Dreams Come True: A Penguin Encounter Decades in the Making

At 96 years old, Doris’ life has been filled with adventure, perseverance, and a dream left unfulfilled. But thanks to a special collaboration between Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and Compassionate Hospice, she recently experienced something she’s waited nearly a lifetime for: an up-close encounter with penguins.

A Trailblazer Ahead of Her Time

In the 1940s, Doris broke barriers by earning a mathematics degree from George Washington University, a rare accomplishment for women at the time. She went on to work for the U.S. government, and in the 1950s, she was stationed in Ushuaia, Argentina, performing groundbreaking research using the Monroe, one of the world’s first automatic calculators.

Her next assignment? A historic research trip to Antarctica.

She had the skills, the experience, and even a custom-made snowsuit. But just one day before departure, she was told she couldn’t go—not because she wasn’t qualified, but because she was a woman.

Unfortunately, Doris never set foot on Antarctica, but she never stopped dreaming about the penguins she hoped to see there.

A Wish from the Heart

Now in hospice care, Doris shares her Antarctic story with nearly everyone she meets. Moved by her legacy and unfulfilled dream, the team at Compassionate Hospice Care reached out to DZCA with a heartfelt request to help fulfill a small part of her dream by meeting the African penguins who call DZCA home.

Our answer was simple: absolutely.

“When I saw the email come through about Doris’ wish, I knew this was something we had to make happen,” said Jamie S., one of our Guest Experience Experts who helped with this request. “While she may not have been able to see penguins in Antarctica, witnessing her joy meeting our African penguins was amazing. Doris has such an incredible story, and I’m glad we could help make her dream come true.”

A Penguin Experience to Remember

In a special behind-the-scenes visit, Doris got to meet a few of our beloved Critically Endangered African penguins up close at Pinnacol African Penguin Point. Surrounded by caregivers, loved ones, and members of the DZCA team, Doris beamed with joy while she met our flock. Though thousands of miles from Antarctica and visiting a different species of penguin, she was finally in the company of the birds she had waited decades to see.

It was a powerful moment of healing and full-circle connection—not just for Doris, but for everyone lucky enough to witness it. Her determination, brilliance, and resilience continue to inspire us, and we are honored to have played a small role in helping fulfill her lifelong wish.