More about The History Lady

Jeanette Alessio-Way is a cultural historian, educator and certified activities director. She began developing programs for her seniors lecture series in 1999, spending countless hours researching, collecting props and compiling materials for each. These talks commemorate the historic events and cultural trivia associated with each month of the year. They have been made into a 12-lecture DVD series called Memories That Matter: An Entertaining History Program Designed to Promote Mental Fitness (see our DVD page).

Feeling a special calling to enrich the lives of those challenged by age and failing health, Jeanette’s primary focus audience has been senior citizens living in retirement communities, nursing homes, and Alzheimer facilities. Increasingly, she is called upon to speak to children in schools and libraries. She has also lectured on topics related to history for a number of professional organizations including the California School Library Association, San Diego State University and San Diego’s Museum of Man. She is the only non-PhD speaker included in the popular Saddleback College Emeritus Institute Lecture Series and was recently voted one of the top ten speakers in this series. Jeanette has received San Diego’s Channel 10 Leadership of the Month Award for her community service.

Affectionately known in her native San Diego as “the lady with the stuff,” Jeanette Alessio-Way has the distinction of being the only speaker in the country providing this unique style of presentation.

How it all began
For ten years Jeanette strived to help her mother combat the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Rousing conversation and trivia games became a purposeful regiment of mental fitness. When her mother had to be placed in a nursing home, Jeanette spent many hours with her there and tried to find ways of enriching not only her mother’s life, but those of the other residents there. “I decided that since I couldn’t sing and I couldn’t dance, I would do what I knew,” she said. Having spent time as a travel consultant, she brought in a surfboard, coconut bra and hula skirt and did a presentation on Hawaii. After this resounding success, she realized her passion for history would provide even more inspired source material to connect with these seniors who had lived through the world-changing events of the 20^th century. These presentations have now become Jeanette’s life’s work as The History Lady.