Jetsy Parker(1918-2015)

Jetsy Parker was born Jetsy Posthuma in Pasadena CA at Huntington Memorial Hospital. After graduating from Pasadena school system, she continued her education at Pasadena City College - not so much for the education, but the avenue that it opened to be in the Tournament of Roses Court in 1936-37. She was discovered by Earl Carrol at one of the local dance studios - he recruited her and some other girls to his group. That group would be contracted to work at the studios, and there were times when she was asked to appear solo as well. This was during the 30's 40's and 50's, where she was dancing while pregnant with both her sons, born in 1947 and 1950. At one point, during the War, she was hired through the War Dept to tour to sell War Bonds. She traveled from coast to coast north and south, dancing for the home crowds and entertaining all. During her years at Pasadena City College, another story began to unfold. A gentleman named Robert W. Caveney made his way from south Milwaukee WI to the campus to become the drum major of the famous Bulldog Marching Band. His dream being realized, a second dream materialized when he met Jetsy, who was a majorette in the same band. They dated and corresponded during the War, and after college eventually they married in 1943. During the 40s and 50s she danced in many musicals at the 3 major studios. Fuel was being rationed using coupons, and since she was one of the few who owned a car the other girls would pool coupons to make her the car pool leader. She has many memories of her Hollywood years, lunch with Tyrone Powers and Andy Rooney, etc. She met Bing Crosby and Gene Kelley and Fred Astaire while working on films with them. In 2013 she is the oldest surviving Tournament of Roses Princess.