90-Year-Old Retired Chicago Teacher Stays Active by Jumping Rope

Ruth Washington, a former Chicago Public Schools educator, jumps rope with the 40+ Double Dutch Club to maintain her health and wellness.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Ruth Washington, a 90-year-old retired Chicago teacher, has found a unique way to stay active and healthy in her golden years - by jumping rope with the 40+ Double Dutch Club. Washington taught in the Chicago Public Schools system from 1969 to 1993, spending the last 10 years of her career teaching Pre-K at Fort Dearborn Elementary School on the city's South Side. Now, she continues to stay physically and mentally fit by participating in the Double Dutch club, which was created to give women a fun outlet to improve their overall wellbeing.

Why it matters

Washington's story is an inspiring example of how an active lifestyle and finding activities you enjoy can help people maintain their health and vitality well into their 90s. As the population continues to age, stories like Washington's provide encouragement and motivation for older adults to prioritize their physical and mental wellness through engaging in regular exercise and social activities.

The details

At 90 years old, Ruth Washington is still jumping rope with the 40+ Double Dutch Club in the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago. The organization was created to give women a fun way to stay active and improve their physical and mental health. Washington, a retired Chicago Public Schools teacher who taught from 1969 to 1993, including 10 years teaching Pre-K at Fort Dearborn Elementary, credits her active lifestyle, faith in God, and treating others with kindness as the keys to her longevity and well-being.

  • Ruth Washington taught in the Chicago Public Schools system from 1969 to 1993.
  • Washington spent the last 10 years of her teaching career at Fort Dearborn Elementary School.
  • Washington currently jumps rope with the 40+ Double Dutch Club in Chicago's Pullman neighborhood.

The players

Ruth Washington

A 90-year-old retired Chicago Public Schools teacher who has found a unique way to stay active and healthy in her golden years by jumping rope with the 40+ Double Dutch Club.

40+ Double Dutch Club

An organization created to give women a fun outlet to improve their physical and mental health through the activity of double dutch jump roping.

Fort Dearborn Elementary School

The Chicago public school where Ruth Washington taught Pre-K for the last 10 years of her 24-year teaching career.

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What they’re saying

“pray to God, find an activity you love, and remember to treat others with the love that our civil rights leaders taught us.”

— Ruth Washington (abc7chicago.com)

The takeaway

Ruth Washington's story demonstrates that maintaining an active lifestyle and finding enjoyable physical activities can help people stay healthy and vibrant well into their 90s. Her example provides inspiration for older adults to prioritize their wellness through regular exercise and social engagement, even as they age.