85-Year-Old Volunteer Celebrates Her Last Dive at The Florida Aquarium After 30 Years of Service
August 28, 2025
Share Story
Most people celebrate their 85th birthday with cake and candles. Lillian Kenney decided to mark hers underwater. On her milestone birthday, Kenney completed her 1,980th and last dive at The Florida Aquarium, closing out three decades of being a dedicated volunteer.
Kenney started at the Aquarium in 1995, the same year it opened, and has been a fixture ever since. Over the years, she’s logged more than 7,200 hours of volunteer time, diving to keep habitats clean for the animals, supporting local waterway cleanups, and guiding guests on the Aquarium’s Wild Dolphin Cruise and Wetlands of Florida trail. Kenney was nominated for The Florida Aquarium’s Volunteer of the Year award seven times and earned the title in May of 2003.
***CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BROADCAST QUALITY B-ROLL & SOUND***
“It’s been part of such a big part of my life for so many years. It’s one of the things that I put first on my calendar,” said Lillian Kenney. “There’s such a friendly atmosphere at the Aquarium. The people are great. Everybody helps everybody else. I’ll miss the animals. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
Kenney’s retirement from diving coincides with The Florida Aquarium’s 30th anniversary, making her milestone especially meaningful. She has seen the Aquarium grow and evolve over the decades, and her story is now a part of its history.
“Lillian has contributed to many different departments of the Aquarium, not just diving,” added Karen Benson, Coordinator of Dive Volunteers at The Florida Aquarium. “She has a wealth of knowledge. She used to be a teacher, so she absorbs everything about animals and loves to share what she’s learned with our guests.”
Though she may no longer be suiting up to dive, Kenney plans to continue volunteering at the Aquarium and participating in community cleanups. She’s built a legacy through the thousands of volunteer hours and the countless people she inspired along the way. For more information about The Florida Aquarium, and its volunteer opportunities, click here.
The Latest from The Florida Aquarium
November 24, 2025
The Tide Pool Exhibit at The Florida Aquarium Nominated as One of the Best New Attractions in the Country
The Florida Aquarium is once again in the running for national recognition, this time as one of the top new attractions in country, following its nomination in USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. With the community’s support, the Aquarium has the chance to secure a spot in the prestigious Top 10—shining a spotlight on its…
Read More
November 21, 2025
The Florida Aquarium Celebrates 30 Years with New Board Leadership
As The Florida Aquarium celebrates its 30th anniversary, the nonprofit is welcoming two new members to its board of directors and announcing Kristin Greco, CEO of PAR, Inc., as its new board chair. Greco has served in multiple Board leadership roles with the Aquarium and brings deep organizational leadership experience to this new position. John…
Read More
November 13, 2025
Volunteers and Biologists Dive In to Restore Hope for Florida’s Coral Reefs
Volunteers and coral scientists from The Florida Aquarium and I.CARE (Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Education) came together in the Florida Keys this past week for a powerful purpose: restoring life to one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems. On Friday, the team outplanted more than 90 brain corals—born and grown at The Florida Aquarium’s Coral…
Read More
Stay Up to Date
Want to know what’s happening below the surface? Sign up to receive our email newsletter, “The Current”, and dive into the latest news, events, and exhibit updates happening here at the Aquarium.