Some people are forever youthful, despite their chronological age. Three such individuals are Puerto Vallarta residents, Don Gallery, Beverly Rose and Nelly Barquet. What keeps them young? Certainly good genes, but beyond that the common denominator seems to be an innate zest for life and continued involvement in meaningful activity. We salute this dynamic trio and offer the following collection of interesting facts as testimony to their colorful histories and present vitality.

DON GALLERY (84)
Then …
• Served in counter intelligence for the US air corps
• Dated Shirley Temple and maintained a lifelong friendship with Elizabeth Taylor
• Lived in California, South Africa, Holland and Venezuela, among other places
• Studied law at Stanford University
Now …
• Researcher for the “American Movie Classics”
• Working on a book about the silent-movie days of Hollywood
• Docent at Casa Kimberly for the past five years
• A frequent movie extra and casting recruiter
• Vallarta Writers’ Club leader par excellence
• Adoptive “parent” to 27 cats

Passions: Walking, sailing, tennis, movies, animals and Patricia, his “wonderful wife”

BEVERLY ROSE (75)
Then…
• Studied opera for five years in Italy
• College theater teacher and director for nine years
• Created and executed publicity stunts to promote first-run movies
• Popular USO guest performer
• Part of a clown/magic team with her character-actor husband of 40 years, Ralph
Now…
• Directs community theater productions, donating profits to local charities
• Becomes Mrs. Claus at Christmas, buying, wrapping and distributing gifts to local children
• Relishes time spent interacting with Mexico’s “wonderful culture of kind, sweet people”
• Reads, writes and speaks Italian and Spanish

Passions: Theater, TV, her computer, friends, crochet, travel and pets, Cleo and Coco

NELLY BARQUET (82)
Then…
• Quit school in grade 7 to work at Sanborn’s
(“I was a terrible student!)
• Started and operated a custom clothing business, employing 125 local embroiderers
• Marshaled medical and financial resources to
enable two disabled street children to walk
• Co-founded several successful Vallarta restaurants, including Las Palomas
Now…
• Studied art in San Miguel and began painting at age 76
• Owns and operates her own gallery (Nelly at 558 Morelos)
• Recent recipient of Mexican government award for outstanding community service
• Avid fund-raiser and event coordinator for Casa Hogar and other social service organizations
• Juggles a packed schedule of social, volunteer and business activities
• Wife to celebrated sculptor Ramiz Barquet, many of whose creations adorn the Malecon
• An inspiration to four children (also local entrepreneurs) and 14 grandchildren and great grandchildren

Passions: Family, travel (Europe 12 times and the Orient), work, parties and employing people in need.