Who’s Who in Sonoma: 'Toothbrush Lady' Mary Jane Stolte

If you’re driving down Spain Street or Napa Street somewhere between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on any given day, you’re likely to see a familiar looking woman briskly walking her Jack Russell Terrier, aptly named Jack.

Mary Jane Stolte had a weekend home in Sonoma for 16-years while working as a speech therapist in San Francisco, until three years ago, when she made it her full time abode. 

I sat down with Mary Jane (and Jack) to discuss everything from discounts for animal seniors to toothbrushes.

SP: I always see you walking with Jack.

Mary Jane: That’s who I am in Sonoma: the lady with the dog.

SP: Sounds like a painting. Does everyone know Jack’s name?

Mary Jane: More people know his than mine. I’ll be walking along and a car goes by and I hear, “Hi Jack!”

SP: He’s a local celebrity. How old is he?

Mary Jane: Eleven: he’s a senior. By the way, I think Sonoma should initiate a senior discount on dog food, dog treats, etc. Like at the , or .

SP: There’s a project for you.

Mary Jane: Wouldn’t that be fun?

SP: What’s Jack going to eat for Christmas dinner?

Mary Jane: He doesn’t get anything special. He gets fat and unhealthy if he doesn’t eat the right thing.

SP: No treat for poor Jack.

Mary Jane: Every day’s a treat for Jack.

SP: What interests you?

Mary Jane: I just love art.

SP: Maybe that explains why I often see you sitting at the art museum café having coffee. With Jack, of course.

Mary Jane: I go to all the art shows.

SP: Are you working?

Mary Jane: I'm wine hostess at about five days a week. I meet people from all over the world. It's fabulous.

SP:  How involved are you in the community?

Mary Jane: I’m a member of the , , Slow Food Sonoma, and . Oh, and the .

SP: I’d say you’re involved.

Mary Jane: I play trivia every Wednesday night at . My team’s always in the top five.  I’m up on current events, sort of a news junkie.

Mary Jane: But my big project now is being the toothbrush lady.

SP: The what?

Mary Jane: A dentist friend of mine has donated approximately 10,000 toothbrush kits for me to give away to charity.

SP: What charities?

Mary Jane: We’ve already sent over a thousand of the kits to Children’s Medical Aid Foundation in Nepal. And through Seeds of Learning to a school in El Salvador. And a shipment’s going to Nicaragua soon.

SP: Anywhere local?

Mary Jane: I’ve pledged toothbrush kits to , , , and . They’ll be delivered after the first of the year.

SP: Will you have access to more when you run out?

Mary Jane: Yes, it’s an ongoing project.

SP: Does it have a name?

Mary Jane: I don’t know. I just call myself the toothbrush lady.

SP:  That’s as good a name as any.

Mary Jane: The dentist is also an inventor and product designer, and had the kits made in Europe because of the high quality of the bristle. It dries very quickly so when you fold it back inside the kit it doesn’t get moldy. And it’s no bigger than your average tube of lipstick. He produces them exclusively for charity.

SP: It must be very rewarding to be the toothbrush lady.

Mary Jane: My trunk is full of a few thousand toothbrush kits!