Volume Twenty Eight, Number 7
July 2014
Photos by Louise Hughes
WELCOMING SUMMER AT LAST: At left, Elizabeth Royer and Quartie Clothier play around with a flower that broke off. At right, Anne Godfrey and retiring Health Services VP Linda Lemisch help Mary Jane Rhodes, in wheelchair, get a grip on a pot. It was all part of Green Committee project to install and fill planters in Health Center garden at wheelchair height, with space underneath, so that residents can more easily help plant and weed.
Tree of Life tapestry, given new life, is home again
By Marian Lockett-Egan
“Embrace the new, but treasure and preserve the old” has been the mission of Beaumont’s now almost-completed capital construction project. Our giant Tree of Life tapestry, 75 inches high and 61 across, the loving handwork of nine of the earliest residents, has been newly cleaned and framed to stand as a symbol of the latter part of that effort. The tapestry, designed by Elizabeth H. MacDonald of Narberth, was coordinated by Dorothy M. Ballam (mother of our own Barbara Ballam Stephens), for whom the theater was named, and assisted by Dorothy B. Bartle, Anne F. Gibbons, Ann S. Grange, Elizabeth C. Huebner, Dorothy H. Oglee, K. Janet Robertson, Ruby M. Skillman and Nancy N. Stevens.
In an interview with Barbara, I learned that her mother did the center square, along with coordinating all the work. The November 1990 News Letter reports that “funds, in addition to the actual work, were contributed by residents and staff alike—a truly combined effort.” Originally hung in the front lobby, the tapestry comprises over one million stitches and depicts the flora and fauna found around Beaumont. It was completed in 14 months and unveiled on October 9, 1990. It was later moved to the glass-fronted stairwell leading up from the Mansion Dining reception area to Personal Care. Tree of Life continued on page 3
Letters to the Editor
DEAR EDITOR: Any day now the Midnight Cereus will present me six beautiful blooms that can be observed at nighttime only. What a pity. Only the Beaumont News can rectify this, by creating an awareness that a greenhouse does exist and welcomes visitors. — Dean Snyder, writing on June 17
DEAR EDITOR: What a blessing it is to have Sally Herd be so diligent and so relentless in her commitment to have many of our public areas—the nooks, the hallways, various table tops— beautified with creative floral arrangements.
Photo by Louise Hughes
“I THOUGHT HE WAS EXAGGERATING,” Louise Hughes reported after visiting Sally and Bob Herd's apartment with her camera to illustrate George Hollingshead's letter. “He wasn't! There are flowers everywhere! No way I could show this in one picture!”
But recently this silent servant has had a huge challenge which she has been working almost daily since February to overcome. It was at that time that she discovered that all the flowers in Beaumont’s large flower closet were completely covered with dust. The closet, on the lower Commons level near the theater, contained dozens and dozens of artificial flowers and various decorative objects all covered with dust resulting from the construction in that area. Sally and Bob have taken every piece, box after box, every arrangement, every object to their apartment, where Sally has been cleaning every stem, every petal, every berry, one by one. The apartment is filled with flowers—on the floor in every room, dining-room table, kitchen counters—even both bath tubs are filled with flowers to be cleaned. Once dust-free, they will stay with the Herds until the fall, when they will see if the dust will be a continuing problem. In the meantime, as we walk through the halls of Beaumont, enjoying the flowers and artistic displays, we should remember to give grateful thanks to Sally, our hard-working Flower Girl. — George Hollingshead
Photo by Richard Stephens
THREE DAYS (OR NIGHTS) LATER: On June 20, the Midnight Cereus bloomed. BEAUMONT NEWS The Beaumont News is published by the residents and staff of the Beaumont Retirement Community, 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 Editor Assistant Editor and Production Manager Graphic Designer Photo Editor Events Manager Proofreader Circulation Manager
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Mary Graff John Hall TJ Walsh Louise Hughes Kim Norrett Jennie Frankel Barbara O’Brien
Photo by Richard Stephens
“EMBRACING THE NEW, BUT TREASURING AND PRESERVING THE OLD”: Barbara Ballam Stephens climbed up on a kitchen stool to pose with the Tree of Life tapestry master-minded by her mother, Dorothy Ballam, and worked by Mrs. Ballam and eight other early Beaumont residents. Seen behind the glass separating the stairway to Personal Care from the Mansion Dining reception area, it has been newly cleaned and framed, a symbol of Beaumont’s nearly completed capital construction project, in which preserving treasures of the past has been held as important as creating new amenities.
Tree of Life continued from page 1 The refurbished work has been re-hung in this location along with the plaque honoring those who created it. (Barbara Stephens’ husband, Richard, who took the picture above, is the son of the late artist and longtime Beaumont resident Helen Stephens, who died here in 2012 at 104.
About a dozen of her paintings have been hung on hallway walls in Austin and Baldwin. Other works by residents include three paintings by the late Kathryn (Kit) Leslie, a needlepoint piece by Bobbi Rosen and two paintings and an etching by the late Thelma Schmidt, all outside the Lattice Porch, and an etching by Thelma Schmidt in the Beaumont Room.)
Summer camp at Beaumont
(See Bob Stedeford, Fitness Director, for details.) Canasta is a new activity. A camp favorite, intermediate bridge lessons, will complement spring and fall instruction. Sign up on bulletin board. Sign up also for Grilling in the Garden. See Weekly Reminders and Beaumont News Extra for musical entertainment and other special events. No need to send postcards home. Every day is visiting day at Beaumont! — Eta Glassman, co-chair, Resident Services Committee
Why be sad when your friends go to Maine or the Adirondacks and your grandchildren go to camp? You can enjoy summer at Beaumont! Athletic activities will include swimming in our new indoor pool, scheduled to open soon. Tai Chi classes will continue at 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, moving to the new Fitness Studio. Exercise classes will continue, times and places to be decided as new construction winds down.
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At the Wisters’: gardening, sports, grandchildren and the Sunday crossword!
Native Philadelphian moves into Austin By Peter Binzen
A Beaumont resident since April, Rhoda Krug is a slim, light-haired woman with a lively sense of humor. She is youthful in looks and personality. You’d never guess that she celebrated her 90th birthday March 31. A native Philadelphian, Rhoda Schaffer attended Quaker schools in the city and went on to the University of Pennsylvania. Right out of college she married Oscar Krug, a New York lawyer who specialized in finance. They had been married 56 years when he died two years ago. He was “a marvelous husband,” she says, and she is still mourning Rhoda Krug her loss. For many years, Mrs. Krug worked with her mother as an interior designer. Twenty years ago, her husband bought a 55-acre farm in Chester Springs. He bought it “on a whim,” Mrs. Krug said, but today it is occupied by her older daughter, Ivy, who keeps four poodles there. Her younger daughter, Sue Ann, lives in Birchrunville. She is divorced with a daughter, Jana, who, says her grandmother, “is the light of my life.” Jana, she observes, is “12 going on 20.” Mrs. Krug lived for many years at 2601 Parkway, but that condo is now up for sale. She loves her digs at 166 Austin, and the warm welcome she has received from the community. New Residents continued on page 6
By Helen (DeeDee) Ballard
Bill and Diana Wister both grew up in the Philadelphia area. Bill graduated from Harvard University, served two years with the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps, and went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Law Bill and Diana Wister School. He practiced law in Philadelphia with Janney Montgomery Scott for many years. Bill has been an enthusiastic golfer and an avid tennis and squash player. In addition he enjoys playing bridge and completing those challenging New York Times Sunday crossword puzzles in record time! A father of four, he has one grandson and another grandchild on the way. Diana attended the Agnes Irwin School and graduated from the Westover School in Connecticut. She has been a longtime competitor and participant in the Philadelphia Flower Show and a keen member of the Garden Clubs of Wilmington, Delaware; Palm Beach, Florida, and Mount Desert, Maine. She says her greatest joy, however, is in her three children and six grandchildren—four granddaughters and two grandsons. Like Bill, she too is expecting another grandchild. Bill and Diana enjoy spending time in Florida and Maine but are looking forward to their new home at 21 Pond Lane and making many new friends here at Beaumont.
In Memoriam Ethel Harris, May 29, 2014 George Fabian, June 7, 2014 Edith Clark, June 11, 2014 Maggie Tripp, June 18, 2014 Members of the Beaumont Community extend deepest sympathy to their family and friends.
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Mike’s Roundup By Mike Bailey, Housekeeping
Slap me purple and stick me with a cactus, I just heard some news that’s beyond fantastic. After twenty-five years Hulet Samuels from Housekeeping said goodbye: “Miss Adassa,” as we knew her, decided to retire. While in Dining, Still climbing up the ladder to life’s success, Megan Cromie graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Ed. Robert, the son of Milissa Cwenar, in Marketing, Left school with a business degree from Drexel, how remarkable! A bittersweet moment we all shall share By saying goodbye to our VP this year: Linda Lemisch to retire in the sun. We wish her the best for all she has done. Drum roll, please, as I release the new scoop, Mike Bailey, your columnist, and wife Victoria said I do! In a private little chapel on a Wednesday afternoon, We exchanged our vows with just a few To witness the blessing and congratulate us too! Remember…. Remember the only thing that happens to dreamers is good sleep!
Clockwise: “Miss Adassa,” Megan Cromie, Robert Cwenar, Mike and Victoria, Linda Lemisch
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but as energy levels have diminished, their walking and paddling adventures have been much less demanding. They are also known to climb on their bikes for a spin. They organized day hikes on the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, which over 30 years became what they call “geriatric” walks, with a group of friends that includes five current Beaumont residents. The Stantons lived just up the street from Beaumont for 55 years and two of their children live nearby. We welcome them to a familiar neighborhood!
New Residents continued from page 4
Stantons take a short trip to 45 Pasture Lane By Barbara O’Brien
Vernon and Betsy Stanton joined us at Beaumont in January, and are still moving into 45 Pasture Lane— after taking a little break to sneak off during the ice and snow months to a small house in Jupiter, Florida. Everything looked quite settled to your reporter, with the exception of the largest collection of pens and pencils I have ever seen, all found in drawers while moving furniture. They seem to have solid confidence that these heaps will be sorted soon. They plan to abandon the task periodically this summer to spend time at their lake house in northern Pennsylvania. The Stantons are both from this area and met at Lower |Merion High School. After graduation in 1951, Vernon moved on to Princeton and Betsy to Cornell. They were married three days after Vernon’s graduation and went to Coronado, California, where Vernon served Vernon and Betsy in the Navy Supply Corps for Stanton two years. Betsy was an early TV personality on a “primitive” show in San Diego. In 1957 they returned to Philadelphia and Vernon enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He graduated in 1960 and went to work at the law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath. He specialized in business law and remained with the firm until his retirement in 2000. Meanwhile they began to create a family of four: Jeffrey, Kathryn, Janet and Roger, who have produced eight grandchildren. After obtaining a Master of Education degree in reading in 1980 at the University of Pennsylvania, Betsy worked at the Lansdowne Friends School before joining the Shipley School in 1983, as the Reading Specialist first for the Middle School and then for the Lower School. She retired in 1997. After retirement, Betsy joined the board of Ludington Library, serving first as secretary and then as president. The Stantons were experienced and enthusiastic white-water canoers, backpackers and bird watchers,
Dottie, John Clapham: new to Pasture Lane, but not to Beaumont By Joan Roberts
Upon encountering Dorothy Clapham on a walk around the campus, one might assume she was a visiting daughter of one of the residents. This would be only partially correct: no longer just a visitor, but now living with her husband, John, on Pasture Lane, the youthful Dorothy is the daughter of Henry and Ruth Hallowell, longtime residents here. The Claphams are members of a happily growing class of second-generation Beaumonters. Together with their fluffy and enthusiastic English sheepdog, “Schweppes” (the fifth in succession to join their family), they inhabit Dottie Clapham Villa 49. Dorothy—she prefers Dottie—grew up with two sisters and a brother in Haverford. A graduate of the Agnes Irwin School, she attended the University of Arizona before working in retail, at Ladybug. She and John lived in Berwyn for almost 44 years, raised three children, a son and two daughters, and are the proud grandparents of two girls and four boys. While her children were growing up, Dottie volunteered at their schools and taught Sunday school. John (also youthful) grew up across the Schuylkill, in Lafayette Hill. He graduated from Germantown Academy (starting in kindergarten) and went on to Susquehanna University. He, too, has Beaumont connections: He was hired by Hap Aller (now a close New Residents continued on page 7
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New Residents continued from page 6 neighbor) to work at Fidelity Bank, where he spent his career, and he says the late Sam Ballam (father of Barbara Stephens in Baldwin) urged him some years ago to move to Beaumont. The Claphams are self-proclaimed “beach people.” They spend much John Clapham of the summer at their home in Stone Harbor, at the Jersey Shore. Every October they spend time in Bermuda, and January and February Photo by Richard Stephens find them on the island of Antigua. In March, they go HIKERS BEWARE: Grounds crew does its best, but poison ivy— to Florida. (Would anyone like to tell them about last though picture pretty—is a sneaky pest. Let Grounds know if you winter in Philadelphia?) spot leaves like these. Beaumont welcomes the Claphams, among the trend-setters of the next generation.
Neophyte nest builders finally gladden Doc’s heart By Dean (Doc) Snyder
At long last the house wrens have decided to slum it. They have come to reside next to the Snyder household as guests for the duration. Two years ago, during an idle moment, I elected to utilize some leftover cedar shingles from another project to build a wren house, but there was not a sniff of interest by anyone and Mrs. Snyder took much pleasure accusing me of undertaking another childish endeavor just to annoy her. Lo and Behold! God Bless the House Wrens. This year they came, inspected, and set up housekeeping in my wren house. Daily, for more than a week, from dawn to dark, both family members took turns cramming nesting materials Photo by Joseph J. Peduzzi into the entrance, one piece at a time. At first it was hard to watch, as they invariably tried to GREEN COMMITTEE MAKES A WISH: cram the stuff through the hole in the nesting box. Either Inspecting an energy-saving—and aesthetically stunthey were new at nest building or they simply forgot that ning—“green” roof on the Swarthmore campus, Green Committee members pay close attention to Scott Arboretum to execute the maneuver of grasping the twig close to one end and, while clinging with one toe to the rim of the guide Lars Rasmussen. Identifiable Beaumont members entrance hole, simultaneously cocking the head, would (from left) are Ann Louise Strong, chairman of the committee, which would like to bring the green-roof concept enable the stick to be thrust through. Eventually building was completed, the eggs were laid to Beaumont; Quartie Clothier, Grounds Director Mark and hatched, and on June 26 the fledglings left the nest. Hritz and Ginny Rivers.
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From Trinidad with love and determination: a nurse’s story By Ann Louise Strong
Many a morning if you walk along Wing A of the Health Center you will be greeted warmly by several members of the nursing staff. One nurse may be singing gently, singing a hymn, as she prepares medicines for her patients. That will be Margaret Prout, a Licensed Practical Nurse and—as are our other nursing staff— a beacon of light and strength. On May 17th Margaret received a Diploma in Biblical and Theological Studies from the Palmer Theological Seminary, an affiliate of Eastern College. Three more years of study will take her to a bachelor’s degree, and in the meantime her church, Memorial Baptist Church, located in Bryn Mawr on South Warner Road just behind her house, will be training her for ministerial work. She has turned for help to a woman who inspired her, the late Reverend Virginia Sargent of American
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Baptist Women’s Ministries, and will now be helped by Reverend Dr. Horace O. Russell, her spiritual advisor and pastor. How Margaret came to this point in her life is a story of courage and commitment. In the late 1970s, Margaret was living in Trinidad, raising her three daughters and three sons. Her mother, Elaine, was here on the Main Line, living with and working for Mrs. Marianne Ervin in Mrs. Ervin’s 48room Bala Cynwyd home. One day Elaine was felled by several heart attacks. At once Margaret decided to come to Philadelphia and look after both her mother and Mrs. Ervin. Mrs. Ervin’s lawyer son, Spencer, took care of immigration requirements for the family. Soon all were housed at the mansion, and the children were enrolled in local schools. They had some family here: several of Elaine’s 12 children already lived in the United States. As for Margaret, Mrs. Ervin advised her to earn an LPN degree at the James Martin Vocational School, an affiliate of the Einstein Hospitals and several other local hospitals. Jobs in geriatric care followed, including six years at Fair Acres in Lima and 15 years at the Chateau in Bryn Mawr. Margaret worked briefly at Beaumont when it was first built, but the only full-time openings then were for the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift. With six children to care for, the night shift was not possible. Not many years after moving here, Margaret bought a home on Prospect Avenue in Bryn Mawr. It is still home today. Trouble struck when Margaret, worried about her son Arthur’s Army deployment overseas, suffered a heart attack and was unable to work for three years. The years passed. The children grew up. Today Arthur is a Registered Nurse at Temple and lives next door to his mother. Bernadette has been a medical secretary at Penn-Presbyterian. Three of the other four children live in the Philadelphia area. In 2000, Beaumont offered Margaret a full-time day-shift in the Health Center. At last there was time to pursue biblical studies. Margaret plans to remain at Beaumont, opening her heart to others and providing comfort. We are so fortunate to have her with us, as we give thanks to all of our caring, warm and loyal nurses. The next issue of the Beaumont News will appear in October, skipping (as usual) the months of August and September. In the meantime, contributions will continue to be gladly received.