Lynne was born in Montebello, California USA, in 1936. She was the third and last child of two wonderful hard working parents.

At birth she demonstrated a strong will and determined attitude, so much so that she was named after an English equestrian rider that was in a book Mother was reading. The lady?s name was Lynne and was described as strong, bright, athletic, and loving... Her mother always insisted that, when Lynne, aged four, took her hand to cross a street, she felt that Lynne was taking her across the street rather than the reverse.

Lynne was five when World War II started. Her memories of this time are both joyous and sad. She remembers that the first time she heard about the war was on a trip with the family. Her father called a family meeting and showed them a newspaper ? the only word on the page was "WAR" in very big print. She knew it meant something very bad because of the look on her father's face and the fact that they had to return home immediately,

The following days were very scary for the young Lynne but the most terrible feeling she had was that her father was going away ? suddenly. He told them that because of the war he had been asked to serve in the SEABEES or Construction Battalions, the men and women of the Naval Construction Force who built air strips and bases wherever they were needed.

Lynne remembers many evenings when they had armed forces in their home. Her father would arrive home with men on their way to fight the war in the South Pacific. This included British sailors who were on their way through San Pedro and San Diego, California. Her mother made them all welcome with lots of home made dinners. Lynne remembers that her family was not rich, regarding wealth, but they opened their home to those boys going to war. In this way her family felt rich in being able to bring happiness to our fellow brothers and sisters from around the world.

It was during that time that she really learned the importance of giving. She was taught that service to others was very important.
Her father was self educated and loved to sing. They had a mixture of Scottish, English and Irish ancestry and so music was a family affair. Lynne remembers sitting together with the whole family, playing the phonograph and singing so many songs. Songs like I?ll be Seeing You, When Johnny comes marching home, what is America to me, and of course White Christmas and When Irish eyes are smiling.

She was blessed with a special voice and she took piano, dance and singing lessons from the age of five. She continues to love to sing music today.

Her family could not afford to send her to college but her church helped her to attend Chapman College. She also received a full scholarship in music.

After college she married and had four lovely children whom they raised with the same loving care that they had both experienced.

For some time she worked in the church as a minister of music and Christian education. In 1970 she began to work with older adults. She realised that everyone appeared to be interested in the welfare of children and very few were interested in the needs of the older population. So she began to study and learn all she could about seniors.

The Older Americans Act was passed in America in 1965. It stated that seniors have rights to dignity and the pursuit of happiness. This gave Lynne something to focus on - from that point on, her passion was to serve the senior population. She spent her working life in trying to help and preserve their rights to dignity and happiness and gained a Master in gerontology inn 1984. She taught seniors in exercise, nutrition, music, consumer education, legal & retirement planning. Her activities included advocacy, education, social services, health & welfare. She created programs and services for seniors in the central Los Angeles. Her responsibilities included service to the European and Asian seniors.

Now, in semi-retirement she was appointed to represent supervisor Don Knabe on the Los Angeles County Commission on Aging - for 37 cities. Their task is to advise the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the various departments of County Government on providing services to the aged.
They encourage and assist local communities and groups in Los Angeles County to plan for and develop services for older persons. They provide a general educational program designed to create self-sufficiency among older adults themselves.
As a commissioner, it is her main task to make recommendations to representatives concerning legislation and the role of county supervisors in dealing with the needs of older adults.

Lynne is still in demand as an experienced gerontologist ? She says? My life has just begun...at least for today ? I continue to fight for the rights of seniors?

Stop Press: Lynne has just been appointed as Executive Director for Interfaith Caregivers Volunteers and is moving to Oregon. Lynne has been considering this move for some time and says ?The organization is in trouble and needs someone to help make it succeed.?

Interfaith Caregivers volunteers provide supportive services to the disabled, isolated, frail and elderly to improve the quality of life. Volunteers assist with various services including: light housekeeping, respite and telephone reassurance, meal preparation and shopping, small fix-it jobs, companionship and transportation, yard work and snow shoveling.

We wish Lynne Good Luck as she sets out on her greatest challenge.