On Monday April 24th, 2017 , The Line dance class of North Berkeley Senior center remembered Gertrude by dancing the dances that she taught us so many years ago. Some wore the red Gertrude T-shirts. Yes, the dancing and listening to the music brought back memories. For a moment we felt united. We were in one accord, dancing following the same rhythm and remembering her face, her voice,
her small frame moving inspiring us all.
After two hours of dancing, the group went to a Chinese dimsum place called Asian Pearl to feast and celebrate Gertrude's 104th birthday.
What has Gertrude accomplished in her departure?
Now in North Berkeley Senior Center , Line dancing is alive and well. In fact, it has expanded. More people are teaching and more classes are available and more people are enjoying the opportunity to dance at old age.
In addition, in Albany there is now a senior line dancing class just for the over 65. The class is diverse, it includes immigrants from different parts of the world such as Peru, Iraq, Taiwan, Korea, China and England.
If Gertrude were alive she would have loved to see the elderly immigrants dancing. She would have loved to see her students taking the paton and following her ambition. She would smile and nod her head.
Julia