U Magazine, Summer 1989

that taught us to look at others the same way." The Bajo home reveals more insights. Family photos are prominently displayed everywhere. Sports trophies won by the children fill an upstairs bedroom. A handsewn wall hanging of the family tree registering the names of all 31 Bajo grandchildren dominates a living room wall. The elder Bajos - who sent all of their children through parochial schools from kindergarten to high school - are quick to credit each other for their family's success. They use simple, care– fully chosen words to describe their rela– tionship and their family - words rooted in love. "There's a good woman alongside every successful man," says Dr. Bajo quietly, out of his wife's earshot. "I'm married to someone who is dedicated to children and raising a family. " Dr. Bajo comes from the old school, say his wife and children, where action speaks louder than words. The son of Czechoslovakian immigrants has always believed, says his wife, that an honest

day's work and a good education can

open doors to undreamed of riches. His medical colleagues and

patients say the well respected physician is like an old time doctor because of his concern for his patients and his ac– cessibility to them at all hours of the day and night. Sarah Bajo almost whispers when she

talks about her husband. "He's

made it all possible for the children," she indicates. "And he

A tree in thef amity's front yard that played an integral role in Ruth's childhood games now serves the same purposefor a new generation.

brings a compassion and a selflessness to his practice that he 's tried to instill in all the kids." And the secret to raising 15 healthy, successful children? Sarah Bajo responds with a story about the time she needed to get from home to downtown for a

luncheon. All of the family's vehicles were gone, so she put on a pair of work gloves and hopped in the ranch's dump truck. "I remember pulling up in front of the hotel and the valet telling me 'I can't park that thing. ' So I said 'Hop in' and I parked the truck. That tells you something, doesn't it?" In a more serious vein, she adds: "We concentrated a lot on the first five . We gave all of them a lot of latitude, but we didn't loose the reins completely. We never wanted any of them to think they were floundering." Ruth plans a career - perhaps teach– ing - that focuses on children. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and will return to USD in the fall to pursue a master's degree in the same field . She says her dad encouraged her brothers and sisters who expressed interest in the medical profession, but never pushed anyone in that direction. Ruth says her USD undergraduate years confirmed to her the values she learned at home. "Materialistic things are not the most important and I need to look out for others before myself, " she offers. "If I could wish something for the world it would be that people get back to those basics. People get so carried away sometimes." Indeed. But no need to about the Bajos. They'll quietly continue to set an example for those who know where to look.

clan gatbered.for a post-commencemelll hi11bday celebration at lhe.fami~y home.

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