Leona Heights Neighborhood


by Larry Laverty


Elfie Larkin grew up on the East Coast, with its cold winters. To her, the navel oranges in her local grocery store were a signaled that a better life awaited her out West.

Elfie Larkin and Gordon Laverty, August 2011. Elfie is a World War II Coast Guard Veteran, Gordon is a World War II Army Veteran. Elfie will be 100 years young on December 7, the 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Photo by Larry Laverty.

“A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” The Wizard of Oz was right about that.

So if you happened to have grown up between Leona Heights and the Laurel District between 1953 and 1975, you more than likely would have gone to John Swett School and had Elfie Larkin as one of your early teachers. If you visited the Oakland Zoo at least once since 1977, you may have met one of the first and most beloved docents at the zoo, Elfie Larkin. And if you followed the advancement of women professionally in our society and especially here in the Bay Area, you might have met the dedicated woman of service to others, a veteran of the United States Coast Guard who served actively during World War II: Elfie Larkin.

No matter what Elfie happens to be doing, she finds something to love about it. In general she loves life with a capacity that most folks only dream about. And in return for her love of life, she’s loved by the countless people who are fortunate to meet her and share a moment or two with her.

On December 7, Elfie will celebrate her 100th birthday, and true to her nature, she is 100 years young. A graduate of the Masters Program at Mills College with a passion for learning, she studied at more than five universities. She began teaching in the East. Her career encompassed nearly 35 years of teaching in public schools, followed by over 20 years of helping others appreciate the natural world around us.

Along the way, she’s been a leader in the Boy Scouts of America, she’s traveled extensively, including a trip around the world. She’s been involved in art and music, and she’s enjoyed a passionate dedication to her family and her late husband Paul. Elfie's experiences also include white-water rafting, fishing, horseback riding.

Happy Birthday, Elfie! Thank you for your love of life, for your appreciation for all the good that is in this world, and for all you do to make Oakland and this world a far better place.