Happy Birthday, Ms. Catherine!

Nancy’s friend, Ms. Catherine Gaines, marks 107 years today. Her comment: “Oh, just another one.”

She was born in 1916 in Washington, and lived near 15th and U Streets, Northwest, near the “Black Broadway” heart of black commerce in segregated Washington. Here she is with her brother about 1921 or so:

She graduated from Cardozo High school and went to college in Washington. Later, having been born during one World War, when another broke out, she wanted to help out so she joined the W.A.C.s in 1943, and served for two years, ending as a 2d Lieutenant, having served in Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, and Chicago. She then stayed with the Armed Forces in the DC area as a civilian employee until her retirement 30 years later.

But Catherine Gaines was never a retiring person. She changed from one type of public service to another, and volunteered at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington.

That’s where Nancy met her. Nancy immediately was smitten by the energy and example of Ms. Catherine, as she is universally known at Children’s. Always upbeat and outgoing, Ms. Catherine buoyed the spirits of the other volunteers in hard moments.

When Nancy was named Volunteer of the Year at Children’s, she urged them to select Ms. Catherine instead. But for 40 years of service, Children’s had something much better, and named the Volunteer Services office after her. Since then, people have been lining up to honor her.

Nancy and Ms. Catherine have continued their friendship since Ms. Catherine retired from Children’s National, which has been easy to do. If Ms. Catherine is thinking of someone, she picks up the telephone and reaches out. Nancy visits Ms. Catherine in Aspen Hill regularly, generally with a batch of gingerbread, and often is the initiator of calls. It’s easy to be a friend of someone you love and admire so much.

So much has happened, so much has changed since 1916. So many things have happened to cheer the heart, and so many to sear the soul. Through thick and thin, Ms. Catherine has borne the good and the bad with a good and open heart and a smile for all. She’s a model for us all.

Happy birthday, Ms. Catherine! May you enjoy many more!