In the last few months Ayan Patwardhan, along with some of his friends, has learned the art of baking from neighbor Audrey Protiva, who has benefited from Ayan’s sister Sachi’s tech skills. Together, these families have created community in their Orinda neighborhood that builds off the respective strengths of the young and the elderly. Left to right: Sachi Patwardhan, Sarita Vasa, Ayan Patwardhan and Audrey Protiva.
At first glance, a lump of cookie dough and a middle school book report assignment may not seem like a recipe for neighborhood connection, but they were the perfect ingredients for friendship in Orinda’s Glorietta neighborhood.
Last fall, Orinda Intermediate School student Ayan Patwardhan (13) asked his mom, Sarita Vasa, if she could help him and his friends create sugar cookie characters for a school project. Not a baker, Vasa struggled with wondering how quickly she could figure it out online when she remembered the delicious sugar cookies their elderly neighbor Audrey Protiva had left on their doorstep. She decided to take a chance and ask for help.
Protiva, a retired ESL teacher, quilter and avid baker, was delighted to help and turned the afternoon into a fun, educational experience.
“It was beautiful because her approach was like the Bob Ross of baking – calming and engaging,” said Vasa.
Patwardhan, who developed a love of baking from a love of eating baked goods, didn’t want to stop with cookies, so he returned with his friend Vaughan Broderick for a four-hour lesson in bread making.
“We learned a lot, to include how thick to roll the dough, how to make icing and the unpredictability of dough rising,” said Patwardhan. “It’s like having a grandma nearby who loves baking.”
Protiva, who is already planning the next lesson involving sourdough starters, said she loves their energy and enthusiasm. “It’s wonderful to connect with others who are eager to learn what you have to offer,” she said.
In an age where many don’t know their neighbors beyond the wave of a hand as they pull out of the driveway, this intergenerational friendship shows the potential of what a neighborhood can be.
Protiva and her husband Ed have lived in Orinda for 53 years, raising their three children in the same schools Ayan and his 16-year-old sister, Sachi, now attend.
“As far as neighborhood demographics go, we are the eldest,” said Protiva. “Many of our friends have moved to Rossmoor, and while that’s wonderful for its many activities, we love living near young families; we take two-mile walks by Glorietta Elementary to soak up the sounds of children playing.”
Vasa recalls how, when she and her husband Anil relocated from Oakland five years ago, they were concerned that the location of the neighborhood on a steep hill would make it difficult to meet people. It took the pandemic’s lockdown for her to realize the area’s warmth and friendliness as neighbors dropped off lemons and gifts on their doorstep.
Not only has Protiva shared her extensive knowledge on baking and the area, but she has also benefited from the family’s technical prowess. “I was recently working on my annual calendar and panicked because I couldn’t transfer my photos from my phone to my computer,” she said. Sachi came to the rescue.
“I love her house,” said Sachi. “She has the most gorgeous quilts and she’s so kind – she even remembered my birthday.”
“Orinda is in a particular place right now where we have a lot of age diversity; new families moving in among people who have lived here a long time,” said Vasa. “There is this ripe opportunity to build multi-generational friendships that are richer than just socializing with your demographic. I really want to encourage people to think more broadly and not dismiss the 80-year-old neighbor.”
“If it’s tapped into, then something lovely grows,” added Protiva.
