Just keep swimming…and playing volleyball
Geri Durbin hitting the ball at the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah.
It is never too late to discover a new passion. Geri Durbin learned that firsthand 30 years ago when she picked up a new sport that she continues to play today.
Geri was raised in east Denver and was a competitive gymnast at George Washington High School and in college.
After graduation, Geri coached gymnastics at Ponderosa High School, where her best friend was coaching volleyball.
“One day she asked me, ‘Why don’t you learn how to play?’” recalled Geri. “In my mid-30s, I learned how to play volleyball, and I still play today in both coed and women’s leagues.” She retired from Ponderosa in 2009 after teaching PE and coaching for more than 20 years.
Today, Geri competes in state and national senior volleyball competitions where she is winning awards. Most recently, she won gold at the Wyoming Senior Games in the women’s 65+ division. Her win qualified her for the National Senior Games in Des Moines in 2025.
“I hope I can find a team to play on; I just turned 70 this year. It is fun to play your division when you are the youngest in the age bracket,” Geri laughed.
She not only enjoys playing the sport, but also takes pleasure in refereeing. Geri became a high school volleyball official about six years ago.
“I love officiating high school girls and boys. It brings me joy to watch them play,” said Geri.
In 2019, Geri faced some health challenges that sidelined her from volleyball. She suffered an unexpected head injury when she hit her head on a beam in her crawl space. She did not realize the severity of her injury at the time, but nine months later ended up in the ICU and underwent emergency brain surgery to repair two leaking blood vessels. All this while she was battling breast cancer for the third time.
“Over a one-month period, I had four brain surgeries. All the care for breast cancer was delayed,” Geri recalled. “I could barely walk. I had a hard time finding the words I wanted to use to speak to a person.”
After working hard in physical, occupational and speech therapy, Geri is back on the volleyball court.
“I’m back to playing. I feel pretty good. Am I perfect? No. Everyone in life is dealt challenges that they have to overcome,” shared Geri.
Geri moved into The Canyons neighborhood two and a half years ago and could not be happier. She enjoys her neighbors and even teaches water aerobics. She continues her active lifestyle and lives by the mantra from the movie Finding Nemo, “Just keep swimming.”
“I feel totally blessed with the career I was given and the opportunity to live here in Douglas County,” Geri concluded.
Geri Durbin (right) working the scoring table at The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) 2024 boys volleyball state semifinals.
By Mindy Stone; photos courtesy of Geri Durbin
