Lake Forest Park resident Barbara Johnson recognized with Positive Aging award

Barbara Johnson

Sound Generations, formerly Senior Services, granted 2016 Inspire Positive Aging Awards to five people in King County, out of 44 nominations.

 Lake Forest Park resident Barbara Johnson was recognized in the category of Lifelong Learning.

In June 2016, Sound Generations – a nonprofit serving 83,000 seniors and adults with disabilities throughout King County – recognized five people for its 2016 Inspire Positive Aging Awards.

The award was created in 2006 to recognize older adults in King County whose lives inspire us about how to age with grace, enthusiasm, creativity, hope and energy.

Lake Forest Park resident Barbara “BJ” Johnson (95) was granted the Inspire Positive Aging Award in the category of Lifelong Learning.

Barbara is the most senior of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center’s Hula group: the Kupunas. A Kupuna, a Hawaiian word, “is an honored elder who has acquired enough life experience to become a family and community leader”.

Barbara joined the group when she was 87 and celebrated her 95th birthday this year. She practices every week and performs with the group at least two times a year. Her infectious smile and positive attitude is an inspiration for all 15 members, and mesmerizes audience members with her grace.

Despite two hip surgeries and surviving lung cancer (although she never smoked), Barb loves to dance. When she was in her 80s, her daughters gave her tap shoes and a tap platform. Little did they know that she would tap dance for hours at a time. She then joined the Kupuna Hula group at the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center.

Her nominator said, “It is a joy to watch Barb dance. Her love of Hula and the delight she has in life shines through. She is such an inspiration to all of the Kupunas: we aspire to dance like her until we are 95+ years old and to enjoy every facet of life like Barb. She is truly the most beautiful and inspirational senior one could ever meet!”

Other award recipients included Geraldine Allsopp for Health and Wellness, Fai Coffin for Advocacy and Activism, Richard Body for Community Service, and Dr. Dominick Minotti for Intergenerational Impact.

Sound Generations, formerly Senior Services, is the most comprehensive non-profit agency serving older adults and their loved ones in Washington State.