Virginia (Ginny) Westgate

Westgate—Virginia (Ginny) Westgate, 92, on May 15, 2021, at Manoa Senior Care in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she was lovingly cared for until she passed away. Ginny was born in New York City on May 26, 1928. She spent her early years in New York and Pennsylvania. When she was four years old, her family moved to California.

Ginny attended a residential high school for girls in California from 1942 until 1946. There she was called “Shorty” because of her short stature and was known for her frankness and humor. She graduated from Scripps College in 1950 with a major in child psychology. In her senior year, Ginny learned about teaching opportunities in Hawaii and applied. She moved to Hawaii, where she lived for the remainder of her life. 

A kindergarten teacher until her retirement in 1985, Ginny taught on the island of Lanai for four years, in Hilo on the Big Island for one year, and for 30 years on Oahu, mostly at Jefferson Elementary School in Waikiki. Summers were spent at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to maintain her teaching credentials.

Ginny began attending Honolulu (Hawaii) Meeting at the home of Ann Satterthwaite and later at the YWCA in Honolulu. She knew many of the meeting’s founding members and was present when the meetinghouse was acquired in 1957. During her long relationship with Honolulu Meeting, she was a member of just about every committee and ran the thrift shop for several years. She saw Honolulu Meeting through good times and difficult times, sitting in her special chair.

In 1989, Ginny joined the Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling and was an active participant for many years. Ginny loved music and dancing. She took lessons in hula, Filipino, East Indian, folk, and modern dancing and was a member of the Hawaii Ukulele International Club. In her later years she took up walking. She covered most of the neighborhoods on Oahu, followed by friends who had difficulty keeping up with her. During retreats, she was an avid Ping-Pong player. Ginny traveled widely with friends and enjoyed reading about other cultures. She loved animals and had many kittens.

Friends at Honolulu Meeting are left with many fond memories of Ginny’s humor, generosity, and faithfulness.

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