12/11/2007
Ethel V. (Kenny) DeGroot
Former Executive Director of the Torrance Teachers Association (TTA), Kenny De Groot passed away on December 11, 2007, from a sudden stroke.
She was born on September 27, 1917, in Knoxville, Iowa to Worth and Maude Kenny and was one of six children.
She attended college in Iowa before moving to California and working for Eastman Kodak as the City Manager of Hermosa Beach.
She married John De Groot on December 13, 1941. After he became mayor of Hermosa Beach, she left her position there and started her career at the Torrance Teachers Association which spanned 47 years.
She was Executive Director from 1960-1987 and continued as the bookkeeper until the time of her death.
Kenny was a very active 90-year-old and the picture of good health. She was a firm believer in vitamins, exercise, and healthy eating; loved a good political discussion; would never pass up a hungry stray cat, and had a lifelong quest for knowledge.
Preceded in death by her husband, she is survived by her son, John P. DeGroot of San Francisco; daughter, Linda Hooper; and granddaughter, Jessie Hooper of Torrance.
” Grammy” will be greatly missed by all her good friends and neighbors in New Horizons and her adored kitty ” Precious”
There will be a ” Celebration of Life” Open House Saturday, December 15, 1:30-4:30 PM, at the New Horizons Club House Lounge, 22727 Maple Avenue, Torrance. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the TTA Charity Fund (note ” Kenny De Groot Scholarship”), c/o Torrance Teachers Association, 1619 Cravens Avenue, Torrance, CA 90501. Please sign the guest book at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.