The Mansion Comes Alive In a Taste of Beaumont - Autumn Returns
A lovely September evening at Beaumont filled our lives with friends, future residents, food, and fantasy. Through the intensive planning of the Marketing Committee, headed by Audrey Walsh, and of the Food and Beverage Department, headed by Zack Margolis, an imaginative trip on The Beaumont Express took us out of our everyday life.
set throughout the Mansion dining rooms. Staff was serving made-to-order pastas, creating oriental stir frys, mixing and matching nibbles of all sizes and shapes and tastes, and filling containers with ice cream.
Details were well thought out, from the valet parking, to the conductor’s tours of homes, to the wine selections paired with food selections, to tables
who spoke about the reasons they might choose Beaumont, and what factors Beaumont should focus upon in assuring continued growth and increased interest.
Prospective residents were welcomed and given personalized tours of villas and apartments. A young talented opera singer from School of Performing Arts, Joshua Berg, filled the music room with his arias and explosive voice. A mime moved throughout the rooms encouraging smiles and laughter. Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross shared their talents and gave expected advice. Joyce Randolph created the magic of origami.
The event included a volunteer focus group of men and women interested in Beaumont
The event was also a special way for us to mix and mingle, share our Beaumont story and lives, encourage interest in our community and, above all, eat and drink the most delicious and tasty specialties, created by Chef John and his staff, from Germany, Asia, France, Italy, South America, and, of course, Philly. It was a taste of Beaumont, in every sense of the word.
We are deeply grateful to our administration and the entire dining staff for their hard work and success.
Cheers!
Smiles with Mime, Ben Franklin, and Caitlin Gardner
Opera performance by Joshua Berg
Guests welcomed to The Beaumont Express
Food from around the world
Balloon and champagne cheer with Paige Welby
The Mansion Comes Alive In a Taste of Beaumont - Autumn Returns
(Continued)
The Finishing (French) Touch
Our community has watched the year-long renovation of the Aeolian organ that, in 1913, William Austin had installed in his new library along with his large book collection. Restoration, regilding, and reinstallation of the pipes was completed this spring. In June, July and August, the Italian walnut organ case was restored - the finishing touch. Kevin Chun, who had restored our organ in 1989, returned to The Music Room with his assistant, Seth Fitzgerald, for many long weekends to repair, clean, and restore the unique French polish that brings the wood to life.
The team took a “museum approach” to the project in order to create a patina on the wood that shows care for 110 years, but not cleansing.
First, cracks and splits in the wood from aging or unstable humidity conditions, especially drying, were repaired by
humidifying the wood, drawing the cracks closed, and if necessary, adding support such as a dowel, or veneer, or support to reduce stress at a break.
Next, accumulated dirt and dust were removed with machines, then by gentle solvents. Color variations, due to sun exposure, appeared. Dewaxing followed with a specialized combination of solvents that Kevin created.
Finally, the team started the slow, specialized method of French polishing the wood. They applied between 8 to 10 layers of thin oils with a carefully wrapped wad of cotton called a fad. The stained shellac then crystallized and formed an optical sheen that should last another 100 years! And how unique that Kevin mixed the stains by hand in a mortar and pestle brought by grandfather when he came from China.
As you admire this final project, be sure to look up to the star above the organ. Kevin created a unique final gilding where there is a higher carat of gold on the front part of the star and a lower carat on the beams that extend from the center for full 3D effect. Spectacular, final touch.
Kevin Chun in the midst of the restoration
Wooden mortar and pestle used by Kevin’s grandfather
Joyce Randolph creates origami in The Asia Room. Residents and guests enjoy dining and sharing experiences.
Staff shares in the excitement.
Ballet X
In October, residents were introduced to Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet ensemble, Ballet X. Led by Rehearsal Director & Community Liaison, Keeland Whitmore, and CoFounder & Artistic and Executive Director, Christine Cox, we witnessed the creation of new ballets in real time. Using two audience-suggested emotions - calm and falling in love - four dancers transformed those words into movement, beauty, and artistry. We saw the interaction between dancers and Director Whitmore as he choreographed the brief pieces and we learned how the experience felt from “Inside the Mind of a Dancer.” It was captivating! We thank residents, Janet and Jim Averill, and Louise Reed, who have been supporters of Ballet X for many years, for bringing such artistry to Beaumont.
Treasures of Beaumont
Open your eyes. Sit for a few minutes. Take a leisurely walk. That’s what we learned in October as resident Jane Ruffin shared her photography that captures the beauty of Beaumont. From snow covering the rooftops, to spring flower buds on the wood’s floor, to hummingbirds enjoying summer flowers, to birds sharing autumn berries, Jane brought the flora and fauna that surrounds us into our sight. Here are just a few of her photos of our home for us to treasure. s to treasure.
Inside the Mind of a Dancer performance
Ruby-throated Hummingbird at salvia
House Wren with moth caterpillar
Cedar Waxwing
Mallard Male-wing flap
Chickadee with fluff for nest
Robin eating crab apple fruit
Fun and Fitness
The past few months have been very active in the Fitness Center. Residents came out for the Poker Walk with the chance to create a winning poker hand by walking around the courtyard path. The winner, Lucia Spaventa, had a Royal Flush, with a strong Full House by Barry Rorer, in 2d place.
Other residents took the Morse Code Challenge which required using Morse Code to decipher 12 clues about the secret locations of Agent Phantom. A new Beaumont sweatshirt was the reward. It was . ._ . .._ _.
Monthly chair dancing returned with people moving and grooving to songs from different eras. Cardio drumming blasted in the exercise room for eight weeks.
The Harvest Health Fair, organized by Health Services, Wellness, and Fitness teams, filled the Beaumont Room with vendors, a Dancing Queen routine by residents, snacks, water taste tests, and an emotional support skunk - really! Of course, we had heart-healthy snacks and mocktails. What a way to stay active, healthy, and happy!
Dorothy Raimondo gets Barry Rorer started on the Poker Walk.
Diana DiMeglio leads residents in cardio drumming.
Bette Peterson signs in for fun at the Residents Health Fair.
Jack Collett and Norma Fabian take raffle chances.
Amy, Dorothy, and Diana have a great time, too!
Amy Singh creates smoothie treats.
Memory Making in the Kitchen
The Recreational Therapy Department has teamed up with Food and Beverage Director, Zack Margolis, to create monthly culinary experiences for the Health Center residents. Zack arrives at the Health Center Lounge with ingredients for a fun-filled cooking class. Residents explore new ingredients, test seasonal flavors, and enhance their fine motor skills with various cooking techniques. For Mexican flair, everyone flattened fresh corn tortillas and mixed together chicken tacos. For an Italian theme, they rolled fresh-made pasta, stirred sauces, and twisted pretzels. Zack entertained with stories of his time in Italy when he was studying hospitality management at Widener University
Ice cream was a summer treat and pizza bagels warmed in the ovens for fall. As an autumn finale - salted caramel apple krispy treats.
This is a special collaboration to support the residents’ quality of life and share the joy of exploring creative activity. It’s more than just preparing a meal; it’s about enhancing their fulfillment in creating a dish made with their own hands. Residents share meals and memories while building connections with their peers and enrich their own lives. These culinary connections are as heartfelt as the meals - and smiles - they create!
House Committee Update
There are several updated looks to Beaumont. In Liseter Garden, new cushions with a wood base and thick foam pads in a blue and green striped pattern are on the chairs. When the weather is nice, residents and guests can enjoy the garden’s sun and shade, birds and flowers.
Exotic Foliage is now providing spectacular monthly orchid arrangements for the front lobby. Irene Krause cares for the fresh flowers and orchids placed in the hallways and public spaces.
After much hard work and long hours, the Committee presented the newly decorated Bistro. The walls are freshly painted with a soft yellow and a perfect green
to complement the 12 new canvas prints. Candle lights are placed on each table and new sconces are spaced on the walls. Lowered ceiling lighting creates an ambiance of comfort and friendship while dining.
Please feel free to email or call Nancy Sharp to share your comments and ideas to brighten our Beaumont home.
Zack makes pasta and tells great stories.
Residents enjoy cooking once again.
Pizza bagels warm the kitchen.
Bistro is brightened and updated.
Orchids bring beauty to the Beaumont lobby.
Our Community Gathers
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby)
During the past several months, although the weather was more warm than it was crisp, our lives have started over at Beaumont with welcoming events, unique artistic performances, dining extravaganzas, and fun-filled gatherings for residents and staff. Here are some photos as memories of the change of seasons.
Veterans’
Welcome Home Dinner, October 22
Wine
Day Lunch, November 11
Courtyard Campfire, November 13
Tasting with Zack
Jeff White, Donna White, and Dee Welge enjoy the dinner.
Monthly wine tastings with Zack
The room is filled with friendship and good food.
Luncheon honorees in The Music Room
Frank Kampas and Dorothy Clapham warm up with hot dogs and S’mores.
Joe Peduzzi and guests thank Chef John and crew.
Each resident is honored with plaque and recognition for service.
Wait staff receives applause and thanks.
Jenny Sands keeps wine glasses full.
Stan Baiman and Rich Kihlstrom start the evening.
Halloween Spook-tacular that Everyone Enjoyed
Children of our staff arrived on a Sunday afternoon to frightful organ tunes and treats and snacks set up in the Beaumont Room. Door-to-door visits allowed 35 apartment residents to welcome princesses, superheroes and a cast of cute and scary characters. The children had fun seeing where their parents/grandparents work, collecting huge bags of treats, coloring scary pictures, and staying safe for holiday fun.
Residents tricked and treated in The Music Room on Halloween afternoon in various outfits and paraphernalia. Staff joined in with great costumes to help serve up candy, cookies, nibbles and drinks. The events were coordinated with Resident Services, Human Resources, and Culinary Team.
Lauren Scott and Cathy Leahy
Diana DiMeglio and son Julian Rudy Lagasca with grandchildren
Barbara Cooney and Virginia Campbell-Francis
Christy Lane and daughters
Richard Lange as The Beaumont Organ
Margolis family
Louise Hughes and Caitlin Gardner
Playboy Bunny (Solomon)
Diana DiMeglio, Dorothy Raimondo, Amy Singh
DeeDee Ralph’s niece, grand nieces and grand nephew
Eileen Ware and Marjorie Billington
Welcome Catherine Herrmann
What an interesting life Catherine Herrmann has. Having moved into her Baldwin apartment just this summer, she has already found her mahjong group, the library where she enjoys reading and doing the puzzles, walking in Wheeler woods and around our community, and she is across the street from Harriton High School where her granddaughter plays basketball and sneaks in for an overnight in the second bedroom.
Catherine moved from Bala Cynwyd, her home of 53 years. Her husband Mark, an engineer by education, had been in real estate development and renovation of homes along the Main Line. He passed away in 2022, so Catherine made the decision, along with her two children and three grandchildren who live nearby, to sell her home and chose Beaumont for the people she had met that made her feel welcome. She herself just retired from the practice of law in July 2024. Her speciality was workers’ compensation which combined her love of law and her medical training. Her initial degree was from Gwynedd Mercy College where she earned an Associate Degree in Nursing. She went on to Penn and earned a BSN in 1968. Because she enjoys going to school, she earned a MS in Health Administration from St. Joseph’s University in 1982 and her JD from Temple School of Law in 1991. She loved her legal work and partnering with her husband as they renovated homes working with designers and contractors. Now, without the burdens of home ownership, Catherine can continue to attend Harriton basketball games, travel to her Brigantine shore house, bake cookies with her younger grandson, wait for the apple blossoms outside her apartment to bloom in the spring, and become part of our Beaumont family. Welcome.
Welcome Leslie and George McCracken
A whirlwind year is drawing to a happy close for the McCrackens as they are now moved into their renovated villa, unpacking boxes and getting to know their Beaumont neighbors. They come from Dallas, Texas where they lived for almost 60 years. George was a Professor of Pediatric Infectious Disease at UT-Southwestern Medical School, having graduated from Williams College and Cornell Medical School. His career has been in teaching and training medical professionals from around the world in the diagnosis, care and treatment of children. As Professor Emeritus, he maintains strong personal ties to his many, many students. He co-founded the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. As a special hobby, he enjoyed growing orchids in their Dallas home.
Leslie is originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada but she boldly moved to New York City/Cornell Nursing School where she met George. After their marriage and move to Dallas, she added a real estate license and worked in that industry for many successful years. Her joy is breeding and training Portuguese Water Dogs, mostly for the love of working with dogs, but also for the enjoyment of competing in obedience, conformation, tracking, agility and water trials. George and Leslie have two children, three grandchildren, and a second home on Dog Lake in Vermont. It was their
children who decided it was time for them to move to be closer to the Philadelphia area and, after visiting numerous other communities, found that Beaumont had not only the best facilities and home options but also the most dog-friendly and neighborly feeling. Now that they are here, George and Leslie look forward to making new friends, enjoying their family nearby, celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on December 29th, and finding other cribbage players. After such big changes in one year, it is time to enjoy being welcomed to Beaumont!
Catherine Herrmann
George and Leslie McCracken
Activities Fill Our Days
“It’s the first day of Autumn! A time of hot chocolatey mornings, and toasty marshmallow evenings, and best of all, leaping into leaves.” — Winnie the Pooh
On Tour Again - RagTag Band
On a rainy September afternoon Beaumont was brightened by the return of The RagTag Folk Band. The 8-member ensemble played tunes of our younger years and the audience joined in the sing-alongs. Guitars were accompanied by a banjo made in Vietnam and a set of percussion bells, shakers, drum, tambourine and washboard. We had clarinet solos.
It was our own personal Eras Tour, even back to the ‘50s when Bunny Solomon sang her own version of Over the Rainbow. Step aside, Judy Garland! A rousing finale of When the Saints Go Marching In ended the afternoon with hopes that the Band will play again.
“It had stopped raining.”
“First, I got myself born.”
“It always started at a low rumble, drifting through our bedroom wall.”
“There was an old Jew who lived at the site of the old synagogue up on Chicken Hill in the town of Pottstown, PA…”
“Coronado Island, California, May 1966.”
Don’t these opening sentences excite your curiosity to pick up a book and read more? Then join The Beaumont Book Club. Residents, and future residents, get together to broaden their horizons and share opinions and insights about selected books - fiction, nonfiction, memoirs,
Featured Canine Resident - Poppy Wheeler
Poppy is a HavaPoo (part Havanese, part Poodle) but she prefers to avoid the “poo” designation. She is best known as Chief Canine Officer (CCO) Emeritus as she served alongside her mother, Leslie, on a Beaumont Board. Poppy’s job was to check all treat jars and oversee the office staff at work. However, there was one embarrassing moment during her tenure when she made a mistake in the president’s office during a tedious board meeting. Nonetheless, she has been gifted a monogrammed
biographies, and more. The group meets from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Club Room on the first Wednesday of the month from October to June, with an annual dinner in January. Here is the Book List for the months ahead:
This is Happiness by Niall Williams. February 5
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. March 5
Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport that Changed Their Lives Forever by Kareem Rosser. April 2
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. May 7 The Women by Kristen Hannah. June 4
For more information, contact Barbara Billings or Harriette Goldenberg.
water bowl, which remains in the front office for daily visits.
CANINES of BEAUMONT
Poppy’s general deportment is good. She is a well-behaved, quiet companion although is known to bark up a storm when in her watchdog mode monitoring activity on Pond Lane. Poppy’s happiest times are playing with her halfsister, Zoe Vinick, and going on road trips. She can best be described as energetic, impatient, smart as a whip, and of course, spoiled. That last bit of information came directly from the one who knows her best and is responsible - her mother Leslie!
Beaumont Book Club News
Poppy
Rag Tag Band
Bunny Solomon belts it out!
Staff Appreciation
iN memory of SharoN haNNibal June 9, 1964 - October 6, 2024
We pay tribute to Sharon Hannibal, a beloved member of our Beaumont family for 22 years. Sharon was a positive and spiritual person with an infectious smile and laughter. She was known for singing and dancing as she worked. She had a big heart and was always willing to help a friend, co-worker, or resident. She was always the first person to welcome new Housekeeping staff members and would often take them under her wing and make sure they were successful at their job. She was first to plan a departmental potluck party or social event with co-workers and friends.
Nick Sheen Retirement
In September, after 24 years of service, Nick Sheen, in the Maintenance Department, retired. He always had a smile and hello, seen around Beaumont painting, changing light bulbs, hanging pictures, or fixing broken things. No job was too big or too small. We will miss his pleasant demeanor and expertise as he begins his well deserved retirement. Thank you, Nick, from everyone here at Beaumont.
Staff Health Fair
At her funeral, Joe Peduzzi recounted that we had a resident who had no eyebrows and poor vision. Sharon made time every morning to stop in before her shift and pencil in her eyebrows. This was her compassionate and giving nature.
Sharon was more than an employee. She was, and will always be, part of our resident and staff family. Sharon will be missed by everyone that she touched in her life.
The Beaumont Room opened up for staff on a Tuesday afternoon to stop in and gather gifts from vendors, relax with a massage, taste test waters, and enjoy good food and time with coworkers. Sponsored by Human Resources, Fitness and Culinary Teams, it was a wonderful way to feel good and be appreciated for all the hard work.
Sharon Hannibal
Nick with Paige Welby and Caitlin Gardner
Nick with Housekeeping Team
Lauren Scott, Dee Dee Ralph, Margrit Stepanian, Caitlin Gardner, Mary Caulder, Sonya Blackwood
Vicky Gjergo, Jeremy Varnis, and Sharon Anderson giving a massage.
Courtney Henry, Lauren Scott, Eric Coyle, Michael DiDomenico and Mark Hritz
Folk Music Comes to Beaumont
Residents were entertained twice this season with performances by professional folk artists who have inspired and encouraged our own Vick Kelly in his retirement career of songwriting. Through his friendship with, and mentorship by Chuck Anderson, playing guitar, Vick was encouraged to put his thoughts and feelings into lyrics and he has been writing his own songs ever since. He and his wife Sharon soon joined the internet community of songwriters where they found The Mammals and Lucy Kaplansky.
Vick and Sharon took three summer trips to Sad Songs Summer Camp, hosted by The Milk Carton Kids in the Catskills, where they learned so much from guest instructors, Ruthy Ungar and Mike Merenda, two members of The Mammals. Vick also found Lucy Kaplansky’s performances online and, with deep admiration for her vocals and stories put to music, has created a friendship and opportunity to bring her performance to us.
We thank Vick and Sharon’s persistence and support in arranging for these artists to come to Beaumont to share their songs.
Mike and Ruthy Folk Duo
Married singer-songwriter
duo Mike Merenda and Ruthy Ungar wowed us with bright, cheery songs and moved us to tears with songs about death and loss. Ruthy played her fiddle, ukulele, and guitar while Mike played guitar and banjo. Their harmonies were as lovely as their lyrics, especially Maple Leaf which is printed here for all to enjoy. Mike and Ruthy are the core of a band named The Mammals. Their songs and lyrics resonate with the folk traditions of Pete Seeger with whom they have performed. They intertwined their songs with stories to create a warm, friendly, personal atmosphere. One story was of Ruthy’s father, Jay Unger, who is best known for his composition Ashokan Farewell (1982) selected as the theme to the Ken Burns 1990 documentary The Civil War. Ruthy’s fiddle rendition was itself tear-worthy. As the first professional, touring folk artists to perform at Beaumont, they were a resounding success.
Lucy Kaplansky
Maple Leaf
I wanna go like the maple leaf, big and red and blazin’. Fall down on the ground in a pile with my friends And feed the next generation.
I don’t wanna go like the buffalo, cut from the pack when I get too slow.
I may not be agile, but I’ll be beautiful when I’m fragile.
And I wanna go like the ocean waves, it's one of my dying wishes.
Take my song back out to the sea and feed it to the little fishes.
I don’t wanna fade like a big parade, Just a street full of trash in the evening shade. I’ve got a pretty loud spirit and if you listen you just might hear it.
I don’t wanna be bent or broken.
If the job of a singer-songwriter is to entertain by making us think and feel different emotions, Lucy Kaplansky is a true success. Her lovely vocals, terrific guitar playing, and versatility at the piano and mandolin brought laughter, and tears, to an appreciative Beaumont Room audience.
As we learned from her personal story between songs, Lucy grew up in Chicago influenced by her mathematician father’s musical abilities and humor, but took off for New York City after high school and landed in the Greenwich Village world of folk music and songwriting. While she loved her singing life, she dropped it all to pursue a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and worked for many years with mentally ill adults. But then, renowned artist, Shawn Colvin, reached out to Lucy, they sang together again, and she returned to music full time in the mid 1990’s. Her words and songs brought warmth and friendship on a November afternoon.
I don’t wanna be caught dead smokin’. The world is a colorful place to be And I wanna be part of that rainbow for as long as I can be.
So when they’re singing happy birthday and your cake’s got a crowd of candles, I hope you’ve got a lot of gratitude and all the love you can handle.
Let’s give a cheer for another year.
Let’s raise a glass while we’re all still here.
This world’ll keep spinnin’ and if my eyes are open then I think I'm winnin’.
I wanna fly like a maple leaf. I wanna fly.
The Mammals. Words and Music by Ruth Ungar Merenda © Shake Sugaree Music, ASCAP
Lucy Kaplansky
Ruthy and Mike rehearse in The Music Room.
by Joe Peduzzi
Beaumont begins the renewal of our Health Center in 2025. The demand for high-quality healthcare and comfortable living conditions in skilled nursing facilities is increasing and supports a comprehensive refurbishment to significantly enhance the quality of life for residents and improve operational efficiency for staff.
Resident rooms are a personal sanctuary. The new rooms are designed to promote comfort, privacy and a sense of belonging. Incorporating soft, neutral colors, natural light, and personalized decor will create a welcoming atmosphere. Each room will have the flexibility to allow the resident to arrange a space according to personal preference and need. Features of the rooms will include beds that can be easily adjusted for comfort and accessibility, smart technology and entertainment systems, and safety measures of handrails, non-slip flooring, and emergency call systems.
The refurbishment of resident bathrooms will focus on functionality, accessibility and comfort. Bathrooms will comply with ADA standards to accommodate residents with varying levels of mobility. There will be walk-in showers with a zero-threshold, grab bars, built-in seating, and comfort height toilets. Bright, adjustable lighting will help residents with vision impairments.
A Beaumont Moment
Activity spaces are designed to foster engagement and connection and to encourage social interaction and mental stimulation. Flexible layouts allow for a variety of activities from group exercises to arts and crafts. Technology for virtual events and online engagements is planned. The design has incorporated outdoor spaces and gardens for fresh air and nature-related activities.
A welcoming space for visits with family is included in the new design. A family room will feel inviting and comfortable to encourage families to spend time with their loved one.
A well designed and appointed dining room will foster socialization and enhance mealtime enjoyment. We know that nourishing one’s body and spirit is an important part of meeting the needs of our residents as they age.
Refurbishing our Health Center into a state-of-theart, comfortable, engaging, and safe environment is an investment in the well-being of our residents and their families. With new resident rooms, bathrooms, activity spaces, family rooms and dining areas, Beaumont will improve the quality of care, enhance the overall living experience for residents and assure dignity, independence, and community. These modernizations are essential for meeting the needs and expectations of today’s- and tomorrow’s - residents.
In Memoriam
rhea maNDell October 12, 2024
louiSe “DeDe” Shafer October 8, 2024
Dr. aNThoNy "ToNy" campolo November 19, 2024
The Beaumont Community extends deepest sympathy to their families and friends.
“Autumn
leaves don’t fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.”
— Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing
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 Catherine Wylonis
Photo Editor Linda Madara
Quality Control
Production
Cathy Leahy
Articus, Ltd.
Contributing Writers DeeDee Ballard, Bernadette Bevilacqua, Barbara Billings, Mary Caulder, Diana DiMeglio, Vick Kelly, Richard Lange, DeeDee Ralph, Nancy Sharp
Photographs by Linda Madara, Jane Ruffin, Amy Singh, Vick Kelly, Richard Lange, Bernadette Bevilacqua, DeeDee Ballard, DeeDee Ralph, Diana DiMeglio