I have just finished going through the mail, which had accumulated while my wife and I were away on our honeymoon. Among the mail was an issue of the Highline Times. The cover of this particular issue featured an article about Jeanne Pfeifer, who passed away on March 17.

I was sad to learn that she had passed away, but I enjoyed the article because I learned a lot about her from it. Jeanne did so much for so many people that it would be hard to keep track of all she did for people here in Burien, much less all the things she did for people before she came to Burien.

I would like to add my own story of how Jeanne touched my life.

I met Jeanne about eleven years ago when she, my father and some other community minded citizens began to plan the Burien Community Computer Center. Some of the Times' readers will remember the BCCC, a small non-profit where we provided computer access and classes to the general public.

I got involved in the technical planning, became the Manager of the BCCC when it opened in April 1997, and worked there until it closed in 2002. Jeanne was fully dedicated to the BCCC and the people we helped. She served on the Computer Center's board, part of the time as President, and when that wasn't enough, she spent time at the Center on a daily basis, helping with the day-to-day operations.

She was always involved in fund-raising, recruiting volunteers, and reaching out to the people that the Center was there to help.

Jeanne and I butted heads now and then, but that never infringed on her dedication or friendship, and she always greeted me with a smile. Almost every day of those five years, I saw how Jeanne's dedication and leadership helped the people of Burien, and since then, I have continued to work with computers and education as a computer technician for Highline Public Schools.

That is just the tip of how Jeanne and the Computer Center influenced my life, because I made many friends there, including the Times' own Ralph Nichols.

Although I was sad to learn that Jeanne's funeral was on the same day as our wedding, I think that she would be very happy to know that in our wedding ceremony were four people that I met when they volunteered at the BCCC: two ushers, one groomsman, and my bride, Ruth Wetzel.

Thank you, Jeanne.

David Branson

Burien