V o lume T h i rt y S even , N umber 9
N ovember /D ecember 2023
Beaumont Halloween Dance Party - A Howling Success! Article by David Randolph. Photos by Linda Madara.
On the last Friday in October, as darkness set in, our extraordinary Beaumont Music Room became an amateur discotheque, complete with blacklight, colored lights revolving over our ceiling murals, resident dancers with streamers and rhythm sticks, and a star appearance by Pelle, The Dancing Dog!
1st row: Lucia Spaventa, Dorothy Clapham, Helen Vinick, David Randolph, 2nd row: Dave Prewitt, Margaret Balamuth
else but at a Beaumont party can one dance with a beautiful, ghostly white Bichon Frise, and not draw alarmed looks and stares?
The beauty of this Beaumont dance tradition is that one didn’t have to dance at all to have fun and celebrate with new old friends. My celebrated dance partner, Bunny Solomon, whirled colored streamers in time with the raucous music, while on the other side of the Music Room, Dilip Das and Claude deBotton banged on rhythm sticks in time to classics like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.
Richard Lange directing the dancers with a streamer.
Our Halloween maître-d' and Master of Ceremonies, Richard Lange, began the dance with a solo rendering of scary organ music played on our magnificent, century-old organ, then switched to every Halloween themed song imaginable from the 1950’s forward, which he had recorded and mastered onto an original tape. One of our 40 resident guests remarked that it just made them want to shine a flashlight under their chin, look up at the skylights, and howl towards the rising full moon! As for myself, I did howl, but only during my own silly dance with half a dozen other like-minded dancers including Helen Vinick and Dottie Clapham, while leaping about to Warren Zevon’s 1978 classic - “Werewolves of London”. Where
This entirely original, residentled Beaumont musical tradition will continue this winter, with participants calling for a Can-Can Dance - with cans of food and other requested necessities being collected for ElderNet of Lower Merion, a local social services organization of which Beaumont is a proud corporate sponsor.
Barbara Pottish and Bunny Solomon with rhythm sticks.
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Party on Beaumont!
Beaumont Hosts a “Get to Know Us” Party Article and Photos by Linda Madara.
The response of recent Beaumont hosted focus groups was that what potential residents most want is to meet the residents, seeing where and how they live…not an easy assignment!
It was decided that a grand Sunday afternoon party would be the perfect opportunity. Audrey Walsh, Director of Marketing, and over 100 resident volunteers accepted the challenge with enthusiasm. The planning and execution were flawless.
circle, the tables adorned with chrysanthemums and pumpkins.
Over 50 visitors, some Future Residents, and others just curious, were greeted Cathy Leahy and Eta Glassman greeting guests. by welcoming residents. Name tags were handed out and the tours began everywhere; the stately interior of the Mansion (and organ), Library, Arts and Crafts Room, Fitness Center, and then indoor visits to apartments and villas. The only hitch that afternoon was a gusting 25 mph wind which, when not attacking the carefully Charlie Koch, Director of Security, giving tours in the golf cart. decorated tables and food stations, made walking a straight line against its force a challenge…and forget hair styles! Swoosh!
Frank Slattery (left), Jim Bromley (right) speaking with a potential new resident.
By event day, the grounds, with its beautiful Edwardian Mansion were “spit and polished!” Villas and apartments hosted by their residents-owners, both as greeters and as guides, awaited guests. The golf cart, driven by Charlie Koch, Director of Security, who figuratively donned his chauffeur’s cap for the afternoon, was pressed into tour guide service.
Of course, with Beaumont’s reputation, there was food! Not just any food, but exciting food stations representing three themes — Asian, Caribbean, and Octoberfest — plus a large table boasting heavenly desserts. All were set up on the front
In the end, wind-blown looks weren’t important! It was Beaumont’s heartfelt welcome, and the residents’ smiles that guests will remember…and, yes, probably the wind and the food too!
In Memoriam
Bernice Banner October 18, 2023 Jane Lillie October 23, 2023
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
Anne Gruenberg November 4, 2023
Sheila O’Connor November 5, 2023
Hunter McMullin November 9, 2023
Members of the Beaumont Community extend deepest sympathy to their families and friends. 2
Editor
Beverly Wilson
Photo Editor
Linda Madara
Quality Control
Cathy Leahy
Production
Articus, Ltd.
Welcome Home Dinner Article and Photos by Linda Madara.
As residents return from all sorts of experiences over the summer, there is no better time than early October for a “catch-up” Welcome Home Dinner.
No one travel story stood out as either spectacular or horrifying. Everyone was happy and rested upon their return. What was the first thing the travelers were going to do, or did upon their return, besides sorting their mail? Make plans for another wonderful trip next year!
It’s always fun to be an armchair traveler and hear about the trials and tribulations (thank heavens not mine), as well as joyous memories shared by one’s traveler-friends. Surely photographs will follow.
Welcome home one and all. We are glad you are safe and well.
Guests arriving at this year’s Dinner were greeted by a spectacular setting of pale mauves, beiges, and peachy pinks with touches of rusts. It took your breath away. The centerpieces, each one different, were designed with the same material; 3 or 4 different varieties of roses, rich rust toned mums, stock, creamy hypericum berries, and yes, in October, Sweet Peas. We only see them here in the late spring/early June!
How spoiled we are when it comes to dining and food. Chef John and his staff never disappoint. The service was particularly good and there was plenty of wine making the rounds.
Sherrill Kling and Prill Bradshaw-Page
Charley and Nicky Kurz
Julie and Henry Berkowitz
Richard and Barbara Stephens
Pam McMullin
Donna White
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Ann Baruch, Bert Wolfson, Sylvia Yedinsky
Betsy Stull
Active Aging Week Festivities Article and photos by Diana Dimeglio
The Beaumont Fitness team would like to thank everyone who participated in our Active Aging Week events during the first week of October.
Active Aging Week is an annual week-long campaign aimed at celebrating and highlighting the positive aspects of aging. First launched in 2023 by the International Council on Active Aging, Active Aging Week encourages residents to not just get moving, but to get engaged. Events were planned throughout the week with a focus on the dimensions of Wellness. Here is a summary of each event: Line Dancing: A hit amongst many, line dancing promotes physical, social, and intellectual dimensions of wellness. This year during Active Aging Week we learned some of the more popular line dances at weddings. They included the Cha-Cha-Slide, Cupid Shuffle, Macarena, and Electric Slide.
card. When you reached 5 playing cards, you could either fold in your hand or keep walking to change out cards you didn’t like to get you the best chance of getting that top Poker Hand! This was our most competitive event of the week and Lauren Scott and Lucia Spaventa went home with the best Poker Hands (both had full houses).
Dance Walk: The idea behind this event was to get the body moving, but to also promote the use of our newly renovated courtyard. We hooked up our wireless Bluetooth speaker and grooved around the courtyard until we needed to use the conveniently placed benches to rest our feet! With this event we touched on the physical, social, and environmental aspects of wellness.
Game Day: Did you know that the Beaumont Fitness Center has outdoor games? Even though the putting green and bocce court have been removed, the Fitness Center still has games like ladder ball, cornhole, Jenga, Connect 4 (compliments of Resident Services), Diana Dimeglio and Maria Villanueva stacking and even Badminton. the block tower.
Name That Tune: Playing hits from the 40’s to 70’s (with a few Beach Boys songs in the mix), residents sang along to tunes of yesteryear and were challenged to name the song and artist. This event was to promote the emotional and intellectual aspects of wellness.
Promenade Party: “See & Be Seen” this was a social event to, once again, promote the usage of the Fitness Center courtyard. People admired the beautifully planted gardens while enjoying light refreshments of coffee, tea, and pastries. With this event, we targeted physical, social, & environmental dimensions of wellness.
Speed Friending: A hit from years past, this year brought a smaller more intimate gathering of residents. Residents sat across from another person at tables spread out in the Club Room and Mansion Bar. Here, they sat for 7 minutes and got to know about each other. This event was about making connections and new friends and highlighted the social, emotional, and intellectual dimensions of wellness. Poker Walk: This was our 4th Poker Walk since it’s introduction to Beaumont in 2016. We veered away from our normal course around the Villa Loops to once again bring attention to the newly designed courtyard. Residents and Staff made laps around the courtyard to earn playing cards. One lap earned you one playing Pam McMullin showing her cards earned on the walk.
Diana Dimeglio and Maria Villanueva as the block tower has fallen.
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While we don’t leave these out all the time, you can always ask to check a game out of the Fitness center if you have younger visitors to entertain! Getting outside to play with others emphasizes the physical, social, and environmental aspects of wellness.
Jeopardy: In our 3rd edition of Beaumont Jeopardy, we bolstered the intellectual and social dimensions of wellness. Our blue team was comprised of Jack Collet, Margaret Balamuth, David Randolph, & Dr. Richard Lange. The yellow team included Frank Kampas, Judy Anderson, Jeff Klein, Priscilla Bradshaw-Page, and special guest Phoebe (friend of Jeff Klein and Richard Lange). Categories included Books, National, International, Science, & Art. For the first time in our Jeopardy history, the teams tied their scores at $6600 a piece! Everyone was a winner!
The All-Beaumont Photo Show — It Started with a Question… By Linda Madara
It all started with a question and a thread. What ties us together at Beaumont? Think about it. What do we all have in common? What is the connecting “something” between Residents and Staff ?
That concept, everyone working with the same goal in mind, was the key to recently producing its exciting AllBeaumont Photo Show.
It was so easy. While waiting for the elevator before work two of the Staff were sharing pictures on their cell phones of a wedding. They happily included me when I asked to also see them. Later that day at the mailboxes, a Resident with an equal helping of enthusiasm was showing off her photographs. Of course, I “needed” to see her photos of the new great granddaughter.
Bingo! There it was…the thread! That irritatingly noisy piece of technology that we all have and are, to different degrees, thrilled by or addicted to…the ubiquitous cell phone photos!
What could we do to develop the idea? Easy! Do something allowing those with cell phone photos to share their work in a show!
Residents and Staff were encouraged to email one or two photos. Then the Art Team enlarged them to 8x10. As a final step each enlargement was mounted and backed ready to be entered into the show. Best of all, when the show comes down, the work will be returned, costfree, to the photographer who lent his/ her work for the show.
Show installation morning saw 8 very steady A-Teamers who managed to perfection the horizontal hanging of an astonishing 134 entries. It was the work
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of 80 entrants. The Staff had 46 super photographers and the Residents 34.
You could “cut the air” the excitement was so positive and palatable as the show went up. The photographs were consistently “A” quality. What an offering for a show…and most of the entrants had never shown anything anywhere before!
OK, so cell phones take wonderful photographs, but behind every cell phone is someone wanting to tell a story or hang onto a memory – 80 photographers proved this with gold stars! No wonder we are getting requests from others as to what we did and how.
To all 80 participants – “You did yourself proud! You are what made this idea work!” Thank you!
Welcome Irene & John Krause By Judy Anderson
How fortunate we residents are that John and Irene Krause chose Beaumont as their retirement community. Together they bring a wealth of medical expertise, business acumen, community volunteerism, and philanthropy to Beaumont. Irene, born and bred in Philly, graduated from South Philadelphia High School, and attended Tyler School of Art before joining the family clothing business, My Lady’s Specialty Shop. Her first marriage resulted in three children, two daughters and a son. After her husband Victor’s untimely death, Irene opened her own clothing shop, Sympatico, along with a Rya rug enterprise. Then, after a second marriage, Irene created yet another business, a home health and domestic employment service that serviced clients from Boston to Delray, Florida. She operated that business for twenty-two years. Tragedy struck again when she lost her second husband, but she eventually met John, a widower. Together they blended a family of five children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. During this time Irene earned a degree as an aesthetician practicing first in John’s office and then with Dr. Sherman Leis for fourteen years after John retired. Irene has also served as President of the Junior Chapter of Hebrew University in Philadelphia, President of Rolling Hill Hospital Auxiliary, as well as being an active volunteer at Yorktown Home of the Aged. In her “free time” (as if there is any?) Irene enjoys bridge, knitting, crocheting, beadwork, and other assorted art projects, and reading.
a general surgeon. He served in the Air Force and started a residence in plastic surgery at Columbia after his discharge. He then practiced plastic surgery in New Jersey for thirty-five years. He was the recipient Irene and John Krause. Photo by Linda Madara. of many honors and awards as well as serving as President of the West Jersey Medical Society, President of the New Jersey Society of Plastic Surgeons, President of Medicine of NJ, President of the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, President of the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey, President of the Society of Surgeons of New Jersey, Chief of Plastic Surgery at WJH (now Virtua), Chief of Surgery at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (Camden, NJ), and Health Inspector of Haddonfield, NJ. Despite not having much free time, John became an avid photographer contributing many cover photographs to the Medical Society of New Jersey publication. He has been an outdoorsman enjoying camping and hiking and loves reading while listening to classical music.
As you welcome these two highly accomplished new residents, you might want to ask Irene about her relationship to Bad Ass Honey.
John, a New Yorker, was born and educated in Queens until he started medical school at Cornell, graduating as
David Kim’s Visit: An Afternoon of Magic! By Linda Madara
this rare, precious Guadagnini violin given to the orchestra by Beaumont resident, Eugene Calabi, how it was the love of his life, and what an honor it was to play Burchard Tang (viola) and his wife Priscilla Lee (cello) such an extra special instrument.
The Philadelphia Orchestra is world renowned and rightly so! It boasts some of the most gifted and dedicated musicians playing and teaching today. Music is their life and we in the audience are the fortunate beneficiaries. David Kim is one of those extra special musicians from the orchestra holding the position of Concertmaster. He is especially admired for the recitals he generously gives at communities like Beaumont where his enraptured audiences, often older or handicapped, swell performance rooms to overflowing.
The afternoon’s program included two orchestra member friends, Burchard Tang (viola) and his wife Priscilla Lee (cello). A standing ovation and cheers ended this exciting musical occasion. Afterward, there was the time to meet and personally thank David for his wonderful musical gift that he shared with us.
This year’s autumn visit to Beaumont (how incredibly lucky we are to host him), new Beaumont resident, Richard Smoot, a strong supporter of the orchestra and a personal friend of David and his family, gave the introduction. Gently and lovingly displaying his violin, David then spoke of 6
The Raven By Lauren Taylor On October 31, we played the movie The Raven starring Vincent Price outside in the Liseter garden. This poem is siphoned from the Raven by Edgar Allen Poe. Nevermore! Thought I …. tap, tap, tapping my weather app - ugh I swore.
The Clothiers, Sir Richard, and his guest, Yay, they have come at my behest.
Nevermore! Thought I … wrap, wrap, wrapping blankets galore. The temperature was dropping,
Mrs. Rome and Dr. Pearne,
Oh shoot…. did the popcorn start to burn?
The outdoor movie will be flopping.
Mrs. Rubin and Steigerwalt soon showed face.
Should we go ahead?
It is fair to say I love this place.
My thoughts I dread.
Mrs. Victor flits in showing support,
Tell me truly I implore,
Wow, this group has wonderful rapport.
Why should I care about Lenore?
The movie plays and then ends to much applause.
Eagerly I wished the morrow,
I thank them all for supporting my cause.
At least then I could end my sorrow.
Once upon the event clear, with my head at ease, I sat divining,
Alas, the day broke, All Hallows’ Eve.
The sun bright, the air crisp - did my eyes deceive?
Concluding that the Raven is beguiling.
The Raven will play! No horror, just fun.
I thank Lenore, but ponder… Nevermore?
How could I have panicked and become undone?
I engage in guessing, this and more.
Thoughts and ideas, so much to explore.
Forthwith preparations - Oh Mark (Hritz)?
So as the violet evening hues extinguish,
Please encircle the trees with glistening spark.
one last thought have I to languish,
Ethereal effervescence then permeates the (Liseter) garden.
That something new is yes a chore,
My resolve for the evening begins to harden.
Nonetheless, diverting shall be forevermore!
I had the candy, the cider, and the popcorn, All was prepared, the evening was borne. But who will arrive?
Who will show their resolve? As I opened wide the garden door,
My heart took flight and began to soar. Dr. Kampus first appears,
Bundled head to toe with good cheer.
Then Mrs. Balamuth, Vinick, Campolo, and Riley, Alas, I am becoming all too smiley.
Huddled moviegoers. Photo by Lauren Taylor.
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Skye Fabian — A Hoover Expert
CANINES of BEAUMONT
By Helen Ballard
Skye, a lovely black spaniel, is the 8 yr. old canine daughter of Norma Fabian. She was rescued from a puppy mill having spent her first 5 years in an exhausted state producing countless litters. When no longer a money maker she was given up for adoption and landed in paradise at 57 Pasture Lane. Having no knowledge canine creature comforts even existed and certainly having never experienced them, it took her only a nano second to settle happily into her new quarters. Good meals, comfy beds, osso bucco bones to chew on and other delectable treats to savor... what more could any dog ask for? Furthermore, having never had the opportunity to make friends, either canine or human, she was thrilled to have a canine pal [Raleigh Sparkman] living across the street, as well as Mote Howard, the endless dispenser of treats.
We know that dogs have a very acute sense of smell and Skye excels in this area! She can detect the tiniest crumb from a great distance and will make the effort to find it no matter where it is. She doesn’t give up easily. Had Skye had the proper training she could have been a registered Skye Fabian. Photo by Helen Ballard. K-9 sniffer dog.
Now it may seem like Skye is perfect in every way but that wouldn't be quite true. Like all of us, canine and human alike, there is usually something that could be construed as a negative and Skye is no exception. She can be very stubborn and pretend not to hear you when you are only three feet away, especially when monitoring the chipmunk activity in her garden. That, however, is a minor annoyance. Her biggest flaw is her obsession with food. She is possessed by all things edible. During her puppy mill days, she never enjoyed decent food and with only one meal a day she was always hungry.
On your next walk down Pasture Lane stop and greet Skye who is often out front on a long lead basking in the warmth of the sun while monitoring Pasture Lane activity. If the weather is cold and unpleasant, she might be found indoors on the sofa watching TV. She particularly enjoys National Geographic nature shows. Wherever she is she'll be delighted to see you and accept a pat on the head, a belly rub, a scratch behind the ears and, of course, any and all treats!
Skye is a very sweet affectionate dog.... friendly with everyone old and young, 4-legged or 2-legged. If she wants a little extra loving or attention, she will look at you with her soulful brown eyes and pat you with her paw until she gets it.
Believe it or not, this behavior does have a good side! If you entertain or have visiting grandchildren, you need only invite Skye over when they leave. She will have your floors Hoovered to perfection in the blink of an eye and nary a cracker crumb will be left on the floor. She is happy to be of help and does not charge for her services!
The Traveling Farm Visits Beaumont
Dottie Hawke feeding the calf.
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Visiting sheep and goat.