The group of 11 fourth-graders must hustle to keep up with Judith Garfinkel, who shows no signs of her age as she leads them on a tour of Monet's Water Lilies. She peppers the students with questions as fast as she moves from one painting to another.

"Impressionists want you to do more than just look. They want you to think about how you feel," she said.

At 81, Garfinkel has volunteered as a St. Louis Art Museum docent for 47 consecutive years, longer than any other docent. And it's hard work.

In addition to leading tours of schoolchildren about three times a week, Garfinkel is expected to attend lectures, read book reviews and attend other art exhibits to maintain her knowledge. Training takes about two years to complete.

As if that's not enough for this mother of three and grandmother of six, Garfinkel also paints in watercolor, knits purses for fundraisers, collects china, cooks, gardens and plays in two bridge groups. Twice a week, she plays tennis.

"The key word is 'busy,' " she said. "I like to stay busy."

Volunteering as a docent plays a key role in giving her the energy of a teenager. The work combines her love of art and children. It gives her purpose.

She tries to teach more than names and dates, she says. "Artists put their ideas on canvas in different ways, with different media. They come from different backgrounds, different cultures, but it's their way of telling a story, sharing ideas and feelings."

She has a stack of notes written on construction paper that say things like, "Thank you for helping me understand the secrets of art," and remembers hugs that come with, "That was the best field trip ever."

Garfinkel's bosses call her an inspiration. "She is extremely active, engaging and informative — and can even outdistance her elementary students," said Cheryl Benjamin, associate educator with the docent program.

Staying busy hasn't always been easy. Garfinkel lost two husbands to brain tumors — the first when she had two young children at home, and the second six years ago after more than 40 years of marriage. In her late 60s, she had both her knees replaced (which she agreed to only after the doctor promised she could play tennis within six months). Shortly after, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which was treated with a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation.

Garfinkel's oldest daughter, Joanne Iskiwitch, said through each setback, her mother stayed optimistic and determined. Her mother's busy life also means she has lots of friends. "Knowing that all these people are there for you, and that she feels needed by other people helped," Iskiwitch said.

Garfinkel grew up in Clayton and studied speech and drama at Northwestern University. After graduating, she directed the St. Louis area children's theater group Peter Pan Players for a year. She then ran a nursery school in University City for two years before starting her own family. Garfinkel also volunteered as a docent for the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.

In addition to her can-do attitude, Garfinkel credits the proximity of her children and grandchildren (including 2-year-old twin boys) with keeping her healthy. They all live within walking distance of her Clayton condominium. People can often talk over the phone or visit family on holidays, she said, "but it's not the same as being able to go to the Magic House with the twins, or going to see my granddaughter dance."

And this 5-foot grandmother with red lipstick shows no signs of slowing down. "I'd like to get to 50 years," as a docent, she said, "and I'd like to keep playing tennis."

Do you know a "How I did it?"

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Jackie Hutcherson, health editor

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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St. Louis, Mo. 63101-1099

Email • jhutcherson@post-dispatch.com