Community Corner

City of Shoreline Mourns Loss of Pool Employee Dianna Hanson

Hanson, who was killed at a California animal park yesterday, began working for Shoreline at the age of 16, and mentored other employees.

The city of Shoreline sent a statement today expressing sorrow at the death of Dianna Hanson, who died tragically at a California animal park on Wednesday.

Here is the city's statement in its entirety:

The City of Shoreline is saddened to hear about the tragic death of one of its employees, Dianna Hanson. Dianna had been a lifeguard/swim instructor for the Shoreline Pool since 2005 and planned to be back at the Pool this summer after she completed her internship at Project Survival Cat Haven in California.

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“Our sympathy and thoughts go out to Dianna’s family during this devastating time,” stated Shoreline Pool Manager James McCrackin. “This is a major blow to the Shoreline Pool staff and the Pool community. She will be remembered for her dedication and caring heart. We are grateful to have known her and to have been a part of her shining life.”

Dianna started working at the Shoreline Pool when she was 16 years old. It was her first job. Over the next eight years, Dianna grew and matured, becoming a mentor to the Pool’s younger staff. She taught them to take pride in their work by taking pride in her own work. She had the uncanny ability to make those around her feel comfortable and included. Dianna became one of the Pool’s most popular swim instructors and touched the lives of countless children in the Shoreline community.

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Dianna graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in biology in 2011 and her passion for big cats was evident. Dianna spent six months in Kenya working on a big cat preserve last summer and was looking forward to internships at other big cat sanctuaries when her internship in California was over.


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