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# Janet Washington builds on the legacy of
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/janet-washington-builds-on-the-legacy-of/
- Published: 2005-03-18T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T06:19:11.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*living the good life*

*By BERYL LIEBOWITZ AND JULIA SIMON Special to the Daily Press*

(Editor’s note: This is the second column featuring senior citizen women interviewed by high school students as part of their March Women’s History Month project for the Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women.) I have learned that when you meet someone special who is not terribly well known, who does not seek honors or fame, you share in their singularity. Upon meeting Janet Washington for the first time, I realized that not many Santa Monica citizens had previously had the chance to see her beaming smile.

But while Washington has somewhat limited contact with high school teenagers like me, her outgoing personality surprised me right off the bat.

Washington was born in Washington, D.C., in 1938\. Her father worked at the Census Bureau and died when she was 13, younger than I am now. Her mother, who raised eight children working as a type clerk, instilled a love of people and a strong compassion. Washington’s mother lived in Inglewood until she died in 1996.

> “Anyone who knows a strange fact shares in its singularity.” — — French Playwright, Jean Genet

Washington continued her mother’s legacy by working in health care and nursing for many years because of her “love of taking care of people.”

Washington has worked at every hospital in Los Angeles except County General. She has worked at Kaiser, Cedars Sinai, UCLA-Santa Monica and Saint Johns. She sees one of her goals in life as a Christian to “reach out and encourage someone.” As she says, “It doesn’t cost anything to say ‘hello.’”

Washington stressed her longing to inspire young people. She continually asked me, “Are you going to college?” When I answered in the affirmative, she said, “That’s good. That’s good,” and smiled. Washington, who loves her teenage grandson dearly, believes in the philosophy that every elder must “hammer on the child” to convince them to go to college.

“When people are hurting, I feel hurt,” Washington said, wanting to “give out her love.” She describes herself as cheerful, caring, loving, compassionate and “serving.”

The photos I took of Washington, in black and white, reflect her personality perfectly. She smiled throughout the entire photo shoot, but during some moments, I caught her more contemplative side. A woman who lives to help others, she truly hopes to make a marked difference in every individual’s life.

Her incredible altruism and generosity make Washington’s friends joke: “Washington, you can’t take care of the whole world.” Washington laughs and replies, “Of course, I know that, but I can encourage someone.” (Beryl G. Liebowitz is a senior at Crossroads High School. She participated in the Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women’s Young Leadership program, “We’re All Ears.” Five high school girls interviewed five senior women and created an art exhibit featuring the women. The exhibit is on display through March 20 at Santa Monica Place. From March 21 to March 27, the Chamber of Commerce offices will feature it. March 28 through April 3, the exhibit will hang at Crossroads High School. April 4 through April 10, the YWCA will feature it.)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 18, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/031805.pdf?ref=smdp.com)