San Jose Mercury News, July 18, 2001
Bjorkman, Darlene Rose, 90, of Cupertino, retired owner of Baskin-Robins Ice Cream store, died July 16, 2001. Visitation from 11:30 A.M. To 1:30 P.M. today at Wyant & Smith Funeral Home, Sunnyvale. Graveside service at 2:00 P.M. today at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Los Altos.
Darlene Dorgan Bjorkman was the driving force behind the adventurous girls who became known as the Gypsy Coeds. They gained much notoriety for their summer road trips in a 1926 Model T that Darlene's father had bought for her in 1934. They only came in black but not Darlene's! She painted this open air touring car silver and it was nicknamed the Silver Streak. For nine consecutive summers, Darlene would invite friends to join her in the Silver Streak as they criss-crossed the nation on adventurous but many times grueling trips, lasting as long as six weeks.
How was it that a group of girls from the little town of Bradford, IL traveled the breadth of the nation in this old “flivver” in search of adventure? How was it these common girls made a lasting and beneficial friendship with Henry Ford, mingled with Hollywood movie stars, mayors, and city dignitaries, received complimentary tickets to World Fairs on opposite coasts of the country? The Model T was 17 years old by the end of the last trip, it had taken the Gypsies 80,000 miles through 44 states, Canada, and Mexico. It was Darlene's drive and determination that made this happen.
The legend of Darlene Dorgan and a tribute to the 20 Gypsy Coeds and their adventures can be found in the book 'Darlene's Silver Streak and The Bradford Model T Girls', a delightful read by John G. Butte whose mother just happened to be one of the Gypsy Coeds.
Bjorkman, Darlene Rose, 90, of Cupertino, retired owner of Baskin-Robins Ice Cream store, died July 16, 2001. Visitation from 11:30 A.M. To 1:30 P.M. today at Wyant & Smith Funeral Home, Sunnyvale. Graveside service at 2:00 P.M. today at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Los Altos.
Darlene Dorgan Bjorkman was the driving force behind the adventurous girls who became known as the Gypsy Coeds. They gained much notoriety for their summer road trips in a 1926 Model T that Darlene's father had bought for her in 1934. They only came in black but not Darlene's! She painted this open air touring car silver and it was nicknamed the Silver Streak. For nine consecutive summers, Darlene would invite friends to join her in the Silver Streak as they criss-crossed the nation on adventurous but many times grueling trips, lasting as long as six weeks.
How was it that a group of girls from the little town of Bradford, IL traveled the breadth of the nation in this old “flivver” in search of adventure? How was it these common girls made a lasting and beneficial friendship with Henry Ford, mingled with Hollywood movie stars, mayors, and city dignitaries, received complimentary tickets to World Fairs on opposite coasts of the country? The Model T was 17 years old by the end of the last trip, it had taken the Gypsies 80,000 miles through 44 states, Canada, and Mexico. It was Darlene's drive and determination that made this happen.
The legend of Darlene Dorgan and a tribute to the 20 Gypsy Coeds and their adventures can be found in the book 'Darlene's Silver Streak and The Bradford Model T Girls', a delightful read by John G. Butte whose mother just happened to be one of the Gypsy Coeds.
San Jose Mercury News, July 18, 2001
Bjorkman, Darlene Rose, 90, of Cupertino, retired owner of Baskin-Robins Ice Cream store, died July 16, 2001. Visitation from 11:30 A.M. To 1:30 P.M. today at Wyant & Smith Funeral Home, Sunnyvale. Graveside service at 2:00 P.M. today at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Los Altos.
Darlene Dorgan Bjorkman was the driving force behind the adventurous girls who became known as the Gypsy Coeds. They gained much notoriety for their summer road trips in a 1926 Model T that Darlene's father had bought for her in 1934. They only came in black but not Darlene's! She painted this open air touring car silver and it was nicknamed the Silver Streak. For nine consecutive summers, Darlene would invite friends to join her in the Silver Streak as they criss-crossed the nation on adventurous but many times grueling trips, lasting as long as six weeks.
How was it that a group of girls from the little town of Bradford, IL traveled the breadth of the nation in this old “flivver” in search of adventure? How was it these common girls made a lasting and beneficial friendship with Henry Ford, mingled with Hollywood movie stars, mayors, and city dignitaries, received complimentary tickets to World Fairs on opposite coasts of the country? The Model T was 17 years old by the end of the last trip, it had taken the Gypsies 80,000 miles through 44 states, Canada, and Mexico. It was Darlene's drive and determination that made this happen.
The legend of Darlene Dorgan and a tribute to the 20 Gypsy Coeds and their adventures can be found in the book 'Darlene's Silver Streak and The Bradford Model T Girls', a delightful read by John G. Butte whose mother just happened to be one of the Gypsy Coeds.
Bjorkman, Darlene Rose, 90, of Cupertino, retired owner of Baskin-Robins Ice Cream store, died July 16, 2001. Visitation from 11:30 A.M. To 1:30 P.M. today at Wyant & Smith Funeral Home, Sunnyvale. Graveside service at 2:00 P.M. today at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Los Altos.
Darlene Dorgan Bjorkman was the driving force behind the adventurous girls who became known as the Gypsy Coeds. They gained much notoriety for their summer road trips in a 1926 Model T that Darlene's father had bought for her in 1934. They only came in black but not Darlene's! She painted this open air touring car silver and it was nicknamed the Silver Streak. For nine consecutive summers, Darlene would invite friends to join her in the Silver Streak as they criss-crossed the nation on adventurous but many times grueling trips, lasting as long as six weeks.
How was it that a group of girls from the little town of Bradford, IL traveled the breadth of the nation in this old “flivver” in search of adventure? How was it these common girls made a lasting and beneficial friendship with Henry Ford, mingled with Hollywood movie stars, mayors, and city dignitaries, received complimentary tickets to World Fairs on opposite coasts of the country? The Model T was 17 years old by the end of the last trip, it had taken the Gypsies 80,000 miles through 44 states, Canada, and Mexico. It was Darlene's drive and determination that made this happen.
The legend of Darlene Dorgan and a tribute to the 20 Gypsy Coeds and their adventures can be found in the book 'Darlene's Silver Streak and The Bradford Model T Girls', a delightful read by John G. Butte whose mother just happened to be one of the Gypsy Coeds.
Gravesite Details
Interment 7/18/2001
Family Members
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