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BIOGRAPHIES OF

THE FOUNDERS OF STARCROSS

Sister Marti. Mary Martha Aggeler is aptly named. She has combined both the practical Martha and the contemplative Mary (Luke 10:38-42) to become the heart and core of the Starcross Community.

Marti was born in Idaho on September 24, 1939. She was a very pious child and a fun-loving young adult. Wanting to see the world she became an airline stewardess. Eventually Marti settled in the Bay Area, married a stock-broker, and became part of a fast moving San Francisco-Marin county crowd. She joined a motorcycle club of young executives known as "The Red Barons" and she was deeply involved with skiing and sailing.

She had become alienated from the Catholic church because of tones of harshness and judgement she heard in the pulpits. A change came in her life when she began to study psychology at UC Berkeley in the 1960's. About this time her marriage ended and was later annulled. She began to live a quieter life and gradually became aware of her deep spiritual yearnings.

Marti became involved in intensive group experiences. She met brother Toby and together they founded The Humanist Institute (See A CHRONICLE OF STARCROSS 1968-1976 ) For eight years she was one of the most experienced and respected facilitators at the Institute. It was here that she rediscovered her spiritual roots and successfully grafted her other pilgrim experiences on to them.

When the time came to form the community Marti held it together. With brother Toby she made her first monastic community vows on May 4, 1971.

For 12 years Marti was a unique foster parent. Children in pain were attracted to her nourishment and her honesty. One day a social worker drove up with a little girl who had been the object of sexual and physical abuse. This tough kid threw open the car door, looked at Marti, and said "Are you the mother?" Marti responded "Yes, are you the kid?" The child burst into tears and ran for Marti's arms.

Sister Marti is the administrator of the community. All the practical, financial, and computer tasks fall to Marti. Marti is pleasant and very loyal to those who know her. But, when the occasion arises and there is some danger or injustice or opportunity, Marti can suddenly and without warning move like a tornado. It was she who found the homesite which became our home in 1976. When it was to be sold to someone else she flew to Hawaii and convinced the owner to change his mind. She made it possible to adopt David and then pushed us to provide a home for babies with AIDS (see 1986-1996). With a nurse friend she literally rescued a child, in another state, who was being raised in a steel crib because of a many month failure to provide the proper paperwork. A California court quickly moved to appoint Marti as guardian to protect the child. About a year later the first state straightened out the paperwork.

Sister Marti arranged for us to build a Chapel when we had very little money. She then saved and planned until we could build our new home in 1997.

To David and Holly sister Marti is a loving and caring "Mom." She has worked very hard to help them develop their unique gifts. It was Marti who first recognized David's musical longings and arranged for teachers and opportunities as they were needed.

In 1999 Marti was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her surgery and treatments have been very successful and there is every reason to be optimistic, not only for medical reasons but because of Marti's spirit. Sister Julie wrote to our friends in SHARINGS:

In late February some of us took the kids to the mountains to see the snow. Marti looked longingly at the skiers. On impulse she borrowed some skis and got on a lift. It had been 31 years since her last time on skis but she made her way down that hill. By the next afternoon -- many mountains later -- she was skiing better than she ever had in her life. This woman is indomitable. Cancer is the latest challenge. Watch and see her style as she skis down this new mountain!

Most people see and appreciate the "Martha." But inside the community sister Marti is known more for the spiritual "Mary." As a result she often helps keep all of us on track. In our interpersonal relations Marti is the glue that holds it all together.

How does she see her current interest? "Our spiritual life is my anchor. It brings meaning to my life and keeps me sane. What brings me happiness? The children. Music. Walking. Reading. Working on ways to communicate with our friends and offering encouragement for them to succeed in their quest for a richer life."

Brother Toby. Tolbert McCarroll (born 01/04/1931) grew up in a working-class family in Mississippi during the depression years. Later the family moved to Oregon. Most of his high school years were in a seminary run by a Benedictine Abbey. He graduated from Law School in 1955 and practiced law in Oregon, until he became an administrator for a number of national and international concerns. Later, as the Director of the Humanist Institute in San Francisco and a lecturer in Psychology at Sonoma State University he was associated with those attempting to channel the human development phenomena in the late 60's and early 70's. He and his wife, who died young, adopted two now-adult children from war torn countries.

Brother Toby made his monastic vows on May 4, 1971. His special concerns in the community are spiritual growth, liturgy, communication, and landscaping.

He is the author of eight BOOKS on spirituality. In 1988 brother Toby received a Christopher Award. His work has appeared in a number of periodicals. He spends time writing on most days.

The spiritual and emotional needs of young people is a continuing focus for his life and work. Brother Toby has been a parent, foster parent, guardian, and godfather to a number of children covering three generations. He has been a PARENT'S MAGAZINE parent of the month. He is now the adoptive father of two CHILDREN: David (born 01/25/1986) and Holly (born 03/10/1990) who are at the center of his life.

After 1986 brother Toby was the principle voice for the community's response to the AIDS epidemic, frequently appearing in the media. At the community's Morning Glory House in Santa Rosa he worked with the spiritual and emotional needs of people living with AIDS, their caregivers and families. He was a founder and first CEO of CASA SPERANTA in Romania. In 1996 the Sonoma County Medical Association gave brother Toby its Special Award for Recognition of Achievement, "For his loving update of the ancient traditions of hospice and sanctuary."

When asked about his current focus brother Toby replied; "Moving around the day with God better, the spiritual unfolding of the community and our friends, the lives and activities of the children, writing, tending a few roses, and offering encouragement and hope to those who will inherit the earth in the 21st century. I am particularly concerned with helping sustain the young people who are on the frontiers of history."

Sister Julie. Sonia De Rossi was born in Waukegan, Illinois on August 25, 1947. But as her very Italian father will point out, she was conceived in Italy. And, her spirit is certainly from there. The Catholic Church was a given. Her mother was a church musician and her father's family had always been Catholic. For Sonia studying the catechism was no different from practicing piano scales or writing to cousins in Italian -- it was all part of growing up. She was an adventurous child. Recently a reporter asked if she had always wanted to be in a monastic community and she responded no she had originally wanted to be a spy.

She graduated from college with a desire to make the world better. At first she was a social worker in Chicago and then, after moving to California, qualified as a teacher. At this time she married. They were happy but grew in different directions. Still friends, they walked their separate ways.

Sonia was very interested in spiritual growth. She found refreshing nourishment in Zen, humanistic psychology, Aikido, and dance. In 1972 she came to the Humanist Institute as a resident and studied with brother Toby exploring the relationship between Eastern and Christian spirituality and the bridge between spirituality and psychology. There followed a period of intensive personal and spiritual growth, ending with discerning a vocation to join the community. On April 9, 1977 she made her commitment became "sister Julian", after Julian of Norwich.

Sister Julie has been a friend, sister, mother, to many in need. She is a great and creative teacher. Between 1977 and 1984 she ran a small one-room school for K to 8th grade for our and neighbors' children. In the community she is always in demand on any of the many learning challenges faced by our children.

After 1984 Julie became the farm manager, chief carpenter and plumber. She is definitely the major outdoor person, whether it is planting the garden, running the tractor, loading Christmas wreaths, working in the olive fields, or jogging down the road in the early hours. Health is a big issue for her and it was natural that she became our infirmarian. She has been the primary nurse for children who have been sick. Josh, Tina, and Isabel were the center of her life in their last illnesses. Julie was close to her adopted daughter Tina every minute of her life. She has still not recovered from the loss of Tina in 1991, nor does she expect to.

In our Romanian project Julie was the one who monitored the development of the individual children. The projects in Africa have been very much her projects and she is the primary contact with the Ugandans, South Africans, and Americans involved.

Julie is the "choirmaster" of the community. She supplies the keyboard accompaniment for our chapel music.

She has a special and close relationship with all the children but for Andrew, her adopted son, she is really "mom."

What are her present concerns? "Raising the children well. The health and nutrition of the community. Africa. Those are specifics. The deeper issue is balance in life. Placing little things that bring beauty and grace above problem-solving. I also have a sense from our history that it is always important to be in a state of readiness for whatever we are called on to do next."

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