Beaumont News December 2022

V o lume T h i rt y S ix , N umber 7

D ecember 2022

Beaumont Visits the Delaware County Veterans Memorial

By Linda Madara and Louise Hughes. Photos by Louise Hughes.

How does one say thank you to someone you can never meet, but who has bestowed the most precious gift in life on you? Freedom. That was the question Claude deBotton wrestled with.

Museum and entertainment center for Veterans. The result of his beautiful heartstopping tribute is today known as the Delaware County Veterans The Honor Guard for the Ceremony Memorial and is located at 4599 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA.

Claude and his wife Joyce arrived in America as immigrants from Egypt. They worked hard and fell in love with the country which was rewarding them for their labors.

Visitors, like those from Beaumont, experience the Memorial and Hall of Prayers, the amazing towering circular structure, through scheduled visits or by visiting 24-7 year-round. One of the most memorable elements of the Memorial is the wall spelling out the names of Delaware County residents who were Killed in Action. One of the men on the Beaumont visit left the wall in tears. He had found his best friend’s name.

Visiting the Memorial one finds both beauty and peace. It is the perfect site for flag raising ceremonies and Memorial services. School children come and sit under the towering structure to learn about our nation’s military history. Many are awestruck as they learn about the service men and women who lost their lives protecting the special the gift of freedom they are receiving today because of their sacrifice.

Beaumont Residents left to right, first row: Claude deBotton, Joyce deBotton, Marlynne Clothier, Birch Clothier, Joe McCaffrey. Second row: Ray Lee (in yellow coat), Alice Victor, Norma Fabian

Wanting desperately to thank America for the opportunity they had been given, Claude donated a tract of land situated on the corner of West Chester Pike and Alice Grim Boulevard for the construction of a memorial honoring the men and women who defend our country’s freedom, and built on it the Veterans Memorial, Hall of Prayers, POW MIA wall, and will shortly announce the construction of a Veterans The Ceremony in the Hall of Prayers 1

The Beaumont trip was extra special because the deBottons are recent residents of Beaumont. Their family members were our gracious hosts/guides. It was unanimous in the returning bus that we must make a trip to the Delaware County Veterans Memorial an annual event.

Editor’s Note: See the New Resident Profile of the deBottons on page 6.

How the Beaumont Geothermal System Works

By David Balamuth

Keeping warm in winter has been a critical goal for humanity since prehistoric times. The idea was simple enough for a caveperson to grasp - you make fire, e.g. by burning wood, and the heat generated keeps you warm.

With some refinements, this was the state of the art until the end of the 19th century, when the relationship between heat and mechanical work became better understood. A good example is your kitchen refrigerator. The input is mechanical work – there is a motor that drives a compressor. The output is the movement of heat from inside the refrigerator, where it’s cold, to the outside. ( Just put your hand behind the ‘fridge, and you’ll feel the warm air being discharged.) The idea to keep in mind is that mechanical work can move heat from a cold to a warm place, in opposition to the normal tendency of heat to flow from hot to cold, e.g., as your coffee cools in its cup.

difference between the hot and cold temperatures between which the device works).

This is where the geothermal part comes in. An ordinary air conditioner needs to do work to move heat from inside (70 degrees) to outside (90 degrees); that takes a lot of work.

We can ‘beat the system’ by taking advantage of the fact that the underground temperature is around 55 degrees all year round. This means that if we connect the interior of our living space to the underground heat reservoir, the heat can flow in its natural direction (hot to cold), requiring less work for the mechanical system. In the winter the same idea works, but in reverse. Now the outside air temperature might be 20 degrees, but we still want our inside temperature to be 70. That’s a gradient (difference) of 50 degrees – hard work for the system. But if we remember that the ground temperature remains 55 degrees, we only need to fight a gradient of 15 degrees (70 – 55). This requires less work, and therefore less electricity – good for the environment!

Fast forward to Beaumont in the 21st century. In the winter we want our dwellings to be warmer than the outside temperature, while in the summer we want the reverse, i.e., cooler inside than the 90 degrees outdoors. A heat pump is a device to do the job – it uses mechanical work to move the heat in the correct direction. It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the amount of mechanical work you need to do goes up with the temperature gradient (a fancy name for the

It is important to stress that the above explanation is oversimplified in several ways: devices are never 100% efficient, getting the heat from the ground to where it’s needed requires a loop filled with water that needs to be well insulated, etc. Nevertheless, this tutorial should give you some idea of how the Beaumont geothermal system works.

In Memoriam Robert (Bob) Spahr November 30, 2022

Nelly Lincoln December 2, 2022

Edward Solomon December 5, 2022

Members of the Beaumont Community extend deepest sympathy to their families and friends.

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

“ Youth would be an ideal state if it came later in life.”

Editor

– Lord Asquith 2

Beverly Wilson

Photo Editor

Linda Madara

New Resident Editor

Betty Matarese

Roving Reporter

Eta Glassman

Quality Control

Cathy Leahy

Production

Articus, Ltd.

Holiday Tea at Cairnwood Written and Photographed by Beverly Wilson.

Earlier this year a group from Beaumont visited Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn. Next to the Museum was a beautiful mansion, Cairnwood, but we could not see it that day. Naturally we wanted to go back. We learned that Cairnwood had a festive holiday tea and house tour, but it booked up early. So, Louise Hughes from Resident Services arranged for us to visit as soon as we got back so we would not miss out.

On Wednesday, December 7, a bus load of Beaumonters set out to visit the Cairnwood Estate. Upon entering we found ourselves in a grand entrance hall which overlooked the L to R: Nicky Kurz, Marlynne Clothier, DeeDee Ballard with Louise Hughes in background grounds and Bryn Athyn Cathedral. The hall was beautifully decorated for Christmas with towering trees and garlands on the fireplace and stairs. A docent greeted us and gave us information about the house and about the Pitcairn family who built the house and lived in it for several generations.

L to R: Dede Shafer, DeeDee Ballard, Sanna Steigerwalt

After our introduction we were escorted to what had been the parlor, but what was now set up for a festive holiday tea. We were first served a selection of teas to choose from. Then came a delicious butternut squash soup followed by an assortment of tea sandwiches and scones.

For dessert there were cookies and candies.

L to R: Judy Anderson, Barbara Ladd

Eta Glassman

The mansion was furnished with period furnishings and there were many objects and artifacts from the Pitcairn family including period fashions.

Visiting the beautifully decorated mansion and the delightful tea was a wonderful start to the holiday season.

After the tea, we did a self-guided tour of the mansion.

“Wit ought to be a glorious treat like caviar; never spread it around like marmalade.”

– Noel Coward

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Memories Make Holidays Magic Recollections of Past Christmas Celebrations at the Austin Mansion

By Linda Madara

For years the Austin clan met together on Christmas Eve at their beloved Beaumont. Three of the five Austin sisters had married and moved away, but the youngest, Anna, was happiest remaining at home where she lived in the Mansion with a devoted German housekeeper (remember her for later) and a dear friend, Ruby Davies.

Anna and Ruby had adjoining cattle ranches in Cody, Wyoming where they spent the summer. Both ladies looked forward to returning to Beaumont in the winter months where they took delight in their beautiful home.

They especially loved planning and giving their traditional Christmas Eve party for their friends.

When one chooses Christmas Eve for an annual celebration, special traditions take precedent in the planning: • • • • • • •

The auto entrance

Gifts: How does one solve the issue of a 16-year spread in ages? Simple! Everyone receives the same gift. Placed under the tree was a carefully wrapped change purse, designated for each child and color coded by family. In it were ageappropriate coins. The very wee guests got 100 shiny copper pennies. AND, when you got older for each additional year, the amount grew larger: $2 in shiny nickels, or $5 in dimes.

By the time one magically reached age 16 (the final year to receive a change purse), it was 16 glorious silver dollars!

Location and time Gifts Christmas tree and holiday decorations Food and refreshments Entertainment Music/carols Toast by a special guest

Location and time: Beaumont is the perfect venue for a party and the ladies knew how to give a unique party. Beginning time was 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon so parents with small children could attend 4:00 church services for wiggly, excited little people. Conversely, those going to 4:00 services could arrive after the service. An end time was never set. The party became a glorious open house all Christmas Eve into early Christmas Day. In truth, late-stayers checked their watches, and those who attended church or sang the late service, only stopped in for a short Merry Christmas hug and maybe a cup of punch.

Christmas tree and holiday decorations: The gathering was the focal point, so the tree was placed in the Parlor (we call it the Green Room) for everyone to enjoy. It was a tall spruce, fresh, heavenly scented tree staged in the corner across from the Marble fireplace which was overflowing with huge red poinsettias. At the treetop was a large five-point antique glass star signifying the star that shone for the shepherds in the fields telling of the birth of the Christ Child. Other ornaments included bubbler candle lights, colored glass blown balls, and best of all - the hundreds of small carved wooden animals Anna had collected on her travels that she hung on the tree.

The size of the mansion precluded excessive decorations.

The cost of heating it was prohibitive: It took a carload of coal to produce the heat for a winter! As luck would have it, Miss Austin’s sister, Jean Du Pont, had green houses.

It was she who always delivered a small truck filled with perfect, huge red poinsettias the week before the party.

As one approached the Mansion, on the left side of the lawn near the house, Miss Austin had placed, years before, three large statues of deer, her most favorite animal: the stag and two of his does. They joined in the festivities with crowns of greens and little white lights, spot lit of course!

The south porch

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Food and Refreshments: The Dining Room held a veritable feast. That meant moving across the hall into the Oak Room as it is known now which is almost unchanged.

Imagine the huge, heavy oak table as the central focal point. It was covered with an ancient, treasured lace tablecloth used only on Christmas Eve.

One picked up his or her porcelain plate from stacks of many trimmed in gold, and then moved to the tower of pristine monogrammed Liseter Hall before Beaumont construction damask dinner-sized napkins.

Most of the foods were cold, but fondues could be found and a hot plate or two with something special. There were meats, turkey, salmon, shrimp, coleslaws (yes, plural), homepreserved vegetables, and nuts of all kinds, cheeses…hard ones and soft, breads, obviously homemade, in baskets, stollen, and all sorts of German pastries and cookies in too many designs to be counted. Remember, the housekeeper/ cook was from Germany.

An all-important bar was set up in the Parlor window with wines, champagne, and stronger drinks. Infamous Beaumont Christmas punch and eggnog were offered from crystal punch bowls with matching punch cups. Little people were steered clear of that table as there was a special nonalcoholic punch for them and other designated drivers.

Entertainment: No child fussed that there would be “nothing to do” at this grown-up party. Miss Austin deputized her nephews to gather the children in the music room. The entrance to the room was cordoned off with sheets of plastic to preserve what little heat there was in the house and prevent anyone from entering…except the nephews and their charges. Jackets and often mittens were donned. It was cold in the room and in the ultimate destination. Children were divided by age/ size in groups of 3 or 4. Excitement grew. Each child was given a candle (battery powered) to hold as he or she was led inside the organ. Down they climbed into the dark with both delight and a touch of fear, well almost fear! Shrieks of laughter and squeals rang out as the tours progressed.

Costumed creatures appeared before them at odd moments…the scary ones always gave out candy canes! How they looked forward to this always exciting adventure.

Music and carols: The sad truth was that no music had come out of the Aeolian organ 5

after Mr. Austin died in 1932. He was the musician of the family and also played the cello (displayed in the Beaumont Room today). The organ sat unused and uncared for, totally neglected. Four decades later, 37 Beaumont residents formed the Pipe Organ Preservation Society to collect monies needed to repair and rebuild it. Today, thanks to their dedication, work, and love of the instrument, it sounds beautiful once more. In Anna’s time, however, it was a white elephant. No dulcet cords wafted from the Music Room organ on Christmas Eve, so someone brought a small tape recorder, set it up behind the tree, and played every carol known to mankind.

The Toast: The final essential to the Christmas Eve celebration was the toast. At 8:30 a gentleman with punch cup in hand stepped into the hallway between the dining room and parlor. He tapped a knife gently on his cup alerting everyone that something special was going to happen. In a deep voice he asked for everyone’s attention.

When the house became silent, he continued, his punch cup held high: “Please join me in raising your glasses in a toast to our beloved hostess, Anna, in gratitude to her for this lovely gathering, and ask that the Lord watch over her and us until we meet again next year to share our love and friendship!”

They assembled with their raised glasses and responded …

HEAR! HEAR! (Ruby was never included in the toast.

She was a guest!)

Christmas joy! What magical memories of those wonderful evenings. They will always be with the fortunate Christmas Eve guests. As you leave Beaumont this Christmas Eve, or even if you just walk out the front door or go into the Atrium with the Holiday tree lit, look up. Anna Austin, her friend Ruby, and the Austin family are smiling down on those of us lucky enough to call Beaumont home…just as they had!

Anna Austin and Ruby Davies gave untold joy to everyone each Christmas Eve for as long as they physically could.

Anna (we knew her as “Aunt Ann”) died in 1984.

A Hidden Blessing of COVID Dr. Campolo also mentions that he tries to make sure that each attendee leaves service with some idea of how he or she can make Beaumont a better place by showing kindness and understanding to another who may be in down spirits.

By Bernadette Bevilacqua, CTRS, CDP

The Recreational Therapy Department supports quality of life by providing programming that focuses on various domains that include cognitive stimulation, music, art, horticulture, As stated from Mrs. Campolo, “It is a joy to me to be part of sensory, pet therapy, social, and spiritual. Pre COVID, local my husband’s service here in the Health Center, where both churches were scheduled to facilitate of us live now. Before the stroke that service for the residents, however, brought him to Beaumont, he was due to pandemic, we were unable speaking or preaching several times a to have any outside vendors. This at week, and I join many of our friends first presented a challenge, but then outside of Beaumont who are glad we realized that we must look within Beaumont has made it possible for to get creative and flexible with the that part of his life to continue, albeit unexpected change. Dr. Anthony in a different form. We love it when Campolo is a current resident of the one of our regular attendees stops Health Center. He is also a former us in the hallway to ask, “Is today Baptist pastor, author, public speaker, Dr. Anthony Campolo. Photo by Bernadette Bevilacqua.

Sunday? Do we have church?” Even and spiritual advisor. In asking Dr. when we have to tell someone it is Campolo what leading the Spiritual not Sunday, we assure them we will look forward to having Reflection means to him, he says, “It provides me with the them with us at the next meeting. As the weeks have gone opportunity to try to promote values and concerns with by since Bernadette asked Tony to officiate the Spiritual my fellow residents, and then gives me great gratification and fulfillment.” The Spiritual Reflection program is able gatherings, he has made sure to explain how the different to touch the lives of not only the Health Center residents, denominations integrate in whatever he is saying which but is also offered to the entire Beaumont community seems to be appreciated by attendees who come from various including Independent Living and Personal Care as well. spiritual backgrounds.

Beaumont Welcomes the deBottons

By Betty Matarese with Jacqueline Mykytiuk

One of the strengths of Beaumont is the diversity and exotic backgrounds of so many residents. One of the purposes of these Beaumont News interviews is to bring to light the backgrounds of new residents, many of whose normal façades belie their intricate and exciting pasts.

Their three children and ten grandchildren all live in close proximity.

Joyce was born in Egypt and attended a French lycée majoring in Philosophy. Both speak Arabic, French, and English, plus a bit of Italian.

Much more can be gleaned about these grateful immigrants by reading their twin books, both of which are in our library and were written for their grandchildren to read. The titles are “Papi’s Story” and “Nana’s Story.”

New residents, Claude and Joyce deBotton are a case in point. Claude and Joyce were both born in Alexandria, Egypt which they both remember as a beautiful city.

Claude’s father was a prominent fixture in Egyptian life and Claude studied at Le Rosey, an elite Swiss school. After the Suez Crisis in 1956, he and his family lost everything in the war. Trying to continue his education, he was accepted as an engineering major at Penn providing him with a student visa for admission to the United States. He earned both a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree from Penn.

Both Claude and Joyce are wonderfully thankful to Claude and Joyce deBotton. Photo by Linda Madara.

America for rescuing them. Claude is still a builder and he and his son run their firm National Realty Corporation. As a special sign of gratitude to America, the deBottons have erected a Veterans Memorial in Newtown Square, which was visited and celebrated by Beaumont veterans on Armistice Day, 2022.

The deBottons came to Beaumont largely due to their close friendship with Evelyn Isom, who is godmother to their son.

We extend to them both a special Beaumont welcome.

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High Fashion Comes to Beaumont board, and later as president, of the Samuel Paley Early Learning Center, a division of the Federation of Jewish Agencies. She also served on the Albert Einstein Hospital Women’s Board and the Fellowship Commission and chaired an annual fund raiser which supported Libby Schwartz. Photo by Sally Randolph. voters rights and racial equality, and which featured speakers such as Danny Kaye and Leonard Bernstein.

By Sally Randolph

New resident, Libby Alexander Schwartz, is a fashionista!

With a flair for business and fashion as her passion, she built an impressive career in the political arena and in the retail world.

Born and raised in East Oak Lane and then in Elkins Park, Libby is a graduate of Girls High and the University of Pennsylvania ’66. She moved to Center City when she took her first job, working for Milton Shapp in his unsuccessful run in the Democratic primary for PA Governor in 1966.

It was an exciting time for Libby who assisted Shapp in introducing business practices and in using advertising and television in his political campaign. Libby went on to spend 20 years managing primary election campaigns for candidates James H J Tate, Hubert Humphrey, Bill Green, and others.

Then, as a lifetime fashionista, Libby decided to make her hobby her profession and entered the retail field, first with Strega, Touchés, and The Clothes Garden: jewelry, shoes, clothing, you name it. In the 90’s, she became a salesperson for Nan Duskin, an internationally known boutique that dressed Philadelphia’s high society. She later moved on to Nordstroms and was then enticed away to join Neiman Marcus, spending 19 years as a personal shopper.

For many years, Libby’s personal life revolved around being a caretaker for her aging father and uncle. Life changed for her at age 51, when she married her best friend’s uncle, Marvin Schwartz, 22 years her senior. What followed was 22 years of the “happiest days of my life” until Marvin’s death at age 94. Libby continued to live at The Hermitage but was on the list to come to Beaumont for 15 years. Now that she has come, she is delighted by the reception she received and loves relearning to play Bridge.

Throughout her career, she devoted herself to foundations that supported children. For 25 years she served on the

A New Staff Member Joins the Recreational Therapy Department

By Bernadette Bevilacqua, CTRS, CDP

March 2020 unfortunately was a time that we all remember…the commencement of COVID 19! In order to protect resident safety and adhere to the CDC guidelines, we had to close down any contact with outside vendors entering the community and to cancel group programming.

This at first presented a challenge for the Recreational Therapy Department, but we were up to the task at hand!

The first step was training and certifying Willow as a Certified Therapy Dog. A special thank you goes to the Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc. for making her official! Since being at Beaumont, Willow has made such a positive impact in supporting the residents' quality of life with her therapeutic visits. As quoted by a Health Center resident, “She brightens my day whenever I see her! She’s a perfect fit to be in a place like this. She was meant for this.”

depression, increased motor skills and self-esteem, and improvement in mobility and in an overall healthy lifestyle.

For residents with cognitive impairment, animals are a powerful intervention in soothing those who have difficulty with language and to be of comfort during times of stress.

As they say, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”, which will continue to be our motto no matter what the unpredictable future holds.

There are various benefits to pet therapy; studies show that seniors who are active and around a pet decline in health far less rapidly than someone who isn’t. Having an animal can also help to improve a person’s well-being and give new meaning to their life. Additional benefits include decreased

Willow, Therapy Dog. Photo by Bernadette Bevilacqua.

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Gadget Ballard, Senior Citizen Dog

By Marvin Weisbord. Photos by Helen (DeeDee) Ballard.

I received a letter from Gadget Ballard recently saying that he’s now 14 years old, one dog-year older than me. Gadget and I have exchanged letters for some years. Since my wife Dorothy’s dog Toto went to the Great Kennel in the Sky, Gadget’s been my best canine friend. He once sent me some Pupperoni and I offered him a beer. Now we enjoy neither. We’re a couple of old dogs aging in lock step.

CANINES of BEAUMONT

I answered Gadget’s letter, and we became pen pals. I’d always wondered how dogs think. Now I was hooked. For months I believed I was writing to an articulate dog. It took me awhile to realize that DeeDee, Gadget’s mom, caretaker, and very best friend, had with his help learned Doglish. She could translate into English his arfs, woofs, and growls, making possible our extended dialogue. Gadget lived a fur-raising life.

He buried bones in the yard, stole food from the table, tipped over dishes, was bitten on the nose by a beetle, spooked by a snapping turtle, and insulted when blamed for a mess made by his cousin Peanut.

Gadget had boundless curiosity. He confronted me with serious questions. Why, for example, do bunnies get credit for Easter eggs? Won’t chickens be angry? I researched that and learned that in Switzerland cuckoos deliver Easter eggs as do foxes in rural Germany. Chickens have good reasons to be upset. Gadget dubbed the bringer of holiday eggs the “Easter Chicken.” That he should care so much revealed his innate empathy for animal life that we humans rarely match.

With Gadget’s permission DeeDee translated and illustrated 16 of his letters to me, and in 2018 we created a book called “Gadget Speaks Out.” Gadget became Beaumont’s first published dog. (The book may be in the library.)

Marvin Weisbord in his Norwegian sweater holding Gadget working with DeeDee Ballard.

These days Gadget, like all of us old dogs, spends a lot of time napping.

He has glaucoma and his amazing ears don’t work so well. He needs a special diet that he hates. He’d rather eat chocolate Easter eggs. Still, you can find him walking with DeeDee every day (or being tugged) from Pond Lane to Pasture. You can count on him for a The book “Gadget Speaks Out” snuggle and a lick on the hand. He never learned to drive but he still likes car rides. And when he wants to, he can rev up his short, sticklike legs and outrun me any day of the week. I envy that!

Gadget lives with his mom, DeeDee Ballard, on Pond Lane.

She adopted him from Main Line Animal Rescue. He’s 75% terrier and 25% Chihuahua, with mostly black fur, a stubby tail and white face, chest, and front legs. He’s strongwilled, quirky and, despite his age, still living a dog’s life. As a Beaumont pooch, that promises limitless affection, walks, naps, meals, playmates, and running room. Sadly, he doesn’t play much with his squeaky red lobster. He’d rather watch life on Pond Lane from his crate in DeeDee’s car.

I've enjoyed a special bond with Gadget. It began one wintry evening as Dorothy, DeeDee, and I spent a quiet evening by the fireplace. Gadget lazed in his dog bed. Suddenly, he leapt up, bounded across the room and into my lap. I considered it a special treat to be chosen. (After all, Dorothy is the dog person in our family.) A week later I received a letter from Gadget. He confessed—to Dorothy’s relief—that it wasn’t me that got to him but rather my blue-and-white, hand knit Norwegian sweater. It was a gift from folks I had worked with in the far north. I was impressed that Gadget had such discerning taste in cold weather garb.

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