Joan and Mel Lindsey

Joan’s parents, Joseph and Jennie Thomas raised her in Wilmington, CA. Later that year the family moved to Long Beach and Joan enrolled in LBCC, where she met her future husband Mel Lindsey, a WWII Navy veteran. Mel received a BA and MA from CSULB in 1951 and 1959 in Education, and they raised their two daughters, Debbie and Kathy, who graduated from Poly High School. Joan and Mel were active in the community both serving as Brownie Troop Leaders, active in the PTA, church, and members of the Mission Possible Group. Over the years Joan worked for the Assessor’s Office of City of L.B., Douglas Aircraft, Fenn Termite Control, California Heights United Methodist Church and LBUSD. When Mel retired from the LBUSD in 1986 the couple founded Giant Step Learning Center in Costa Mesa. The Lindsey’s were actively involved with the day to day operations for 19 years, and their daughter Debbie, joined them as a teacher following the birth her daughter Jenna. In 1992 they opened a second Giant Step School Age Center at Damron Elementary in Cypress. Joan managed all financial aspects and student record keeping for both programs until they retired in 2005.