Anne (McGinnis) Parker, Bluffton native, was recently named the 2012 Ottawa County Senior Hall of Fame recipient.
The award was given at an Ottawa County senior gathering at Camp Perry on May 9.
The following was read during the event:
This 2012 Senior Hall of Fame recipient, hailing from our own island, Put-in-Bay, has been a lifetime resident of the island. She has been very active with all the activities and programs of the PIB Senior Center. She is always willing to "jump" in and to help where and whenever an extra hand is needed.
The recipient is a charter member of OWLS (Old Women's Literary Society). She can often be found at the island library reading to the school children during story time. She is adored by everyone, but especially the children. She is well known around the island by her incredibly sweet smile, her warm, loving, friendly personality and always having a twinkle in her eye.
She has also shared her singing talents with the Island Singers, performing many times over the years at such island hot spots as the Town Hall, Perry's Monument and the local churches. Her singing talents have brought her to even bigger venues outside of the island. She once sang the National Anthem (actually, O Canada) at Norwalk's Summit Motorsports Park in front of 40,000 fans.
She is quite a fitness buff. She walks with her son at least 1--2-3 miles a day! She attends the Strength Training classes weekly and often puts the men to shame. I've heard that her high kick would make the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders envious.
Her positive characteristics include her loving, positive attitude about almost anything. She is described as energetic, vivacious, fun, a free spirit with a smile that will not quit.
Through it all, she still finds the time and energy to own and operate an island bed and breakfast . Yes, she still takes all the reservations, scheduling, maintenance repairs, cleaning and linens. Her fellow seniors and site manager state: We are so incredibly proud of her and all of her accomplishments, but most of all, for her beautiful, free spirit and her infectious, sweet smile.
