currently being marketed by
an agent, has another book in the works, and rallied his neighbors to fight
(successfully) for needed improvements in their Buena Park community. Still,
he remains involved with his children’s activities and assists them with
their homework.
The fifth of eleven children puts his family first both his immediate and original clan. His personal e-mail address attests to that, (daddyfixit@home.com) as does his license plate, 5th of 11. Michael’s foray into Web Page designing, as a side business, came after a period of tinkering with it until he became adept. The entrepreneur’s clients include several local individuals and businesses. But his main career (air traffic controller) and pilot’s license stem from an early interest in aviation. Formerly, the dynamo kept his eyes glued to radar at John Wayne and Ontario airports, but he currently works at the Flight Service Station in Hawthorne. This man is not just a daddyfixit, he’s a Michaelfixit! Petra Dean
is a Cypress writer
Call her at (714) 995-8332 |