Florence “Tad” Truselo, who had lived on Vashon Island for 80 years, died on March 24, 2003. She was 83 years old.

Tad was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., on July 7, 1919, to parents Edward and Florence “Flicker” Burd. At 4 years old, she headed West with her mother on a train to Seattle.

Her mother worked the summer of 1925 at Kiwanis Lodge at Camp Sealth on Vashon Island. Tad’s mother purchased a lot from William Bates on Paradise Cove. Mother and daughter lived in a tent on the property during the summer of 1925 while building their cottage.

She graduated from Stadium High School in 1937. She attended Pasadena Playhouse School of Theater, Whitman College and the College of the Puget Sound.

She was a member of the local Mountaineers. She worked at Paradise Inn on Mount Rainier during college summers where she fell an love with Stephen Truselo. They were married on June 17, 1941. They lived in the cottage on Paradise Cove and in Hawaii.

Her lifelong interests included drawing, painting, natural history, dancing, folk music, dogs and cats.

She led a contemplative life and was admired by those who knew her for her deliberate, simple lifestyle and incredible perseverance.

Her daughters Joan and Gail died earlier.

Survivors include her husband Stephen.