TAMPA – Most people celebrate their 85th birthday with cake and candles. Lillian Kenney decided to mark hers underwater.
Kenney completed her 1,980th and last dive at The Florida Aquarium, closing out three decades of being a dedicated volunteer.
Kenney started at the aquarium in 1995, the same year it opened, and has been a fixture ever since. Over the years, she’s logged more than 7,200 hours of volunteer time, diving to keep habitats clean for the animals, supporting local waterway cleanups, and guiding guests on the aquarium’s Wild Dolphin Cruise and Wetlands of Florida trail.
Kenney was nominated for The Florida Aquarium’s Volunteer of the Year award seven times and earned the title in May 2003.
“It’s been such a big part of my life for so many years. It’s one of the things that I put first on my calendar,” said Lillian Kenney. “There’s such a friendly atmosphere at the aquarium. The people are great. Everybody helps everybody else. I’ll miss the animals. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
Kenney’s retirement from diving coincides with The Florida Aquarium’s 30th anniversary, making her milestone especially meaningful. She has seen the aquarium grow and evolve over the decades, and her story is now a part of its history.
“Lillian has contributed to many different departments of the aquarium, not just diving,” added Karen Benson, coordinator of dive volunteers at The Florida Aquarium. “She has a wealth of knowledge. She used to be a teacher, so she absorbs everything about animals and loves to share what she’s learned with our guests.”
Though she may no longer be suiting up to dive, Kenney plans to continue volunteering at the aquarium and participate in community cleanups.
