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. This year, the award included five categories: Community Service, Intergenerational Impact, Health & Wellness, Advocacy & Activism and Lifelong Learning.
 
Richard (“Dick”) Body (82) was granted the award in the category of Community Service. Dick’s volunteer experience has included three Sound Generations programs, Hyde Shuttle, Volunteer Transportation and Meals on Wheels, South King Fire and Rescue, and Des Moines/Normandy Park Senior Activity Center.
 
With the South King Fire and Rescue Department, Dick is the designated volunteer driver for their 1941 Chevrolet fire truck. Many a summer weekend, Dick and his faithful stuffed Dalmatian, Hydrant, attend community festivals, farmers markets, parades and senior centers. Every July, Dick hosts a drawing for one lucky senior from our senior center to win a ride in the antique fire truck for our community’s annual Waterland Parade. Dick also delivers interdepartmental mail for all eight fire stations on a weekly basis.
Dick wears MANY hats at the Des Moines/Normandy Park Senior Activity Center. He is a volunteer driver for day trips, helping area seniors enjoy all the fun places to visit and explore in the Pacific Northwest. He is the official “carpenter,” making a beautiful table rack for the center, repairing TV trays, donating wood sailboat mobiles and ornate memory boxes to the annual auction. Every Thursday since 2003, Dick has served his Meals on Wheels route, packing and delivering meals.
 
As his nominator said, “He doesn’t just do his job, he goes the extra mile to bring a smile, wipe a tear, make a child laugh, a dog wag its tail, a homebound senior feel special and loved.”
 
Other award recipients included Geraldine Allsopp for Health & Wellness, Fai Coffin for Advocacy and Activism, Dr. Dominick Minotti for Intergenerational Impact and Barbara Johnson for Lifelong Learning.