Photos by Leda Costa for West Seattle Blog
A West Seattle legend celebrated a milestone today. The Senior Center of West Seattle threw a party for Jean Carroll‘s 90th birthday. About 60 people were there for a party she pronounced “absolutely marvelous”!
(Carol Johnston dancing with Jean)
Jean has been a volunteer at the center for 18 years. If you don’t already know her, you might remember her in the spotlight for another reason this past summer – she spoke at the 75th anniversary celebration for Colman Pool (WSB coverage here), where she was one of the first two people to swim before it opened on July 4th, 1941. Ahead, more from today’s party:
Highlights from those well-lived 90 years were on display – like this photo from what was then Madison Junior High School, 75 years ago:
Her wedding day:
She and her husband were longtime volunteers for a Dixieland Jazz Festival in which she also danced – here’s a clipping of Jean in the West Seattle Tappers, 23 years ago:
And then there was a newer memory. WSB photographer Leda Costa, who covered the party, explains that she was talking with Jean “when a police officer walked in the room; she ran to him so quickly her hat fell off! She goes ‘my police officer!’ Turns out someone stole her purse from behind the counter last Friday and Officer Martinez is the one who came to handle it. It was so sweet of him to stop by her party – she was thrilled to see him.”
Jean volunteers at the center five days a week.
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