[0:00] (tender music) [0:01] - [Chris] Audrey was kind of an iconic figure in the area. [0:06] - [Jay] When she arrived at the Pond House, [0:07] she always wanted a big hug. [0:10] And when she left, she wanted another big hug. [0:12] - I believe as a grandma, and even as a mother, [0:15] that she was very altruistic. [0:16] She had a way about her that seemed always selfless, [0:19] even when I was young to now as an adult with my own child. [0:23] She was actually one of the last original people [0:26] on the block that she lived on. [0:28] She lived there 66 years. [0:29] They bought the house in 1958 [0:31] when it was in the early development. [0:33] Her and my grandpa bought it right away and was like, [0:35] "This is a place I wanna raise my family." [0:36] And she ended up staying here until she passed. [0:39] And then I bought the home this year. [0:41] So it's nice to be a part of a community [0:43] that I know that my grandma touched. [0:45] I remember her saying a lot to me [0:46] that she used to entertain for thousands. [0:48] And she would always be the one [0:49] in the center of every photo (chuckles), [0:51] bringing out the food, cooking for everybody, [0:53] just having a laugh, [0:55] and not just her home, but in her cabins as well. [0:57] She was a big entertainer. [0:59] And my great-grandpa as well, her husband, whom she adored. [1:02] - Audrey would often come over, most days actually, [1:05] during the River Rendezvous, and would talk to staff. [1:08] Really delightful conversations, I remember having with her. [1:11] One of the things that I really appreciated with Audrey [1:13] was her care about upkeeping the area, [1:17] along 104th Street in the area by Kelly Park [1:19] and Pond-Dakota Mission Park. [1:21] - [Inezsa] People refer to her as "Kelly Park's Angel." [1:23] She did more than just pick weeds and make it look nice. [1:26] She gave the park personality and made it beautiful. [1:28] - And when I pick all the weeds, [1:30] and then I put 'em by the tree, [1:32] base of the tree, and the guys that work here, [1:35] and they come with their tractor, they pick them all up. [1:38] - [Inezsa] That's nice. [1:38] - [Audrey] But isn't the park nice? [1:40] - [Inezsa] Yeah, it's so pretty. [1:41] - She was out in the park, rain or shine pretty much. [1:44] She did a lot of hard work. [1:45] And I always joke that she should get paid by the city [1:50] for all the hard work that she does. [1:52] - She never mentioned to me all of the weeding [1:57] and cleaning and everything that she did [1:59] to keep the neighborhood looking neat. [2:01] She just said she was out for a walk. [2:04] And I think that says a lot about who Audrey was, [2:06] a very humble person [2:07] who just wanted to give back to the community [2:10] in the way that she could. [2:12] - With that, would you please join me [2:13] in congratulating Audrey Eichstadt for this award? [2:16] (tender music continues) (audience applauding) [2:17] - And so I was really surprised [2:19] when I was told that I was gonna get an award [2:23] for digging weeds (laughing). (audience laughing) [2:26] - [Inezsa] I think it was well-deserved. [2:27] I do feel grateful for those who did vote for her. [2:30] And I'm glad that she was able to touch so many people [2:34] in that way and bring a smile to so many people. [2:37] - [Chris] She was known by all the neighbors. [2:39] They all asked about her. [2:40] They all talked to her. [2:41] - [Inezsa] So I know that every parkgoer [2:43] who would be a passerby, [2:44] she would always catch their attention [2:45] and they would spark up a conversation. [2:47] I would like people just to remember her kindness [2:49] in the little ways [2:50] that she made them feel valued and important. [2:54] - It wasn't the same around there [2:56] without her strolling through the park. [2:57] And she will be missed.