When Einstein was asked by a radio announcer, “What is the most amazing phenomenon you have witnessed?” Einstein’s answer was the astounding principle of compound interest.

Most people are familiar with this money multiplier; however, when this principle is applied to compound human interest, the results are nothing short of a miracle.

Hometown Hero Kay Stanley retired last month as manager of Washington Mutual Bank, one of the most successful financial institutions around. But Stanley’s legacy is not the bank’s business success. What she leaves after 23 years at the bank is the kindness she deposited, which will continue to compute returns into eternity.

Stanley’s office door was always open to adults, children and dogs alike. Her office walls were blanketed with children’s pictures, art, certificates or children’s awards. The children knew they were welcome in her office, and welcome also to the jar of goodies on her desk. In addition, customers’ dogs knew just which desk drawer their doggie treats were in.

“I could visit Kay in her office with a bitter, negative attitude and within five minutes, I’m leaving with a whole new outlook, ready to go out and spread joy to the next person I meet,” writes Megan Williams, volunteer chairwoman of Relay for Life.

Williams says Stanley possesses many of the qualities she hopes to attain herself someday.

Bank employee Robin King also talks enthusiastically about her boss of 14 years.

“Kay’s upbeat attitude has given our bank its fun and friendly reputation,” King said. “She’s not once been too busy to listen, to console, or encourage someone. Often, thankfully, that someone has been me. It’s the kind of job you leave filled up with joy, so we can continue to share that attitude with others.”

Kathy McLaughlin, co-chair with Stanley on many volunteer events, wrote a four-page typed letter on why, if she were to list the five top reasons she has to be thankful in her life, knowing Kay Stanley would be on that Top 5 list.

McLaughlin compares Stanley to the song “Wind Beneath My Wings.”

“Stanley is my wind,” McLaughlin wrote. “Especially the words, ‘You’re my hero, everything I would like to be; I can fly higher than an eagle, for you are the wind beneath my wings. I thank God for you in my life.’ “

McLaughlin has many fond memories: of an enthusiastic Stanley playing the little vulture for Monster Manor, or being Frosty the Snowman for Freeland’s parade. She recalls the thousands of hours Stanley put into organizing the Easter Egg hunt in Freeland, then laughing as she got lost in a sea of children, for most were taller than Stanley’s height of 4 feet 11 inches. McLaughlin says Stanley would eagerly do anything for the children.

Stanley herself, seated at a small tea table for two in the front room of her remodeled 1904 bungalow, has a hard time sitting still. She wants to fix you something to eat or drink, or show you some new project, all accompanied by fast-paced gestures.

Her mood changes, however, when asked about the source of her compassion for others. After a moment of quiet, Stanley tells a personal story: “My first boyfriend practically left me at the altar,” she said. But a few years later she fell in love again with another man, and they were married.

“Our marriage had everything going for it, two beautiful children, a gentleman’s farm here on South Whidbey. He had a promising career, I was a full-time wife, mother, foster mother and volunteer,” Stanley said.

“One Super Bowl Sunday during halftime, while our 5- and 9-year-olds were next door, I picked up a magazine from the coffee table. I opened it to some silly questionnaire, and flippantly blurted out Question No. 1: ‘Would you marry your spouse again today?’ I told my husband while laughing that of course I would ã what a dumb question.

“But to my shock he chose this time to tell me he wouldn’t marry me again, and in fact had been seeing someone else for a long time and wanted a divorce. I hung onto his leg like a dog, at least it seemed that way to me. I began pleading and begging him to stay, at least until the children were grown. But he left the next day.”

During the next five years, Stanley said, “I was pathetic. After he left I was frozen. I didn’t know what to do ã where do we live, what do I do for money?”

But, she said, although she was a “basket case,” she knew she had to do something. She had two kids to raise.

Stanley credits Donna White, her late friend here on South Whidbey, for being the wind beneath her wings. The first thing Donna and Harold White did was give Stanley a job at their business, Gay 90’s. Later Donna helped her land another job with benefits. It was Donna again that found her a home in Langley she could buy through a government program with only $1 down.

“I owe so much to Donna, I owe so much to the caring people here of South Whidbey for helping me, I just want to keep giving back,” Stanley said.

Donna died three years ago, and Stanley committed herself to help find a cure for the cancer that killed her friend, as well as to encourage others suffering from this disease. She does this by volunteering with Relay for Life for cancer victims.

It one of her many community endeavors, which include work on the board of Good Cheer, South Whidbey’s food bank, and involvement with the Santa Breakfast at the Gay 90s for children in the Readiness to Learn program.

“Kay Stanley is one of the most inspirational people I know,” writes Washington Mutual employee Susan Steiner. “Her laughter can be heard all over the bank. It’s always made us all smile. It’s like having your favorite song on the radio.”

Steiner says she has also seen Stanley do “whatever it takes to further an individual’s career, and mine was no exception.”

Stanley says she believes in the success of mentoring people: “Don’t let people fail. Help them go beyond their own capabilities. We can do this when handing over a position to others, stay available for them to answer their questions, encourage them, help them to believe in themselves.”

The new Washington Mutual Bank manager, Marv Idso, says Stanley will very much be missed. Stanley has been a great role model of how a bank manager can successfully run a bank while contributing much time and effort to their community, Idso said.

“I am sure Kay never thought of this as work, nor did she do it for accolades, she did it because she loved her community.”

And if Idso has any questions in his new position, or could use some encouragement, he said he can be sure Stanley is only a phone call away.

On Kay Stanley’s last day at the bank over 300 people poured in to bring her gifts and tell her thank you, and that they loved her. Yet that very morning at the bank she wondered if anyone would really take the time out to come and see her.

With the miracle of compound interest people may not realize that their small kindnesses are making a huge difference. And yet the reality is, there’s no telling where their influence will go.

People Stanley has never even met have been the beneficiary of her love, kindness, generosity, and laughter.

The miracle is, her many deposits of kindness will reap many returns to other people over and over.