Rip VanCamp, Will Horne, and Murray Trelease at the opening of the Gathering Place at the Senior Hamlet.

Two longtime Lopez Island residents were honored Friday, Sept. 4, when a memorial plaque was hung in the Gathering Place at the Senior Hamlet, marking the official opening of the facility.

Helen Lewis, also known as Louie, and Dorothalee Horne, known as Dort, were founders and residents of Sea Ranch for many years. They understood the challenges seniors faced when they could no longer live in their homes because of age or medical needs. Rather than being forced to leave the island for care on the mainland, the women had a vision of a place where seniors could stay on Lopez, have their needs met, and remain vital members of the community. After nursing Dort through a long illness, Louie pledged her time and money to the Senior Hamlet.

The Gathering Place, the “living room” of the Senior Hamlet, was conceived and designed with Louie’s input to accommodate the social and physical activities of the residents, and to promote the healthy lifestyle that Louie and Dort embraced.

Attending the ceremony were Will Horne, Dort’s nephew, Rip VanCamp, chair of the board of the Senior Hamlet and Lopez Housing Options, and Murray Trelease, also on the board of LOHO.

“Active living is so important for seniors, and Louie and Dort personified that,” VanCamp said. “We’re honored that they considered the Gathering Place essential to life both at the Senior Hamlet and on Lopez Island.”

For more information about the Senior Hamlet, go to www.seniorhamlet.com, or call the office, 268-2620.