Ferncliff

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Happy 80th Birthday GPT!

GPT, short for GrandPa Ted, celebrates his 80th birthday with fireworks on the 4th of July. Janie and Ted's family have come to Ferncliff from Colorado, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Illinois to celebrate with them. Their connection to Ferncliff started in 1998 when Rev. Sam Pope of Kirk in the Pines Presbyterian Church in Hot Springs Village suggested to David Gill that Janie might be a good Board member. Indeed she became President of the Board. For the special school violence camps with the children from Jonesboro in 1998 Janie and GPT came for the week and helped. It was such a good experience they came back for all 8 camps over 5 years and in 2000 said "how about if we just move in for the summer!" And so they did and have been fixtures at camp for a decade. Janie as Camp Nurse and GPT as "Camp Gramp" doing a myriad of chores and site improvements. Most recently GPT became our Summer Camp Photographer taking photos and putting dozens on the web each night for parents to view. What a ministry and what a legacy. This will be their last summer working full time at Ferncliff. They want to go out with hugs and smiles. Indeed, they have dispensed thousands of smiles and hugs to thousands of campers. Happy 80th Birthday GPT!!!