Athmar Park

28 Years of Dedication to the Safety of Children

May 20, 2004

by Jill Honnecke

Mrs. Lorraine Kreft has helped the children of Goldrick Elementary School safely cross the street for over 28 years. You?’d never guess it to look at her but she is now 80 years old, still vivacious and energetic, showing up everyday Monday through Friday to her corner at Mississippi and Zuni. She starts the workday at 8:30 am before school starts, and returns twice more?—at lunch and in the afternoon at 3:30 pm when school closes.

Rain, snow, sleet, or hail she is there with her stop sign and firm friendliness to help the children (and their parents)cross Mississippi and Zuni Streets (?“WITH the light, please?”) safely to the other side. In all those years no children have been injured under her watchful eye, although she has had some close calls with fast and careless drivers. Her closest call happened just a year or so ago when a man had a seizure while driving and came across Mississippi, crashing into the curb, taking out the fire hydrant. Luckily, Lorraine was on the other corner at the time, or it would have been her?—and not the fire hydrant?—flattened. You can bet she is awake and watchful.

Lorraine and her husband Cecil moved to Athmar Park in about 1952. Their house was brand new. The streets were not paved and none of the development existed?—the land north of Mississippi was all fields.

Lorraine has always been a worker. Her first job after graduating from South High School was at the Rocky Mountain News. She worked in the advertising department but had to quit when her daughter was born: ?“There was no child care in those days.?”

Lorraine?’s daughter was in the very first kindergarten class when Goldrick Elementary opened?—and their son also attended Goldrick.

Lorraine has never stopped working. She says she likes to stay busy?—she did babysitting all over Denver and various Manpower jobs. Finally in her early 50?’s Lorraine saw a job notice for a crossing guard and was hired. ?“In those days you were hired by the City, but now I work for the schools.?”

A lot of schools no longer have crossing guards, and?—although DPS is not hiring until next school year?—anyone interested can contact DPS Administration at 303-764-3200.

Lorraine Kreft, is truly one of the secret treasures of Athmar Park.