His surprise visit with Miss America

The Sandusky restaurant Chet and Matt's Pizza is decorated with hundreds of items of local memorabilia.There are jerseys and helmets and photos and vintage game programs from every school in the area.Ohio State has a generous representation of sports keepsakes, as well.But mostly the décor celebrates great moments from local history.So, of course, Jacquelyn Jeanne Mayer is represented, with photos and stories and even a huge green road sign--the one that proclaims "Jackie Mayer Miss America Highway."As Miss America 1963, Jackie Mayer might be the most famous person to ever graduate from Sandusky High School. Certainly, at the time, everyone in America and millions more around the world knew her name, and most recognized her face.That, by anyone's standard, is a celebrity of the highest order.So naturally, Chet and Matt's had a picture of her on the wall the night five members of our family stopped for pizza a few years ago. We were seated at a table right beside a photo of Jackie Mayer in her Miss America garb.At one point someone said "You know who she looks like…" which caused us all to take a second look at the photo. Whereupon at least three of us said simultaneously and, at least in my case, with a certain amount of pride: "Char!"Regular readers of this column know that the Jackie Mayer-lookalike mentioned here is my wonderful wife.So imagine my delight when I got to see the two of them side-by-side a few weeks ago.Char was staffing her little space at the annual craft show at the Norwalk Recreation Center on Saturday, November 23 with our grandson, Jett. I stopped in to bring them lunch.And there, in the adjacent space helping a friend who was marketing her craft jewelry, was Miss America 1963, Jacquelyn Jeanne Mayer.Is it just me, or is that as sweet and wonderful as I think it is: a woman who has had such life success and international acclaim helping a friend at a craft show in the little gym where I shoot baskets a couple times each week. Blew me away.But not before I imposed myself into Ms. Mayer's personal space for a visit.And she was so nice! We talked for 10 minutes, even after I admitted that back in 1962 I was only interested in the pageant's swimsuit competition.She agreed that winning the title was a wonderful honor and has opened many doors of opportunity for her.But life has not been all tiaras and Bert Parks songs for the woman we think of as Our Miss America.In 1970, at age 28, Jackie Mayer suffered a debilitating stroke. When she awoke she was paralyzed and could not speak. The next seven years were spent in rehabilitation to re-learn almost everything and to re-gain her basic motor skills.She now considers herself 90% recovered and has spent more than 20 years assisting stroke survivors and their families. She also travels the country giving motivational and educational presentations to raise stroke awareness.When she is home, she enjoys a simple life, including regular attendance at a church in Norwalk. She is an enthusiastic Christian witness.In short, she is a wonderful, warm human being.And, yes, because I know you are curious, I am happy to report that Miss America is still just as good looking as Mrs. Busek.