European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 19, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 16 the stars and stripes saturday april 19, 1986 Spunky Pauline Waterman she did t want to be photographed lives in this third floor walk up apartment. Pittsburgh s Pauline Waterman a photo a Ambo u Bytnar Bradley Steck associated press t folks. O Pittsburgh s poor aged sick and homeless the pearls of Pauline Waterman Are received every Day As a free doughnut an unexpected Poinsettia or a ticket to a show normally reserved for More fortunate at 83, Waterman Hustles around town at a hectic Pace gathering half Price coupons for food or stashing away others castoffs for those too tired or too old to roam. Her daily ritual includes waiting outside a downtown bakery at 6 45 . To claim the unsold doughnuts muffins and cookies for the poor. But her highest self appointed Mission and sharpest Talent is caging free and reduced Price tickets for everything from Ballet to boat rides. The Street people Call her Santa Glaus. She says she s simply obsessed. A i do is run around with tickets neglecting myself because i can t Stop she says. I m like a drunkard who wants to Stop drinking or someone who wants to Stop smoking. And there s no Way in the world at 83 that i can Waterman is Spry and Spunky. She has a 52-year-old daughter and four grandchildren but they live far apart and Seldom see each other. She s hard of hearing and a bit forgetful but she s unafraid to announce her feelings with a License that accompanies her age. Her skin and eyes Are Clear her voice Youthful and Strong and she says nothing ails her. She s always on the go says Mae Caito 76, who shares a cramped third floor walk up with her. Even on the Days she does t feel Well someone will Call her and ask her for tickets for something and she leaves everything and runs. She s out from morning until after Midnight she spends hours and hours in the heat of summer the cold and ice of Winter distributing tickets says Louise Mcmillan who works for the Syria shrine circus. She is a living Symbol of Waterman has taken thousands of people on riverboat rides to circuses and ice shows at the civic Arena and to concerts and stage shows at luxurious Heinz Hall for the performing arts. It s for their morale she explains. She once took dozens of handicapped children in wheelchairs to an evening of dinner and dancing on a riverboat cruise. It was freezing cold nobody on the boat except these kids and a Dixieland band. The people we wheeled them around to the music in their wheelchairs. And they had a wonderful Waterman knows a Man who likes potatoes so she sent him a two for one Coupon for stuffed baked potatoes at a local fast food restaurant. In her purse is a half written sympathy card destined for a woman whose daughter just died and a birthday card for a Man no one talks toilet paper Rolls Are saved for invalids at a state Hospital who use them to make Christmas candles. She collects ribbon for Craft classes at another Hospital. A roman Catholic priest gave her his Church s unclaimed poinsettias from Christmas and Waterman distributed them to sick and elderly acquaintances. On Christmas night Waterman shuffled downtown with a Bunch of discarded Green balloons from a Bank to decorate a shelter for homeless women. As she eats she squirrels things away for others. Leftover Chicken or meat goes into a bag for her neighbor s Puppy. The plastic utensils and plate from a nearby senior citizen s Center Are wiped clean to be used again. I Don t waste a thing she says. Even her own body will be recycled when she Dies. Instead of giving it to the Worms i la give it to science she says. Well take that Money and give it to some poor kids instead of to the her trademarks Are an ill fitting Sandy coloured wig that serves More As a hat than an adornment and a Large Tan coat that blankets her 98-Pound, 4-foot-10 Inch Frame from head to Ankles. Slung across her Chest is her office a Brown Vinyl shoulder bag containing her lists of reminders. As she trudges through the slush on downtown sidewalks lugging shopping bags filled with doughnuts or plastic utensils for the salvation army Waterman looks More like a bag lady than a woman with a Mission. She gets angry if you Tell her so. She refuses to be photographed. What does it matter How i look it s what i do that counts she says. I look like something the cat dragged in because i never have time to take care of myself. 1 should have a hearing Aid i should have Beautiful Teeth i should have Beautiful clothes and i Don t have the time. It All takes a native of Troy n.y., Waterman claims an exciting past promoting a cooking school in Boston and Selling exhibit space at the old steel pier in Atlantic City n.j., the new York coliseum and county fairs in Florida. She came to Pittsburgh More than 20 years ago she can t remember exactly when to work As a promoter. Upon retiring at 62, she started calling on old contacts for free or discount tickets for the poor and homeless. That s when i started with these Damn tickets Day and night Day and night. From that time on my life has t been my Waterman claims too Little time prevents her from cleaning her ramshackle apartment cluttered with years of collecting. Her Roommate often prods her about neatness but she says it s a matter of priorities. The House will remain but the tickets will be gone she says firmly. I have to get the one of her pet peeves is ingratitude. She says few appreciate or thank her for her efforts. But that does t Stop her. Her compassion comes from the heart not from religious beliefs or lofty ideals about helping Mankind. I Don t do this to go to heaven. I Don t believe in that baloney. I do this to make people Happy while they re
