If you had the privilege of meeting Marie Greenwood, you’d never forget her. Marie’s effervescent smile and inspiring attitude made her a treasure here at Springbrooke and to the larger Denver community.
Marie was the first tenured African-American teacher in Denver Public Schools and an integration leader. A first-grade teacher for 30 years, Greenwood was highly regarded for breaking down racial barriers throughout her storied career.
In the 1940s, She was a member of an interracial group that used lawsuits and other means to force restaurants and shops to serve blacks. She taught at Whittier School for about 10 years before leaving to raise her own family of four children. Marie came back to teaching in 1955, when the principal of the then all-white Newlon Elementary invited her. In the 1960s, she served on a Denver Public Schools committee that studied racial inequalities in school funding and staffing. She retired from Newlon in 1974, but continued volunteering into her second century. The district christened a new school Marie L. Greenwood Academy in her honor.
Eight days before her death, Marie taught one last lesson to Denver students: aim high, because “if you reach for the stars, at least you’ll hit the treetops.” This was classic Marie: urging kids to set high standards for themselves and showing up when most people would have long since stopped coming.
When Marie could no longer venture out to visit local schoolchildren, they streamed through Springbrooke’s doors to see her and fellow residents. But Marie didn’t have to look far for graduates – two of her former students are Springbrooke residents!
Naturally outgoing, Marie chose Springbrooke as her home seven years ago and was delighted by the community’s energetic vibe. She was a regular at social events and at Active Minds, believing that “the day you stop learning, you’re all done,” according to her son, Jim Greenwood.
“Coming to Springbrooke added years to her life,” said Jim. “Springbrooke is small enough to really get to know people, and large enough to host events and activities that brought Mom joy,” continued Jim. “You don’t move to Springbrooke, you join Springbrooke!”
A favorite among residents, Springbrooke’s staff also fell in love with Marie. Of the staff, Marie said, “I’ve got more children now.” Jim stressed the genuineness of the love and care Springbrooke’s aides, servers, housekeepers and cooks showed Marie. “She really appreciated people visiting her at the very end. She cared about them, and they reciprocated that love,” Jim said.
Marie will be missed.
For more about Marie Louise Greenwood’s life and legacy, visit the Friends of Marie L. Greenwood website, www.friendsofmlg.org
