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News from Fte2ob0Jr2uu3naery
Colorado
Clowns
Barbara Kaare-Lopez
Our annual Flea Market was held in February, were able to perform at the actual graduation day
and yes, the fleas were jumping! Camaraderie and ceremony. Two other clowns graduated a week earlier.
laughter and fleas abounded. Barbara “Nurse Patch- Our clown graduates appeared on the front page of
It” Kaare-Lopez and Mary “Bobb E” Canzona met The Denver Post, with a great article about our new
with Pastor Gina at Swedish Hospital. Pastor Gina clowns! Kathy “Sami-Ann” Shook finished teaching
is in charge of the Swedish Hospital volunteers and our new clowns after the previous clown Instructor
chaplains. We met to update the current requirements was unable to continue teaching. One of our oldest
to volunteer as a hospital clown at Swedish. “Bobb clowns, Dorothy “Dot” Posson,
E” has volunteered since 2011. Nurse Patch-It has who was 97 years old, passed
volunteered since November 2004. Naturally we away.
could not volunteer for 1 ½ years during COVID.
In May, Lisa “Sugar” Cole
In April, twelve Colorado Clowns participated in taught her second face painting
Denver’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March. The age class for us. It was a very
range of our clowns who participated was 10 years colorful class! Twelve clowns
old to 79 years old! It was our first time participating performed at our 2nd Annual
again since 2018. A journalist from The Denver Post Spring Fling at the Mile High
attended our clown graduation in March. Five clowns Veterans. Our performance
included: the return of our
26 MAGAZINE Kazoo Hootenanny Band. We
used our silly props for some
songs including a plastic foot
for the Hokey Pokey, ”put your
left foot in.” Skits were also
performed, balloon twisting,
face painting, and games. The
crowd loved it! A TV Anchor
from Denver’s Channel 7 came
to learn more about our alley,
see skits performed by our
new clowns, and apply makeup
himself. Due to his early clown makeup skills, we
called Danny “Mr. Positivity” News “Smudge” instead
of his given name, Danny. The special was aired early
at 6 a.m. Many of us did not view it at that early hour.
At the June meeting, “Nurse Patch-It” and “Bobb E”
gave a presentation on what they do on their hospital
visits at Swedish. A brief review of hospital clowning
was given. Many of our hospital props were shown
including “Bobb E’s” stethoscope with a plunger at
the end. As it hovers over the patient’s chest, a “happy
