By Kathryn Dean, American Red Cross volunteer

In March of 1976, Jean Lewis was just coming off sick leave after the birth of her first child.  Upon learning that her former position at the local library had been filled in her absence, she was offered an alternative job. 

“They put me in a room as long as Chester Avenue (filled) with index cards,” Jean mused. “They said that we are starting automation, and we are going to put all these cards in alphabetical order…and I looked at it and I said, oh no, not me!”

So, she left the library and headed down to the unemployment office.  After taking a typing test, she was offered a clerk position at the American Red Cross.  The starting pay was $1.98/hr, and she gratefully accepted.

“I have remained in the same department for the entire 50 years.” Jean proudly proclaimed.  “I never wanted to leave this department.”

That department is called Manufacturing, which manufactures the blood products that are collected through donations.  It has changed names over the course of her career, from Technical Services to Laboratory, and finally to Manufacturing. 

“I used to make all the forms that’s now out on the internet in the repository.  I used to make all of those forms on the typewriter,” Jean recalled. “I started out making a system up for the forms to be organized.  One of the things I give myself credit for at the Red Cross is that I’m very organized.”

Now, after 50 years, Jean is ready for the next phase of her life.  “I am going to retire this year, 2026.  It is now time for the younger generation to take over,” she reflected. “One of my mottos is, nobody’s job should shut down just because that person’s not here.  You should always have a backup.” 

During her career, she’s always taught others to do her job just in case something happened and she couldn’t be there.

Post-retirement, Jean plans to travel with her family in a 15-passenger van that she recently purchased.  “I have two grandkids, and my 35-year old, Down syndrome nephew.  They are the love of my life…we go a lot of places together.”

Jean celebrated 50 years with the Red Cross on March 26 of this year. 

On behalf of the American Red Cross, we wish Jean a very happy retirement, and thank her for her 50-years of service!  A warm congratulations also to Jackie Greene, who celebrated 55 years with the Red Cross on March 1^st!

To conclude, a final word from Joel Prater, Manufacturing Manager, American Red Cross. “When they retire, the Red Cross will be losing two of the hardest working people with the greatest breadth of knowledge and experience imaginable, and it will take 4 people or more to cover all they do for us here.”