By JON BAKER

SEEKONK — Pals Nancy Dobie and Julie Baldwin have known each other so long, it’s not hard to understand why they often finish each others’ sentences.

Together, they’re hoping to make a rather bold statement in two weeks, when the Rhode Island Ocean Tides Senior Games open in a variety of cities and towns around the state.
The tandem currently is working to enlist seniors of all ages and from all walks of all life to register for one (or more) of 10 sports available to them when the Games open on May 24.
Dobie and Baldwin met in 1965, while representing the Rhode Island Field Hockey Association women’s squad, which used to travel all over the region to battle other states’ top contingents. Once they started discussing their backgrounds in sports, and education, there was a natural chemistry.
Dobie, now 65 and a Bristol resident for over four decades, taught physical education at Seekonk High and Middle schools for 34 years before choosing to retire in 1999. A University of Connecticut graduate, she played field hockey, basketball and softball as a Husky, but later found swimming and table tennis fulfilling.
As for Baldwin, 70, she racked up 37 years as a physical education teacher at the Wheeler School on Providence’s East Side, but also coached field hockey and lacrosse. In fact, she spent 15 years as the institution’s athletic director (1978-1993), and finally retired in 2003.
“We came up with the idea together last fall; that’s when we decided to go in a different direction when it comes to Senior Games’ competitions,” said Baldwin, a native Keystone Stater and the event’s executive coordinator/treasurer. “We wanted to organize something like this ourselves. With our backgrounds, and our contacts, and the fact we still both love being active, it was a natural thing to do.”
Stated Dobie, the Games’ chairperson: “In order to go first class with this new Ocean Tides project, we had to do a ton of things to get this thing rolling. We had to find a board of directors, and also directors for each sport. To really get it moving, we had to seek support
from other senior groups. We went to the Rhode Island Gray Panthers for direction and support, and we went to the R.I. Senior Agenda Coalition to help us learn how to run a new organization.
“We’ve been to the State House to attend rallies to support senior groups and causes; we spoke at the Pawtucket Rotary Club and also the Bristol Town Council,” she added. “It’s been a lot of work, hard work, and very time-consuming, but we’ve met a lot of wonderful people around the state who have supported our ideas.
“It’s taken every waking moment, but I don’t care about that. I’ve wanted to do something like this for six years now; that is, develop a top-notch Ocean Tides Senior Games. We’ve received amazing contributions from all sorts of people at different athletic sites, and this is starting to come to fruition.”
They’ve experienced several daunting tasks in this partnership, especially finding people 50 and over to sign up and participate.
“To search for fellow competitors, I sent out feelers to my old teacher friends in Seekonk, and also former students who I knew were over 50,” Dobie giggled, noting Baldwin did the same with her Wheeler connections. “We also went to area YMCAs, senior centers, fitness centers, bowling lanes, tennis clubs and golf courses, and contacted bowling centers and cycling stores. We dropped off our fliers and asked those in charge to help us.”
Among former teachers at Seekonk who have registered as either an athlete or volunteer include Jay Anderson (guidance) of Seekonk; and Virginia Gizzi (guidance) of Rehoboth; etc.
Though Dobie admitted she has two new hips, she will compete in several swimming events (freestyle and backstroke a specialty) and table tennis, while Baldwin the field hockey player has opted for cycling.
“I had knee surgery not that long ago, but cycling doesn’t affect it,” Baldwin said. “It actually strengthens it; I’ve noticed it loosens them up … I’m doing this for the same reason as Nancy. I’m a competitor, and I like to have fun through sports.”
Chimed in Dobie, who has traveled all over the United States to attend National Senior Games competitions, and plans on flying to the West Coast for the August 2009 event slated for Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.: “I do this because it’s fun to see where you are against others, but there’s a lot of socializing involved, and travel. When you meet new people, you share interesting stories, about yourselves or former students or colleagues. That’s what it’s all about.
“The good news is that I get five or six new entries in my mailbox every day,” she added with a grin. “In fact, I’ve received entries from New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts, and we have plenty from Rhode Island. Still, we’d love to have more join in the festivities.”
Baldwin stated they’d like to develop separate sports clinics during the course of the year “not only to keep the senior involved, but als introduce them to new sports, ones they might not have done in high school or college, or even as a Little Leaguer.”
The Games will kick off at 9 a.m., Saturday, May 24, with “3-on-3” men’s basketball at Roger Williams University; followed by bowling at Cranston’s Lang’s Lanes on Friday, May 30; track & field (and a race walk) and a tennis tournament at Mount Hope High on Saturday, May 31, and also swimming and table tennis back at RWU on the same date.
They will conduct a five-kilometer road race/walk at Colt State Park in Bristol on Sunday, June 1; and a golf outing at Swansea Country Club on Saturday, June 7. Later, on Aug. 16, a triathlon has been scheduled at Bayside (Barrington) YMCA, to be organized by F.I.R.M.
The general registration fee is $25, and one may sign up for three events for such. Registrants also will receive a free membership card, T-shirt, publications, access to workshops and refreshments. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each event in the following age categories: 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 and 80-and-over.
“We want people to join in the fun,” Dobie stated. “Our eventual goal is to gain a national sanction from the National Senior Games, Inc. This is all about motivating seniors to lead a healthy, active and fit lifestyle,and encourage improved health and wellness for a productive quality of life. Just as important is having fun and meeting new people, and sharing in the experience.”
For more information, or for a brochure/registration form, call Dobie at (401) 253-1425 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .