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March 16, 2009
Remembering Janet
I am sad to report that long-time OZer Janet Eaton passed away on Sunday after a brief, brave battle with cancer. Janet was one of the so-called 'original OZers' who coalesced around this site at the time of the Salt Lake City Games in 2002; she quickly became a big part of our little community. Janet could always be counted on for unwavering enthusiasm, support for Apolo, and was a valued calming influence among an often-fractious fan base! I imagine we provided her some endless entertainment in those days!
Janet and the furry Apolo
Janet was a huge booster of Apolo, going so far as to name her beloved Golden Retriever puppy after our favorite skater. She derived an extra measure of pride in Apolo (the athlete, that is!) because of their mutual connection to Seattle. Janet was a longtime Seattle resident and ardent booster of Mukilteo, where she lived with her family, and of the entire Seattle region. She shared this passion through her blog, Mukilteo Musings, where her OZ friends (and people around the world) discovered Janet's incredible talent for expressing herself in writing. Whether reading her 'only in Seattle' posts or admiring her photos of the gorgeous scenery she so admired, I was struck by Janet's deep affection for her home.
After spending time talking with Janet or perusing her blog, it became apparent that her pride in Seattle was exceeded only by the pride she took in her family - two children and a husband to whom she was devoted. All of us who had the pleasure of knowing Janet have Dave, Lucas and Kaley in our thoughts.
I am regretting more than ever that the OZ comments are out of commission because I'm sure many of you could share some great Janet stories with us all. The comments are open on her blog, however, and I imagine her family would welcome any thoughts you'd like to share with them.
I came across something Janet wrote on her blog last December, and it's really stayed with me: Look for the gifts in your daily lives. They are there if you are paying attention.
Just a few highlights from Janet's involvement with the OZ community:
Janet was instrumental in the early years in helping us get video footage of Apolo's races to watch here on OZ. She would record the coverage shown on CBC, a channel she received in Seattle, and so we had a nice pipeline of footage in those pre-YouTube years as a result of her efforts.
Back in 2003, Janet and her daughter Kaley were on hand when Apolo spoke at the Seattle announcement that Vancouver would play host to the 2010 Olympics. She was excited to share her experience with us.
Even earlier, Janet outlined some very clever, tongue-in-cheek tips (although not completely!) for fans visiting Seattle for the first time to see Apolo in the 2002 Seafair parade.
Posted by noelle at 4:43 PM | Comments (0)