Jeanne Pfeifer, Highline Historical Society founder and Founders Award honoree has a distinguished personal history. She is a native of Marlboro, Massachusetts, where she was voted Boston’s Most Beautiful Baby Girl. Jeanne attended a country elementary school with 3 total students, won an award as “New Hampshire’s Best Citizen” and an academic scholarship to the University of New Hampshire as a senior in high school. While at the University she was a soloist for the college choir and a cheerleader! When World War II came along, Jeanne joined the WAVES and served as a Link-instrument training instructor. After the war she completed her degree at UNH and was the Principal of a high school in Hazelton, N Dakota.
In 1952, she moved to Houston and raised her three sons, which she considers the major accomplishment of her life. During this time, among things, she worked as secretary to the Registrar at the U of Houston, was International Student Advisor for 8 years, and represented the U of H whenever foreign dignitaries came to campus. In 1968, she received her Master of Arts from the University of Houston and began working as Director of Activities at St. Anthony Center in Geriatrics.
By1971, she became the owner/director of the Learning Development Center for children with learning disabilities. Students of interest included actor Patrick Swazey and children of former Secretary of State James Baker. In 1979, Jeanne received certification as a Certified Social Worker – Applied Clinical Practitioner.
And in 1991 this whirlwind moved to Burien and has applied her prodigious energies to our community. In her thirteen years here she has made countless friends and has:
- Served as a member and then President of the Burien Business and Economic Development Partnership
- Served on task forces for the development of downtown Burien
- Founded the Burien Heritage Society (now Highline Historical Society)
- A founder of the Burien Community Computer Center
- Served on the boards of: Hospitality House, Burien Little Theater, Burien Arts Association
- Initial steering committee for discover Burien
- Currently serving as director of a special project “English in Action” of the Special Issues Task force of Discover Burien
- Currently directing “Everyday English”, a language and acculturation program for parents of Latino children in conjunction with Para Los Ninos.