During the storms that have engulfed the Vashon Park District in recent months, one person has remained a rock.

Susan McCabe, the park district’s program manager for the past seven years, stepped into the fray and became the interim executive director last August — not because she wanted to, but because she was asked. She said yes, and suddenly, this tall and gracious woman with a background in theater, art and public relations, found herself having to draft budgets, craft a new system of user fees, respond to requests from a state auditor and deal with a board that was sometimes difficult and a public that was sometimes angry.

Through it all, she’s comported herself professionally and thoughtfully — answering questions directly, acknowledging mistakes, responding to myriad public requests and helping the agency to regain some much-needed trust in the community.

This week, she steps down, heading into “retirement,” where she’ll again be able to pursue the things she loves — art, travel, acting, even a new little business venture called Vashon Vacations, where she and her business partner will act as concierges to people visiting the island.

As she ends her tenure at the park district, the island owes her a huge thank you. The term “public service” is thrown around a lot these days. In Susan McCabe’s case, she really did serve the public, doing so out of her love for the park district and her own sense of civic duty and personal responsibility.

So thank you, Susan. May you enjoy a little peace and quiet, some evenings at home and time to pursue that which you love.