Born in Seattle on May 14, 1940 to Lily and Chong Loo, Maxine grew up in Chinatown with her brothers, Sheldon, Wilbur and Jerry. She was a great storyteller and loved recounting tales about their upbringing - playing with friends, going to school and daily life in Seattle in the 1940’s and 50’s.
Maxine loved learning and teaching. She attended Garfield High School where she made many lifelong friends. She graduated in 1958 and attended her classes reunions, as well as the reunions of other classes – something that made her family and Maxine herself laugh. She loved school, so she made it her career. After studying at the University of Washington, Maxine devoted herself to helping refugees and immigrant students, often taking them under her wing and going above and beyond to help her students acclimate to a new culture and thrive.
As an English as a Second Language teacher, Maxine had a talent for connecting with diverse people of all ages and backgrounds. Always outgoing, she approached everyone as a friend and had the rare ability to see the good in everyone. She moved through life with a bright smile, eagerness to learn and assumption of goodwill to and from all. She would often announce herself by saying, “I’m here!” in a cheery sing-song voice and of course, you couldn’t help but smile back.
Maxine had the ability to create loving community everywhere she went through life, in Chinatown, through her career with Seattle Public Schools, through her volunteer work, and finally as a resident at Horizon House.
Her love of learning and people moved her to see as much of the world as she could. Maxine traveled to far reaches of the world and not the comfortable places, but the hard to get to places, the places that don’t have Starbucks or 4-star hotels. She wasn’t a typical tourist or observer of culture, she got right in, sharing meals with local families, visiting local schools and, of course, making friends everywhere she went.
Maxine loved her family. She was a devoted daughter, caring for her mother selflessly for decades after her father passed. As a sister, Maxine treasured her brothers and her connections with them and her extended family, never missing an opportunity to share a meal, share time and laugh together. Maxine was the one who always made sure the best moments in life were captured on film.
While she didn’t have children, she had thousands of students and she was an amazing aunt who proudly owned her nickname, “Crazy Aunt Maxine” given to her by nieces and nephews who absolutely adored and cherished her.
She is survived by her brothers, Sheldon, Wilbur and Jerry. She is preceded in death by her mother, Lily and her father, Chong.
A graveside service will be held for Maxine on Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at Lakeview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please honor Maxine through helping a person or organization that is meaningful to you and your community.
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