Very few members of the public ever step inside the business office at the JCC Denver, but it is one of the most important spaces in the building. It is where a dedicated team works behind the scenes to ensure bills are paid, donations are processed, budgets are managed, and the organization continues to run smoothly each day. 

A few weeks ago, staff noticed an unusual new decoration hanging on the office wall: a well-loved teal typewriter. For a time, it appeared without explanation, quietly waiting for its story to be shared. That typewriter belonged to Rosie Wagner, who dedicated an incredible 54 years to the JCC Denver. Rosie spent much of her career in the business office and became one of the organization’s most beloved staff members. While technology evolved around her, Rosie remained loyal to her trusty typewriter rather than switching to a computer. 

After her retirement, the typewriter found a second life in the Early Learning School, where generations of children delighted in clacking the keys and discovering letters. Following Rosie’s passing last year, she continued to support the JCC through a legacy gift, while friends and family made donations in her memory to the community she loved so deeply. 

This June, alongside Rosie’s family and friends, the JCC mounted the typewriter on a shelf in the business office and unveiled a plaque beneath the typewriter in the place she supported for more than half a century. To learn more about joining the JCC Denver Legacy Society, please visit our website.