Redskins Cheerleaders Pay Surprise Visit to Retiree
By Bill Lohmann
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Jaqui
The past few years have been difficult ones for Paul Bennett. He has endured a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and a stroke, and now he’s residing in hospice care.
His face brightens when his daughter and grandson come into the room, but the 82-year-old retired railroad man otherwise shows little recognition when he meets anyone.
Except yesterday when three Washington Redskins cheerleaders showed up to surprise him. Once he spotted the Redskins logo — he perhaps noticed the short-short pants and long legs, too — Bennett clapped his hands, and his eyes grew as wide as pom-poms. He grabbed one of the cheerleader’s hands and didn’t want to let go.
“For him to show that kind of emotion . . . the Redskins are way up there,” said his daughter, Lynn Campbell, with a laugh. “That shows how much it meant to him.”
Bennett is a longtime, devoted Redskins fan who held season tickets for a while and didn’t think twice about sitting through rain or snow to watch his favorite team. His room at Emeritus Senior Living at Deep Run in western Henrico County is a testament to his loyalty: Redskins comforter, Redskins wall-hanging, a Redskins stuffed dog.
He wore a Redskins shirt and a Redskins cap as his daughter, wearing a No. 47 Chris Cooley jersey, pushed his wheelchair into the lobby to greet the cheerleaders. A Redskins blanket lay across his lap.
The three cheerleaders — Lee-Ann, Tecoya and Jaqui (they don’t publicly share their last names) — hugged Bennett, chatted with him and posed for pictures. A group crossword puzzle game in an adjoining room ground to a screeching halt.
The cheerleaders later made the rounds of the facility, signing autographs with Sharpies tucked in their white boots and spreading, well, good cheer. Their appearance was arranged by Melinda Jones of Hospice Community Care, which partners with Emeritus Senior Living to provide care for hospice patients, after they learned of Bennett’s devotion to the Redskins.
The cheerleaders drove from the Washington area yesterday morning on their day off. All have full-time jobs: Jaqui is a business analyst, Tecoya is an education coordinator and Lee-Ann operates a dance studio.
“We do a lot of these things all year-round,” Lee-Ann said. “We like to visit people just to brighten up their day, just to make them happy.
“It’s an honor to be able to do something like this.”
Born in West Virginia, Bennett served in the Army, worked as a truck driver and spent more than 30 years as a railroad foreman. He later volunteered with Meals on Wheels. He turns 83 on Aug. 16.
“Some days are better than others,” Campbell said of her dad. “Yesterday and today have been really good days.”
Let’s see: Three Redskins cheerleaders pay a visit to your room and make a big deal over you? Yep, I’d say that’s a pretty good day.
Bennett made the most of it, enjoying their company and patting their arms, prompting one of the cheerleaders to note, “You haven’t lost your touch.”
He was living a dream, but Bennett wanted more. As long as he had their attention, Bennett mentioned he hoped the Redskins finish in first place this season.
I don’t know. Some dreams might just be too wild.
