This small noble fir Christmas tree — decorated by Traci Obata (Undergraduate Admissions) — was a gift of holiday happiness for an elderly friend who is a dedicated Fresno State athletics fan.

"My friend Jean is 80 plus years young and has attended Fresno State football and basketball games for many years," said Traci. "Jean’s late husband, Harley Tonooka, worked at Fresno State in the Instructional Media Center until his untimely death in 1993. There is a California oak tree on the west side of the Henry Madden Library that was planted in his memory in 1993, and is now a mature grand oak tree."

Jean no longer is able to attend Fresno State athletic games as she recently had a stroke and has been recovering with physical rehabilitation. For the past several years, Traci's Christmas gift to Jean has been to buy and decorate a small noble fir tree as Jean can no longer physically do this because of her age and declining health.

"This year I decided to give her tree a Fresno State theme since she is no longer able to attend all of the Fresno State sporting events that she used to enjoy going to in her younger and more 'mobile' years," said Traci. "Also, she and her late husband Harley were married during the Christmas season, so this is also my small way to bring some happiness into her holiday season which can be a very lonely time for her as a widow."

View the full Christmas tree photo.

Jean (left) with Traci

Photo of the California Oak tree planted outside the library in memory of Harley Tonooka, who worked at the Instructional Media Center (IMC) at Fresno State until his sudden death in 1993. His co-workers planted the tree. (Photo by Traci Obata)