The golfers at the North Golf League in Sun City are familiar with the passion and tenacity golfer Mary Jo Tietge brings to the game, but very few know she is the “Energizer Bunny” who is responsible for the revival of the post pandemic Lifelong Learning Club.

Well over a decade ago, Tietge’s friend, Nancy Flaker, casually mentioned Lifelong Learning.

“I think you’d be interested in this,” she said during a casual chat about life in Sun City.

Soon, Tietge found herself working with Sun City resident and Lifelong Learner Joan Mason as they participated in “Discover Sun City.” Then the program needed a secretary, and then a vice president. Still vice president, Tietge is as devoted to Lifelong Learning as she is to her golf game. Of the present revival of a club that began the dechartering process, Tietge expressed appreciation to all the volunteers who make a club like Lifelong Learning a success.

Residents wanting to meet Tietge and Lifelong Learning Club’s President Michael Powell are invited to attend the club’s open house at the Fairway Center, 10600 W. Peoria Ave., 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 24.

Tietge said a recent participant in the reestablishment of the club, Judy Moore, had commented that she enjoyed the club and, most especially, the News and Views class, but she had not really appreciated all the work that goes into making the club a success. That is evidenced by all the volunteers who came forward in Sun City in devotion to the endeavor.

For Tietge, the decades-long devotion is based on three club adventures. One is courses taught by historian Ken Reed.

“The thing that got me was the way he tied things together,” said Tietge. “I had never experienced my history classes in high school or college in the way that Professor Reed taught. He helped me make connections.”

Tthen there was instructor Erl Hardy, who lectures often about the Supreme Court. What Tietge likes about Hardy’s classes is that he teaches how the court operates and his explanations are non-biased and based on the arguments on both sides of an issue.

“In fact, you can’t really tell where he stands.” she said.

Tietge also expressed gratitude for the Heard Museum’s Speakers’ Bureau. Among the many offerings was one in which the presenter was close to the Hopi people and was permitted to attend Hopi ceremonies. Although the ceremony contents are held in confidence, the presenter was able to share Kachina dolls and other artifacts that helped establish an understanding of the Hopi tribe.

Tietge maintained the Lifelong Learning Club’s email communication and used that system to locate people who, like herself, had been past learners and who wanted to accomplish the revitalization of the Club.

“We’ve found new and enthusiastic people,” she said. “There is innovation coming.”

She credits part of the impetus to the dechartering process. When learners realized the club was approaching the end, they wanted to reverse the process and initiate new energy and enthusiasm for the club that has been part of the Sun City experience since 2008.

Tietge grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin where she attended both high school and college. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, she had many scientific and medical laboratory assignments, and hated not to to be able to take history and Spanish and the humanities in general. All those interests got deferred until she discovered Lifelong Learning in Sun City. Now, she can explore all those old curiosities in retirement.