Beaumont News August 2016

V o lu me T h i rt y , N umber 3

July/August 2016

Mama, Papa Robin Teach ‘Doc’ a lesson

By Dean ‘Doc’ Snyder

What is in a photo? More than one would think.

When Richard Stephens one Saturday afternoon privately invaded the sanctuary of one robin’s household with the aid of a state-of-the-art camera lens, he and I patiently watched the mother hen methodically search the area near her nest for food. Inside the nest, two offspring anxiously waited to be fed. They and we were rewarded by her diligence.

Actually, Richard came into the picture at the end of the story, which began approximately one month prior to the emergence of the family of two. Attached to my apartment in the Austin building is a rainspout that curves under the eave of the roof at approximately a 30-degree angle upon which I watched a certain robin begin depositing vegetation. She (he?) appeared to survey the whole 2 feet of spouting as if determining the exact THE LATEST CRAZE FINDS ITS WAY TO BEAUMONT! Mobile game app Pokémon Go took the nation by storm when it was released in July, and has attracted players of all ages. Here Mary Schnabel stops for a picture before searching the campus for a Pokéstop — a hotspot where players can load up on supplies and increase their chances of catching their favorite Pokémon characters.

Photo by Richard Stephens

STANDING PROUD: Nest builder earns praise, apology from ‘Doc’

spot to locate a nest.

I was skeptical to the point that I considered him (her?) whimsical to say the least, but don’t you know that in no time at all, the site was located and construction began in earnest. I uttered “Bird brain!” as I could not imagine a 4-inch-wide base at a 30-degree slope supporting a nest to rear two youngsters.

Shame on me. The hatchlings are less than three weeks of age and ready to leave their perfectly level Robin continued on page 7

JAZZY SMILE, JAZZY RHYTHM: Beaumont resident Marv Weisbord is the pianist with the Wynlyn Jazz Ensemble, which performs monthly in our Bistro.

See more photos on Page 8.

Photo and caption by Paige Welby

Photo by Richard Stephens

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, I just want to take this opportunity to say a few things about Beaumont Retirement Community from the perspective of an employee.

If you are not aware, I broke my foot and tore the ligaments and muscles. One day, I fell at a car wash; the next, I was in severe pain and learning how to walk again.

Through my tears and recovery, I received such lovely cards, notes and well wishes from the residents that I work for. I wanted tell all of you that took time to send them to me, thank you so very much for your act of kindness. The cards certainly made me laugh, especially the one that said I should take the medicine that has wine in it.

In my time of healing you reminded me how very blessed I am to work for all of you. I know I have so many great bosses who are the residents at Beaumont in Bryn Mawr. If you work at Beaumont, God has blessed you; if you live here, he blessed you also.

I wanted to give an extra special thank you to the Wine Committee members. This indeed is a special place to work because of all of your love and kindness.

It meant the world to me.

Photo by Richard Smyth

RESIDENTS ENJOYING A TRIP to Ocean City, NJ, include (from left) Frances Etherington, Mary Spence, Louise Averill, Barbara Murphy.

— Rose Marie Pringle Director of Dining and Dietary Services To our readers: After this issue, the BN will be published five times a year instead of 10, each issue to consist of 16 pages, or double the present size. Contributions will continue to be warmly welcomed, provided they are the contributor’s own work.(No cute jokes or wise words off the Internet, please!) The deadline for each issue will be the 1st of the second month to be covered in that issue: That is, Nov. 1 for the October/November issue; January 1 for the December/January issue, March 1, May 1 and July 1, although extensions may be granted by arrangement with the co-editors, Mary Graff and Lynn Ayres.

Photo by Louise Hughes

E-mail, please, stories and/or pictures, to both Mary and Lynn, or hand in at the Front Desk to be given to a staff member for typing or scanning into the system.

Mary’s address is Graffs18@gmail.com; Lynn’s is marilynayres134@gmail.com.

Please remember to send to both, as one may not be available.

SHIVER ME TIMBERS! It’s Editor Mary Graff after cataract surgery! Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of chardonnay!

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 Co-Editor Associate Editor and Production Manager Graphic Designer Photo Editor Roving Reporter Events Manager Proofreader

In Memoriam Libby R. Adelman June 26, 2016

Mary Graff Marilyn Ayres John Hall TJ Walsh Louise Hughes Wistie Miller Kim Norrett Jennie Frankel

Dawn S. Ganss August 2, 2016

Curtis Chafee August 2, 2016 Members of the Beaumont Community extend deepest sympathy to their families and friends.

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It was clear that a lot of things that we had grown up with would not fit in a one-bedroom apartProspect of downsizing giving you chest pains? ment. Instead of donating or selling things, we decided to divide everything all at once, including the stuff that This family found a solution that worked! would stay with Dad. We did research as to how others

By Peter Binzen had done it and talked a lot about what might work for us. In the end, we came up with our own strategy. It was

Early in our marriage, Virginia, the Australian girl time-intensive but effective since the four of us would of my dreams, and I worked out our living arrangements. have found it difficult—both logistically and emotionalVirginia would take care of things at home, while I was at the office, trying to make a buck as an ink-stained newspa- ly—to come together for enough time to do it in person.

Our strategy: per wretch.

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Everything of value was photographed and numbered

When our family consisted of just the two of us, individually: one item, one photograph. Together there this system worked fine, but as our family grew to three were about 1,200 items. and four and then five and six, my wife’s responsibilities 2. The photos were then expanded divided into categories: exponentially. furniture, silver, china, She baked glassware, jewelry, acand cooked, cessories, needlepoint, she washed Mom’s paintings, art by and ironed, others, linens & lace, etc. she made 3. The separate packets of clothes for the photos—by category— children and were then distributed to neckties for all four siblings electronme, and she ically. converted our 4. We then set multiple simple house dates for conference calls into a much (typically one to two loved home, hours each). where every 5. Prior to each call, we aspect pleased determined which catus.

Photo by Louise Hughes egory or categories of More PETER ENJOYS his new digs in Liseter Hall.objects we would be than that, she selecting from during the call. planned where we would live next. I was at the newspaper 6. During each call, we would all have the same numone day, when she called from the office of a real estate bered photos in front of us, and in the determined order, broker. “I found our house,” she said, and she had. It was we would select our first choice, second choice, and so 418 Dorset Road in Devon, just the right price and size on, until there were no more objects to choose (or no for our family. appetite for more).

But Virginia found other outlets for her talents.

It took weeks to complete the selection process As a girl in Australia she had enjoyed painting. She took — there was a limit to how long we could stand to be it up again as a wife and mother, and her much admired watercolors were featured in shows at Beaumont and other on the phone each time, and it was challenging to be able to find available time slots among the four of us retirement communities. with busy schedules.

We were living in Chesterbrook when I lost But once we were done, the plan was in place Virginia after 56 years of marriage. Our kids—Lucy, Jenny, into the future. With Dad’s recent move from an apartJonny, Kate—had grown up and had families of their ment to a Personal Care unit, distribution of excess stuff own. My move to a one-bedroom apartment in Beaumont was simple. Everything already had a new home waiting caused them to take action as a “committee.” for it. We simply turned to the record of who picked

Lucy will take the story from there, explaining how what to find out where that was. the committee functioned:

ATTENTION FUTURE RESIDENTS:

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For Nellie Lincoln, new home was only a stroll away

response to this amazing offer from her professor, she admitted that she had always had an idea she might go to medical school and had majored in biology, so I knew then how smart she must have been!

Her year in Texas was, in her words, absolutely wonderful. She roomed with two other girls in a tiny apartment and tasted the first wonders of being on her own.

She came back home after that year and got a job at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in the Cardiology Department, where she was in science heaven. But it wasn’t long until she married George Lincoln and settled down as a wife and mother. Nellie talked about how great it was to raise their three children in this area, which was then only woods and fields.

Their oldest son, Rip, now lives in Shrewsbury, Vt. Their other two, David and Nancy, both live locally, and she has seven grandchildren.

Nellie got involved in the usual children’s school-related volunteer work, as well as working in alumnae affairs at Bryn Mawr. Farther afield, she was briefly a guide at the University of Pennsylvania Museum and then joined the Docent program at the Philadelphia Zoo. The zoo became her real love and her dedicated volunteer job, ultimately leading to her position on its Board of Directors.

In addition to her continued interest in the zoo, she is a member and Treasurer of the Seed and Weed Garden Club. Nellie says she is almost settled here in Baldwin Hall, but although the boxes are all empty, so are her walls, awaiting the planned hanging process.

By Mary Schnabel

We have become accustomed to welcoming new residents who have lived in our neighborhood before moving here, and Nellie Lincoln is one of those who could have walked here from her former home on Old Gulph Road. In fact, she did just that—often.

Nellie remembers when Beaumont was still occupied by the two Austin sisters, when there was no school where one stands today, and when the development across Ithan Avenue was still part of another big estate. Nellie and her husband, George, moved around a bit Nellie Lincoln before buying one of four new houses that had just been built on the other side of Old Gulph Road, and it was there they lived much of their married life and raised their children. George, who worked for SmithKline before entering the investment business, died in 2009.

Nellie stayed put until she sold the house to move here last fall.

She is a Philadelphia girl, a graduate of Bryn Mawr with an amazing career of her own before marriage. After her graduation from college, she was invited by her biology professor to accompany him, as his assistant, to the University of Texas, Austin, where he would be spending a year doing research. After my impressed

Nina Morgenstern came to Beaumont on wings of song

volunteer work.

Both Nina and Stephen graduated from Penn, he from Medical School, and after that, she got her master’s in social work from Bryn Mawr. Shortly after graduation, Stephen was recruited into the Air Force and they left for Wichita Falls, Nina Morgenstern Texas. Their first baby, Diana, was born there.

The Philadelphia pull was strong once Stephen was discharged, and after a few years renting, they bought the house on Indian Creek Road. Stephen, a psychoanalyst, was able to add a medical office to the house and the couple also added two more children to the family.

Diana, the Texas baby, is now a doctor, working for Pfizer Inc. She, her husband, and their three chil-

By Mary Schnabel

We have a new resident that I was very anxious to meet! She was going to be my next door neighbor, occupying Bobby McCallister’s former apartment. I had heard a little about her; I knew she had been here twice before, singing in a visiting choral group, The New Horizons Glee Club. Everyone had been so delighted with those two Glee Club appearances that I was sure I was going to love having Nina Morgenstern living right next door. And I was right!

Nina moved here in December from a house in Wynnewood, where she had lived for 50 years and raised three children. Her husband, Dr. Stephen, had his office there, and it was her base for her own career and

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Morgenstern continued on page 5

Four friends in joyous travel guise find themselves to their surprise the cynosure of many eyes!

Want to hear a story of four elderly women spending a week together in a house at the Shore? (Reaction…

Ho-Hum!)

Not quite! Four Beaumont friends who have spent the last several summers doing just that—a week’s vacation together in a house in Avalon—found something both interesting and reassuring during our stay this past summer.

First of all, although far from Babes on the Beach, four women of a certain age, always travelling in a group, do somehow get noticed. It happened on our first night out, while having dinner at one of the favorite Shore restaurants.

Dining close by, at a table for 10, was a group of young men and women having their dinner together. As they were getting up to leave, one man in the group came over to our table, leaned over and said to us,

“I just want to tell you how lovely it is to see you women enjoying yourselves so much. I can’t help thinking of my mother, who is in her 70s, with Alzheimer’s. I visit her every day and wish she could be doing what you are doing tonight. I hope you keep it up!”

A day or two later, two of us, one with her walker, were strolling on the Boardwalk and waved to a woman

we saw sitting on the deck of a house nearby. She waved back and within about 10 minutes she caught up with us as we sat on a bench, resting and enjoying the sun.

“Oh, I’m so glad I found you! It was simply wonderful to see the two of you enjoying the weather and the surroundings as you were. It just made me realize that you are just the way I want to be at your stage of my life.” She was from Cincinnati, Ohio, and part of a big family reunion at the house where we first saw her.

Another evening a group of young people having cocktails hailed us as we were passing by on our way to a dining room. “Hey, Ladies! God Bless you! Hope you’re having fun! Keep up the good work!” they shouted to us as we passed by. All happily respectful, enjoying us as much as we were enjoying seeing all of them.

On our last afternoon we were sitting in a row on one of the benches along Surf Drive, awaiting our driver.

As the four of us sat watching the crowds stroll by, some eating ice-cream cones, others pushing babies, lovers holding hands, the same thing happened again. Many of them walked right by, totally unaware, but a number stopped, smiled and spoke, or waved and even made some pleasant comment about our presence there.

We know there are stories about people becoming almost invisible as they get old. It was a lovely feeling to see, firsthand, that it isn’t always the case!

— Anonymous by authors’ request

Morgenstern continued from page 4 dren live in Bala Cynwyd. Naomi and her husband, both professors at the University of Toronto, also have three children. Kenneth is also a doctor, an ocular and plastic surgeon. He, his wife, and three children live in Bryn Mawr.

Nina herself had a busy career in social work.

She first worked counseling patients with autistic children and later acted as counselor to patients undergoing dialysis. She speaks of the latter as being a job she very much enjoyed, as she got to know and love the patients who came three times a week for their treatment.

After her retirement from this position, Nina turned to volunteer work and began with an agency called RSVP, Retired Senior Volunteer Program. This group matches each volunteer with work that fits with the talent and interest of that individual. I had never heard of the organization but think the idea is great!

Nina also worked with adults, many from different countries, who needed extra help with language or other skills that would enable them to qualify for college

Photo by Leslie Wheeler

A GARDENER’S WORK IS NEVER DONE: Inspecting, directing, hauling, moving, planting, removing, and much more are part of the endless job of the Grounds Committee. Chairman Nancy Harris drives Dean Snyder’s ATV (all-terrain vehicle) and gives “Doc” a lift on its trailer as they head for their next job.

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Morgenstern continued on page 8

Employee Health Fair provides instruction and fun

On June 23, the Beaumont Room and Music Room were transformed into venues for the Employee Health Fair. The name might have been expanded to “health, safety, facts & fun fair.”

Human Resources had all of the benefit providers in attendance to answer questions and explain options. Wellness nurses were available to take blood pressure readings. Nutrition stations provided healthful snacks. Fitness exercises were taught in the Music Room.

Even a chiropractor was in attendance.

On the safety side, employees practiced fire safety with a virtual fire extinguisher. Bed demonstrations were sponsored by the Safety Committee to teach safe lifting techniques for both patient and caregiver.

On the fun side, there were raffles, and Finance sponsored contests using Operation, the venerable battery-operated children’s game, with winners receiving free lunch tickets.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING: Jasmine Paul, CNA, receives instruction with a virtual fire extinguisher. Just like the real thing, but no mess to clean up afterward.

All photos by Louise Hughes

KALE SMOOTHIE — YUM! Chef John Bauer offers a nutritious homemade beverage made of kale, chia seed, mango, spinach, carrot, banana and coconut milk.

SAFE LIFTING: A sales representative demonstrates a hospital bed and shows Administrative Assistant Jennie Frankel and IT Specialist Bradley Siegel how to avoid injuring both patient and care provider.

BP CHECK: Wellness Nurse Ann Toland, LPN, checks blood pressure readings for Marie Nehy, Home Health Aide.

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FASTER! HIGHER! Fitness coordinator Diana DiMeglio leads Maintenance employees in aerobic exercises.

Resident-sponsored awards will help four staff members further their education

By Mary Wells

Photo by Louise Hughes

L. RODMAN PAIGE AWARD: Left to right, Mary Paige and Kent Hall

Photo by Louise Hughes

Rodman Paige Award Winner: Kent Hall Back in 2008, Beaumont had been using the service of an outside plumber. It became clear when a position opened in the Maintenance Department that we should designate that position for our own in-house plumber. Along came Kent. In 2008, he began working as Beaumont’s trusted plumber. Kent is efficient and quick to respond to water emergencies. He is also quick with a corny joke. Kent’s smile and love for his family are part of him. We are so pleased that Kent is our first plumber and has been here for 9 years.

BIDDLE AWARD: Left to right, Mimose St. Fort; Frances Biddle; Claire McDonald

Edmond Biddle Award Winner: Claire McDonald Claire has been employed with Beaumont since 2014.

However, if you ask the staff, it feels as if she has been here forever because she catches on so quickly! Claire has had a lot of experience as a C.N.A. At Beaumont, she started as a C.N.A and quickly moved her way up to receptionist and then to the position of Health Services administrative assistant.

Edmond Biddle Award Winner: Mimose St. Fort Mimose is thrilled to be a 2016 Biddle Award recipient.

She began work here in 1988, shortly after Beaumont opened. She works day shift as the restorative C.N.A., helping our residents maintain their mobility. If starting work at 7 a.m. seems early to you, it isn’t for Mimose.

She can be found in the Fitness Center working out before her shift starts. On a side note, many of you may know her son, our driver Fritz.

Robin continued from page 1 house-on-a-slope. All of this, from the time of conception to the time of sibling maturity is a feat (in my world) no less than a miracle. Think about it. Get married, build a house, have twins grown and gone in less than a month.

Luckily, I was able to observe the last hatchling leave the nest. In spite of rapid wing motion, it gradually lost altitude and safely landed. This was a normal sequence of events, as young robins leave the nest before fledging is complete, and wing feathers are fully developed after leaving home!

I am truly ashamed of having in the past used the term “bird brain” directed at another human in less than flattering bent.

I take it all back! Call me “bird brain” anytime.

Composite photo: left side by Richard Stephens; right side by Lynn Ayres

SAM BALLAM AWARD: Left to right, Barbara Ballam Stephens, Sam’s daughter, and Mary Wells

Sam Ballam Award Winner: Mary Wells Mary, our Director of Human Resources, has been employed with Beaumont for 26 years. She received her Long Term Care Administration B.S.degree from York College and her master’s in Human Resources from Villanova. She remembers fondly both Sam and Dorothy Ballam and used to reminisce with Mr. Ballam about Fidelity Bank, where Mary and Sam Ballam had worked.

Mary is very appreciative of receiving this award in his name.

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Kids and grandkids make staff parents proud

Wynlyn Jazz Ensemble plays Red Hot & Blue in Beaumont’s Bistro

By Richard Stephens

Called a “leaderless” ensemble by Beaumont resident and Wynlyn pianist Marv Weisbord, the Wynlyn Jazz Ensemble holds forth monthly in the Bistro. The ensemble includes Sandy Crow, Ros Spigel, and Larry Serinsky, vocals; Allan Kobernick, drums & harmonica; Rob Stone, tenor sax; and David Zopf, bass. They started to play together in jam sessions now they’ve polished their presentation with planning and practice, but no one is really in charge.

“Red Hot & Blue,” their performance on June 18, was a potpourri of blues and swing. They ranged from the Fats Waller “Ain’t Misbehaving” to the Arlen/Mercer “I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues,” to Bobby Troup’s “Route 66” to Keb Mo’s “Dirty, Low Down and Bad.” Evelyn Rosen and Alan Tripp — two of our own — were featured guest artists and sang the Rodgers/Hart favorite “I Wish I Were in Love Again.”

“DOBSON OLYMPICS” (field day for Dobson Elementary): Grayson, age 6, son of Jamie Lamond of PT, was in the kindergarten class relay race. The whole school was divided into Red and Blue teams. Grayson was on Red, which beat Blue in this event and gave Red 10 points towards the total score.

Photo by Jackie Fogerty, another mother at the event

SINGING AT CHANNEL 6: Ed Johnson’s children Eddie and Joellen prepare for their performance with the children’s choir of Mother Theresa Regional Catholic School on the Channel 6 Sunday Mass.

Photo by Ed Johnson, Security

THREE’S A CHARM: Renee Gorman of Housekeeping helps her granddaughter Quinn celebrate her third birthday with a colorful cake that’s almost as big as Quinn is.

SINGER Ros Spiegel, youngest member

BEAUMONT RESIDENTS Alan Tripp & Evelyn Rosen sing “I Wish I Were in Love Again.”

Photo by Stephanie McLaughlin, Quinn’s mom

SINGER Sandy Crow, saxophonist Rob Stone, pianist Marv Weisbord

GRUMPY OLD MEN? Seven-year-old twins Aidan and Ashton are grandsons of Jackie Holness of Health Services. Emlen Elementary had a “hundredth day of school” challenge. Pupils dressed up as 100-year-old men. Her daughter did a great job with make-up.

SINGER Larry Serinsky, David Zopf on bass, Allan Kobernick on drums Photos by Richard Stephens

Morgenstern continued from page 5

Photo by Jackie Holness

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and a coveted B.S. degree.

As used as she is to being busy, and with her many talents, I have a feeling it won’t be long until Nina will find herself being tapped for one of our volunteer jobs here at Beaumont!