We wrote about Dee Dee Rainbow almost exactly a year ago.
She's the iconic "Rainbow Lady" of Seattle who frequented Bumbershoot, Folklife, Fremont Fair, U District Fair and any other festive public gathering with music, creativity and festivity and also managed for years to make favorite events of hers like the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival. She had been an art teacher originally.
This morning I got an email from a friend of hers who had read about her on our blog and Dee Dee has had some health problems and now lives in an assisted living type of place. A long-time friend of hers (who met her in 1982 at the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival) agreed to bring her to an afternoon BBQ north of Seattle. They invited me.
I packed up my camera and headed north and ate smoked chicken and buffalo meat and drank home brew with Dee Dee and friends at the home of a wizard who is going to put an esoteric book collection on line before long.
It was a most interesting day and Dee Dee asked me to find her some cooler summer rainbow wear as she has lost weight and has only her winter clothes. I am going to really enjoy doing that and delivering them.
I had talked about Dee Dee Rainbow in my blog and wondered where she is now? Is she still in assisted living? She came to our school many times for art and story telling projects and was well loved by all. My e-mail is lindsher@aol.com. My blog is www.teacherslogon.blogspot.com
Jan Lind-Sherman
Posted by: Jan lind-Sherman | April 12, 2010 at 05:32 PM
I think she is - I have her number in one of my address books and am going to try to find out. She is such a cool person!
Posted by: Slugbug | April 12, 2010 at 06:08 PM
Any update? I've photographed Dee Dee many times at the Moisture Festival and Solstice Parades and have missed her.
Thanks!
John Cornicello
Posted by: John Cornicello | May 21, 2010 at 01:25 AM
Good to hear that Dee Dee is still spreading love & joy. We talked with her at Monterey Jazz Festival many times. Thanks for bringing back some happy memories.
Posted by: Jim Costello, Norfolk, England | June 08, 2010 at 05:28 AM
Hello ALL! this is a the daughter of the said wizard in the article above, and I will taking the DEE DEE RAINBOW to this years Folk life festival on SUNDAY MAY 29th 2011, I that she will be going next year as well, however I know how happy she would be to see some familiar faces this Sunday,please email me if you would like to make sure we meet up there!! Lhyssi_babe05@hotmail.com
FYI: Dee Dee is still in an assisted living home, and does enjoy outings and visitors, If you would like to arrange that, please email me and I will give you her phone number.
Posted by: Lhyssi | May 26, 2011 at 01:09 AM
Typo:*I *Hope that she will being next year, but I do not know, Hope see fellow friends of dee dee this sunday! :)
Posted by: Lhyssi | May 26, 2011 at 01:16 AM
Did she go to Folklife?
Posted by: Lori Magnuson | August 13, 2011 at 02:36 PM
Will she be at the Monterey Jazz Festival This Year.
Posted by: Mike | September 09, 2011 at 02:52 PM
Should be a question mark on my comment re MJF, sorry. Mike
Posted by: Mike | September 09, 2011 at 02:53 PM
I don't think she is in good enough health - she is in an Assisted Living. She will be there in spirit!!
Posted by: Slugbug | September 10, 2011 at 10:40 AM
I remember Dee Dee at Meany Middle School, where she taught Art. Such a wonderful person, I would hope she is doing better with her health, she must be 80 something by now. Seems like the world loves her, which I am happy to see. I wish her the very best. Wil Gonyea. Meany middle school 1989/90.
Posted by: Wil Gonyea | December 28, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Much thanks to Ms.Rainbow, she was one of my many artistic inspirations I enjoyed taking her class at Meany!!!
Posted by: SAH | January 22, 2012 at 04:50 PM