Life Lessons from the Seniors of Vashon Island. This item is unavailable.Life Lessons from the Seniors of Vashon Island

A collection of 130 life stories of seniors on Vashon Island, Washington, written by journalist John McCoy and published in the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber from 2017-2022.

“What's an important lesson you've learned in life?" McCoy asked island seniors. In one-on-one interviews, he explored their histories, their motivations, their successes and failures. Among the answers are: Live boldly. Seek serenity. Help others. Be you. Trust a friend.

Writing tight and to the point, McCoy told each life story in a succinct 375 words to fit the newspaper column format of the Beachcomber. The Life Lessons book includes the original newspaper stories with portrait photos, plus additional art, graphics, and pictures that illustrate the lessons. Some of the additional photos were taken 70 years ago.

Produced under the auspices of the Vashon Senior Center, the Life Lessons book is the result of the pro bono work of four island seniors: Mike Masi, who designed the newspaper column; Richard Rogers, who designed the book; Alice Bloch, who edited and proofed the text; and McCoy, who did the interviews and wrote the stories.