Mary Blake is general manager of the Sunset Parks and Recreation District, a woman who’s known for her boundless enthusiasm and radiant personality.
She shares her Seaside office with her black Lab mix, a shy dog she recently adopted from the pound.
Blake felt somehow drawn to the animal, and after she chose the dog, found out her name was Sunshine - a childhood nickname her father called her.
Such synchronicity doesn’t surprise Blake. She feels blessed by the wonderful life she’s living.
"This has been an extraordinarily sweet story," she said of the 26 years she’s spent as recreation district manager. "A great assignment."
Blake was born in Greeley, Colo., but grew up in Phoenix, Ariz. She said one of the best decisions her parents ever made was to move into a neighborhood that had a public swimming pool.
The experience sparked a love of the water that continues to this day - Blake swims daily in a pool just outside her office that is widely used by the community.
She said that as a child, her own life blossomed under the loving care of her family, a model she’s repeated in her career, nurturing programs and people.
"I was a slow learner," she said of her younger self. "I was loud and out there. In today’s world I would have been put on medication. I got into the water - got into working out. I played a lot, and my parents allowed me to play."
Blake caught on early to the novel idea of play as work.
"I didn’t really want to work," she said whimsically. "Then I found out you could get a degree in recreation! I do what I love and I don’t think there is a whole lot of distinction between work and play."
Blake’s idea of fun has led her to help Seaside expand its pool to include a senior and community center, a skateboard park, a weight room, a youth center, and now a community garden.
"When people become empowered with fun, they find common goals and visions," she said. "It’s a rich life in so many different ways."
She moved to Seaside from Portland to take the job as general manager 26 years ago.
"Here’s a little community that set up a parks and recreation district," she said. "I thought, ‘I think I want to be in a community.’"
She was impressed with residents’ determination to have a pool, even though they were right next to the ocean.
"They built a pool because of safety issues, to make the community drown-proof," she said. "It comes back to why we are here - we wanted a pool for our kids."
Blake is adamant about the importance of enjoying life.
"The quality of a person’s life is directly proportional to the quality of their recreation," she said. "They re-create."
It’s clear that Blake loves her career.
"My work has given me the opportunity to do community development and bring people together," she said. "It was easy for me to be a leader when I was doing my passion."
Blake had high praise for the board of the recreation district; some members she has worked with for decades.
She said eventually she’ll retire, but will still stay involved. She’s considers the Coast her home.
"I’ll retire from the position but not from building community," she said. "I’ll remain active and excited. What will be my next adventure?"
Blake certainly walks her talk - her life is a celebration she considers essential to balance and health.
"Play is usually the work of children," she said. "But it determines how you carry the rest of your life."