Disabled woman’s vivacity surmounted social barriers

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, April 8, 2006

Florence Beidler was born at a time when people with disabilities didn’t share in the life of the community. But in the end, the community came together to honor her many contributions.

“She was a great lady. She shared her love unconditionally,” said Sandy Saga, who met Beidler at work at Diversified Industrial Services in Mukilteo. Now called Diversified, the nonprofit company provides jobs and skills training to people with disabilities.

Florence Beidler, who died March 24 at age 61, worked at Diversified in Mukilteo.

Beidler, who worked there for 30 years, had Down syndrome. The congenital condition brings cognitive and physical effects, and typically causes a shorter life span.

Florence May Beidler, 61, died March 24. She is survived by her adopted family, Sandy and David Saga of Lynnwood; their children, Josh, Jaren and Emily; and many friends.

For the last year of her life, Beidler lived at Tree of Life Adult Family Home in Mountlake Terrace. From 1972 to 2005, she was a resident at NW Family Group Home in Everett.

Charlene Greenlee, client training specialist at Diversified, said Beidler had been “given up at birth and institutionalized.”

“I don’t know much about Florence’s life before she came here,” Sandy Saga said. “I have her birth certificate. She was born in Colfax. She had three living siblings when she was born.

“In those days, people with Down syndrome were not accepted. There was no support for families. They left the baby behind,” Saga said.

At a memorial service in Everett on March 31, the Rev. Richard Edmonds spoke of a woman who came to transcend societal attitudes. “She was one of the first clients at Diversified. She worked with the Mukilteo Police Department,” Edmonds said. “She was involved in Special Olympics. She lived a very full life.”

Pete Kinch, at one time the mayor of Everett, met Beidler through his involvement as a board member and executive with Diversified.

“She was a real contributor to life,” Kinch said. “With all the things we stress and worry about, Flo taught us that a hug and a kind word are what life is all about.”

For fun, Beidler collected Roy Rogers memorabilia. She loved Elvis Presley’s music. She went to spin dances at Forest Park, where she and a friend wore matching cowboy hats.

Greenlee said Beidler worked doing assembly jobs for aerospace companies and bonded parts together. Supervisors work with disabled clients in partnerships at Diversified.

A work relationship grew into a much deeper friendship when Saga began bringing Beidler home for family gatherings years ago. “She just became part of our family,” Saga said. “Looking back at pictures, I realized Flo had been with me longer than my husband and children.”

Sandy Saga’s father, John Arnold, said at the memorial service that it was a joy to see his daughter “blossom with Flo, and to watch Flo come to our family’s Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.”

“We’re ever so grateful to have a daughter who brought someone so special into our lives,” said Lois Arnold, Sandy’s mother.

Saga said her parents grew up in a time when disabled people were isolated. “My dad was very uncomfortable when Florence first came around,” Saga said. “With time, all those barriers fell away.”

Saga has great memories of outings with her friend. At the Seattle Aquarium gift shop once, “Flo just had to have a pink T-shirt with a baby seal on it,” Saga said. “She wore that thing to shreds.”

After Special Olympics events, Beidler always wore the medals and ribbons she received competing in bowling, basketball, and track and field, Saga said.

Beidler came to have a lasting impact on Saga’s life and the attitudes of her children, her friend said. “My boys have always been protective of people with disabilities,” she said. “She taught them acceptance and appreciation.”

After leaving Diversified, Saga operated a home day-care center for five years. “I took care of several special-needs children,” Saga said. “Would I have taken them if I hadn’t known Flo? Probably not.

“My experience with Florence will affect me the rest of my life,” Saga said. “I still hear her voice. I’ll hear it for a long time.”

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460 or muhlsteinjulie@heraldnet. com.