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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | FEBRUARY 2018 7 By Cindy Graves A TRIBUTE TO ONE OF FOUR SEASONS' FOUNDING MOTHERS It's funny how most people who are involved in any type of community service seldom feel that they really make much of a difference in the big picture; such was the case with one of our dear neighbors, Melody Seewoster. Eleven years ago Melody moved into the Four Seasons after the sad loss of her best friend and husband. Recognizing that she had some extra time on her hands and a past history of using her creative ideas to make great events, she decided to help out by joining the Social Committee. She was immediately warmly welcomed and before too long was elected the Social Committee Chairman, a position which she held for nine years. During that time she also heeded a call from the Communications Committee, who needed people willing to help with The Sentinel, our Four Seasons magazine at the time, which later became The Breeze. She served in that capacity for nine years as well. One of the social pastimes she enjoyed the most was Canasta, so she decided to start the Four Seasons Canasta Club, which was always well attended and still remains a big group today under the leadership of Pam Morales. These are big and generous investments for one person, but they don't stand alone. During those same 10 years she started the Four Seasons Travel Club, which sponsored our huge annual Travel Expo as well as secured special bus and cruise group trips. In her spare time she started the Four Seasons Red Hat Ladies Club which lasted for around seven years. Along with all of the Four Seasons time investments, she still made the Beaumont community at large a priority for service. She volunteered with both the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce and San Gorgornio Community Hospital, and those are just the involvements that I knew about. For a person who didn't really think much about all that she was contributing to, her efforts helped build some of the most important organizations in Four Seasons today and created tons of enjoyment for those who participated in the fruits of her labor. To most of us she was thought of as a team player, organizer, hard worker, world traveler and a fun, gregarious, big-hearted friend. I am forever grateful to have had the privilege of supporting her efforts here at Four Seasons and she became more than just another work assignment, she became family. On Dec. 28 the Canasta Club sponsored a tribute to Melody Seewoster "A Life Well Traveled," in the Lodge Ballroom. It was a wonderful farewell to a wonderful woman. I officiated the program, John Noonan sang a beautiful song, Wayne Staples created a fantastic DVD of her life and contribution to the community and the Four Seasons Line Dancers under the direction of Martha Franck, actually did a very moving "Good- Bye Dance." Dave Rohrbacker of Four Seasons Karaoke fame, even put together all of the background music for the event. Over 200 people came out to express their condolences and to share of the impact Melody had on their lives. As I said, people who are involved with service to their communities, even if it's investing time helping others have fun doing what you like to do, contribute hugely to the quality of people's lives in ways you can never imagine. May Melody Seewoster's life be a lesson to us all to remember that most of the time, it's just about sharing who we are and what we love to do with others that ends up making some of our life's biggest impacts. Thank you again Four Seasons for proving that the homes within these gates are not just houses in rows on designated streets, but neighborhoods filled with Four Seasons friends and family who come together to love and support one another. Melody Seewoster 3/5/44 – 12/20/17

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