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| Irene on wash day during World War II. |
Two years
ago I met Irene Currin. She was a spry, high-spirited 99-year-old. Irene was in
a wheel chair after suffering a severe stroke at the age of 96, but still had a
twinkle in her eye and a curiosity about the tour I was giving her through the
Center for Health Professions. She was enthralled with the ultrasound, nuclear
medicine lab and x-ray equipment. Irene described the antiquated procedures that
she used as a surgical nurse during World War II. She served in the Army in North
Africa and Europe during the infamous Battle of the Bulge.
Irene passed
away a few days ago on New Year’s Eve. These are some of the things that made
her such an inspiration:
- At the age of 47 she started downhill skiing.
- She began water skiing and motorcycle riding at the age of 50.
- Earned her private pilot and glider licenses at the age of 57.
- She owned a Scheibie motor glider in her 80s and would go flying whenever her friends wanted to have some fun.
- She downhill skied into her 80’s.
- Did strenuous hikes at the age of 80.
- Cross-country skied until almost 90.
- She asked for and received a pair of snowshoes for her 90th birthday.
- She earned her ham radio license and considered it a retirement hobby.
Today’s
gift was to give a donation to the Hugh Currin House. Named in honor of her husband,
a urologist who died in 1988, it provides free temporary, local housing for
out-of-town hospital patients and their families. I can only hope to take a
page out of Irene’s book and be as adventurous in life as she was.
In Giving,
Robin
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