In their youth, Karen Benjamin and Mike Borders worked together in Goldblatt's department store in Fairview Plaza. Both were hired in 1975 by the Decatur Park District. Both were destined for leadership roles. Now, they're retiring on the same day.

Benjamin is director of recreation. Borders is the Scovill Zoo director. Both their retirements take effect Sunday.

"I intended to work another 10 years," said Benjamin, 53. "When my left knee came apart in the winter, I was out for eight weeks. I've also had back problems. The Park District offered me a retirement deal I couldn't refuse."

She's ready to start another career in clinical pastoral education, with the goal of becoming a certified chaplain and serving in a hospital or hospice.

"I've wanted to do this for four or five years," she said. It requires training by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, including a hospital residency.

Leaving the parks is difficult. "I grew up in the parks," Benjamin said.

When she was in the first and second grade, the Catholic schools were so crowded that she attended for a half day, then headed for the park with her grandmother, Florence Tauber. Her aunt, Connie Tauber, was a park leader.

"I got to help her organize games and do chores," she said.

Did you know she was a champion salesman, too? "In third grade, I sold Girl Scout cookies for the money to go to camp. I loaded the cookies in a wagon and went door to door."

Her father, Roy, was a salesman. He took her to the Chevrolet dealership, and everyone there bought cookies from her.

She also was a fast-pitch softball catcher in her youth.

"I'll remember the faces, the little kids, the co-workers, the Lantern Parade," Benjamin said. "I've attended all of them since I was 19."

She intends to stay in this area. "I'll spend the fall with my family," she said. "I think I'll become a golfer. I still sing in the Greater Decatur Chorale."

So how did she become a parks administrator?

"I heard there was a job opening when I was on spring vacation from Illinois State University. I talked to Jerry Menz, who was the director of recreation. He said he didn't have a job for me. I thought I had blown it.

"Before long, he called and said he had a job as a park leader, perhaps not exactly what I wanted. I took it."

For five years, she worked wherever she was told, as a teacher or a coach,

"Jerry Menz kept calling, offering a better job. I finally accepted. I figured I would work for two years to pay off my car. I found that I loved the job, and when Jerry Menz retired, I moved up to his job."

Benjamin supervises about 60 people and 23 playgrounds. She has had major input on senior programs, tennis, sailing and swimming.

Years ago, she initiated walking programs. She considers walking the No. 1 activity in the United States. "Many of our programs have now moved to the Decatur Indoor Sports Center," she said.

"Bill Clevenger, our executive director, stretched my thinking and encouraged me to get more training; he helped propel me and broadened my horizon."

Benjamin attended national parks conferences and became involved in the National Recreation and Parks accreditation program for universities and colleges. There were numerous travel opportunities.

"I always heard it was 'Join the Navy and see the world.' For me, it was 'Join the recreation department and see the world.'"

Clevenger said Benjamin did a good job in the accreditation role. "She has been so involved in so many recreation and community activities and touched so many lives, the kids will always remember her."

Clevenger added: "Did Karen tell you about the rope-skipping team she had for 10 years? She did nearly 500 shows."

Marie Jagger-Taylor, the park district's cultural arts supervisor, said the staff and everybody will miss Benjamin.

"Karen has brought so much to the Park District, the energy, the enthusiasm," she said. "How can we replace her? She's always thinking of others."

bfallstrom@herald-review.com|421-7981