By Attorney, Philip Kavesh
If you’ve worked with our firm, you’ve probably never met or even heard of Elaine Anderson. Yet, she has likely touched you and your loved ones in many significant ways.
I’ll tell you how. But first, I’d like to share with you a little of her life’s story.
Elaine, in her usual modest manner, didn’t want a cake with 35 candles on it!
The Often Unseen Journey of An Immigrant
Elaine was born in Changchun, China at a time when the government’s “Cultural Revolution” stifled all forms of self-expression and self-determination. Very few high school graduates had the opportunity to go on to college, and those who did were usually forced onto the narrow path of science and engineering. This was particularly true in Changchun, a large city known as “The Detroit of China” because of its major auto production. But Elaine had no desire to work as an engineer (although both her parents were) or be relegated to a factory job. Fortunately, because of her good grades and exemplary work effort, she was one of only a small number of high school graduates to be accepted at the local university and permitted to elect English as her major. Elaine had no clear reason why she chose that as her major. She had excelled in English in high school and just thought it might become valuable and lead to a better future, somehow.
Here’s How “Somehow” Unfolded
When Elaine completed her university studies, she looked for her first job and realized she had an advantage because very few Chinese could speak English. So she found a tour coordinator position with the Government Tour Agency. Soon after, while greeting English-speaking foreigners, she met a professor from Middlebury College in Vermont who said to her: “We have the best Chinese Language program in the U.S., but have no students from China - - would you like to come join us?”. Elaine wasn’t so sure his statement was for real until a few days later when she received a written offer of a full scholarship! (An amount in U.S. dollars that at the time seemed like a fortune to her!)
So, on her own at the age of 23, with no family or friends in the U.S., and without any money in her pocket, Elaine went from her home in the big city to a tiny town in Middlebury, Vermont. She spent two years there working towards a degree in Sociology, but she wasn’t sure what to do with it next. During summer break in 1989, she visited a friend who she learned had immigrated to the U.S. and lived in Los Angeles. That was the summer when a completely unexpected, earth-shaking event occurred in her native China - - the massacre of young student protestors in Tiananmen Square.
In a mere moment, it seemed Elaine’s fairytale life in the U.S. was about to crumble. Her visa was about to run out and, she feared going back to her homeland, where, as a student returning from the U.S., she might be subject to persecution, prosecution and prison. She felt helpless and decided to take a stand and loudly voice her concerns in the hope the Chinese government might soften its position. While in LA, Elaine attended a massive protest rally at the U.S. Federal Building in support of human rights. Luckily, shortly after that, President George Bush permitted Chinese nationals who had come before the Tiananmen Square massacre to obtain green cards and stay in the U.S. to work. (Also, fortuitously, Elaine met her husband-to-be at the protest!)
Elaine quickly decided to utilize her green card and work at a law firm in L.A. that specialized in immigration law and political asylum, as a way to help her fellow countrymen. However, she didn’t like her boss, so in April 1990, Elaine made yet another momentous decision: to apply to and join our law firm!
She had to Start “At the Bottom”, But that Didn’t Deter Her!
Despite her education and degrees, Elaine began with us briefly in the file room, then, upon demonstrating her work ethic and skill level, was promoted to the position of “typist”, helping us to type legal documents.
Right away, Elaine demonstrated her burning desire to learn and grow. She was never satisfied to just punch the clock and consistently spent more hours on the job than required, in the pursuit of understanding the “what” and “why” of what she was typing.
One of my favorite stories about Elaine (and one she always gets embarrassed about when I tell it), was seeing her typing while consulting a Chinese-English dictionary open on her desk right next to her keyboard. She was determined to advance her knowledge!
Recognizing her work ethic, smarts and motivation, our firm's Senior Paralegal and Office Manager, Jackie Meehan, immediately took Elaine under her wing. Very soon, Elaine wasn’t merely typing documents, she was designing them as a paralegal and meeting with and assisting our clients as our main customer service person. Elaine excelled in all she took on and continues to do so today. I’d put Elaine’s estate planning paralegal skills up against just about any estate planning attorney I know!
Over the years, Elaine has been instrumental to the building and success of our firm, not only doing her own job but in mentoring our attorneys and other staff. She eventually passed the torch she had gotten from Jackie to Arlyn Villanueva (who also began in the file room, then worked as a typist, then became a paralegal and now is our office manager). Today, Elaine and Arlyn together manage the firm’s attorneys and staff, as well as our business operations!
Even more remarkably, Elaine has accomplished all this while working completely at home remotely for the past 25 years! (Ever since, in 2000, she, her husband and son moved to Boston for her husband’s business). Plus, on a personal level, after her move Elaine brought her parents to live in the U.S., and successfully raised her son who recently graduated with a computer science degree. And, now that her husband has retired, they moved from chilly Boston to a beautiful, high-rise condo near the warm Gulf waters of St. Petersburg, Florida (where Elaine is still working for us while sitting on her living room couch!) Truly, Elaine has achieved the American Dream!
When I reflect upon her journey, I again recognize and appreciate what all our predecessors who at some time came to the U.S. have done to improve not only their own lives and those of their future family members as well, but also to improve our country. I think of how my own grandparents came from Russia and Poland to escape ethnic and religious persecution, arrived with no money and hardly knew anyone here (plus had never heard or spoken English), yet, through determination and hard work, they made a better life for themselves and their future generations. And made a positive contribution to our great nation. (Come to think about it, you probably have a similar story when you trace back your lineage to your ancestors who first arrived here.)
For All You’ve Accomplished ... Congratulations, Elaine!
Not only for your incredible journey, but for attaining a great milestone this month, your 35th year with our firm!
Elaine, you not only embody the fulfillment of the American Dream, your devotion to our firm and clients and unparalleled work ethic epitomize the core values of our firm that have enabled us to serve thousands of families in our community. From all of us, Thank You!
