Say Hello
to White Sands La Jolla
Our residents share their stories.
Say Hello to White Sands La Jolla
CONTENTS
Where Beauty and Purpose Converge White Sands is like a peaceful oasis, close to San Diego, but away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s a little piece of paradise— located right on the beach. But it’s not just the beach that makes this community so special. It’s the close relationships built between our residents that make White Sands a truly remarkable place to live. I’ve worked at HumanGood for more than 20 years and see it every day: priceless friendships that give residents a fresh sense of meaning as they enjoy the best chapter of their lives. Our Life Plan Community allows residents to explore their passions and share new experiences, no matter what type of care they might need. Our team is dedicated and caring, always looking for creative ways to help residents live well—enjoying a life full of laughter, love and purpose. The residents of White Sands are incredible, accomplished individuals, actively shaping the experience of our community. They’re working, traveling, volunteering, socializing and learning— soaking in the best of what life has to offer. But don’t take my word for it. Read on to meet some of our residents who make the White Sands La Jolla community so special.
Gary Boriero Executive Director, White Sands La Jolla 2 WHITE SANDS LA JOLLA
PAGE 3 ON A MISSION Pat Guerrero Lois Ream PAGE 6 GET OUT AND GO Carolyn Downey Bill Eldredge Elizabeth Hamilton Ezra Bayda John Rhine Eduardo and Irene Feller PAGE 12 KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK Philip Azer, MD Edward V. Brennan, Esq. PAGE 14 KINDRED SPIRITS Janet and Mark Evans PAGE 16 COASTAL ELEGANCE MEETS CLASSIC COMFORT Chef David Bland BACK COVER At the End of the Day
ON A MISSION Giving back to help the homeless brings residents together.
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very Monday, Pat Guerrero hand-delivers hard-boiled eggs and string cheese to the homeless community in Mission Beach, California. Dubbed the “egg and cheese lady” by the people she serves, the White Sands activity director has been delivering weekly donations during her lunch break for the past eight years.
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Guerrero, also White Sands’ move-in coordinator, immediately identified resident Lois Ream as a kindred spirit when she moved into the community in 2017. “You can see from Lois’ eyes that she has this gift for ministry,” Guerrero says. “She started coming and then our friendship grew because of it. Both of our hearts just swelled.”
Lois Ream (left) and Pat Guerrero have a shared mission and bond to make a difference.
“I was thrilled when I met Pat,” echoes Ream. “I love that I was able to come on board with her to go feed the homeless and to share our love for them.”
After Ream joined Guerrero, she set out to recruit others from the community, posting fliers on the White Sands bulletin board and asking her fellow neighbors to get involved. About a year later, the word spread even further—and people were impressed. The women were featured in local newsapers and TV news shows. “At first, I was a little overwhelmed,” Guerrero says. “We were getting all kinds of phone calls and people wanting to help.” With the increased publicity, their outreach grew. Additional residents started volunteering with Ream and Guerrero, while others now drop off clothing and shoes donations, as well as hygiene kits and books. “Everybody is looking for ways to help out,” Guerrero says. “I think our residents have worked hard all their life to be able to retire and live in a beautiful place like White Sands. They do feel grateful for all that they’ve achieved and they do want to give back.” While Guerrero says she thinks of all White Sands residents as her family, she and Lois share a special connection because of their faith and mission. “Lois and my relationship, I treasure it. I don’t know what I’d do without her,” Guerrero says. “She’s my daughter now,” Ream says.
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“Everybody is looking for ways to help out.” —Pat Guerrero, White Sands activity director
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Delivering
More than
weeks per year
pairs of shoes donated
45
800
More than
2,000
pairs of socks donated
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Get Out and
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Go!
White Sands residents are on the move—whether they’re paddleboarding on the Pacific or jet-setting around the globe. Peek inside the community’s high-energy culture.
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Carolyn Downey Carolyn Downey traveled more than 200 days in 2018, but still manages to remain close with friends, new and old. When it comes to her travels around the world, Downey is happy hitting the road alone or with a friend. “I enjoy the opportunities to share what we’re seeing together,” she says. Travel for Downey used to be about activities and scenery but now she strives to understand the history and culture of people wherever she wanders. “I can travel whenever I wish,” Downey says. “I just close my apartment door and leave without a worry. As the saying goes, ‘I feel free as a bird.’ I love this lifestyle.”
“As the saying goes, ‘I feel free as a bird.’ I love this lifestyle.”
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“I like the enthusiasm, their youthfulness. The whole thing makes my day.” 8 WHITE SANDS LA JOLLA
Bill Eldredge As an officer in the Navy, Bill Eldredge served on nuclear submarines— and now he’s helping teach a new generation some in-demand skills. Volunteering twice a week as a math tutor, he shares his experience with low-income students at a local college prep school, where many of the kids he works with will be the first in their families to go to college. “It gives me purpose, you know?” Eldredge says. “I like the enthusiasm, their youthfulness. The whole thing makes my day.”
“Some people might call it spiritual... Our sessions are for everyone.” >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Elizabeth Hamilton and Ezra Bayda Meditation, along with qi gong (chi kung), is a life foundation for Elizabeth Hamilton and Ezra Bayda, who have taught at The Zen Center of San Diego since the mid-1990s. After living at White Sands for a year, they also started a small meditation group in the community, attracting about 20 people each week. “Some people might call it spiritual. Our sessions aren’t oriented toward any religion or culture. They’re for everyone. They’re sort of like the pizza crust—you can put any toppings on it you want,” Hamilton says. She is also a member of the community’s Green committee.
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John Rhine John Rhine originally picked up surfing when he lived in Hawaii in the 1960s. While he let the hobby fall to the wayside as he traveled the world for work, when he retired to Hawaii in 2005 he started surfing steadily again. These days, he uses a stand-up paddleboard that’s easier to maneuver and also teaches swimming lessons through the American Red Cross and the Special Olympics. “I’m a water-oriented person, whether it’s the ocean or the swimming pool,” Rhine says. “In particular, I enjoy working with what they call adaptive swimming, helping out people that have either physical or intellectual disabilities.”
“I’m a wateroriented person, whether it’s the ocean or the swimming pool.”
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Eduardo and Irene Feller
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Eduardo and Irene have a touch of wanderlust—and at White Sands, they aren’t alone. There’s always someone to swap stories and travel tips with amongst the friends they’ve made at the community. “We always have lively conversations. When somebody mentions X or Y, we say, ‘Oh, we’ve been there, too,’” Eduardo says. “White Sands has people that we’re simpatico with. They’re interesting people—people who have traveled the world like we have.”
“White Sands has people that we’re simpatico with... people who have traveled the world like we have.”
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KEEP UP THE
GOOD WORK DR. PHILIP AZER, MD
“I’m able to help people... and that’s my mission in life.”
Profession: Doctor Specialty: Ear, nose and throat Place of work: Private practice and local ERs Years in practice: 50 years What’s a typical workweek like for you? I’m in the office Monday and Wednesday afternoons, and the rest of the time, I back up the emer– gency rooms in my specialty. I don’t like to be in my office all the time. I’d rather be out and about in the hospitals. You never know what’s going to come through the emergency rooms. Why did you decide to continue your career? I like what I do, and it keeps me busy and keeps me stimulated, and I’m able to help people. I see really sick people in the emergency room and sometimes it makes the difference between life or death—and that’s my mission in life. How does living at White Sands help you carry out that mission? It simplifies my life tremendously. It really is a community. My wife passed away three and a half years ago, and I moved here. So I can spend my work time doing my work, and then I come home and I have nice people to be around in a very nice environment. To come here was a new phase of my life that has proven to be very excellent. I couldn’t have done anything better. How do you spend your free time at White Sands? I met a nice lady, and we’ve been going together for quite some time now. It was something I didn’t expect to happen. This really made a difference in the rest of my life as far as having a companion again. I’m a lot happier getting to know her.
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Not everyone wants to retire—so they don’t. Two residents share how they continue to pursue professional passions on their own terms. EDWARD V. BRENNAN, ESQ. Profession: Lawyer Specialty: Tax and estate planning
“I can have both a life of leisure and a life of productivity.”
Place of work: Brennan & Roland, APC Years in practice: 50 years Why did you decide to continue your career? I can do my counseling and advise on tax, estate and trust law—all things I like to do. I have a staff of very good people who complete the day-to-day routine for me, so I can work a reduced schedule. I can have both a life of leisure and a life of productivity. I think I’m pretty fortunate. The work is fulfilling. Why isn’t retirement for everyone? As people start to age and retire, they really have to work through who they are and what they like to do. I have friends who really miss going to work, and they don’t have that feeling of being important. There’s an adjustment, particularly for people who had full-time careers. How does living at White Sands make it easy for you to keep working? My wife and I can have a full life here without responsibilities. It gives you the feeling of being on a vacation. You’re in a different world—a world of added leisure, beauty and nature. It’s like having a vacation home, but you actually live there. How do you spend your free time at White Sands? I’ve been pretty involved in my profession—lectures, conferences and associations—which keeps me very busy. I’m an avid golfer. I like to read. I just get to do things I feel good about.
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A shared hunger for knowledge keeps White Sands residents committed to lifelong learning.
J
Kindred
anet and Mark Evans are always looking for opportunities to delve into something new. So when they discovered the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of California San Diego, offering a series of lectures and classes for adults ages 50 and older, they knew it was for them. More than 10 years later, they’re still hooked, attending a rich array of lectures at least two to three times a week. “It’s been a significant part of our lives,” Mark says. “It’s like being back in college, but without the homework and exams,” Janet adds.
By Committee The Lifelong Learning Committee is just one of nearly 40 resident-led committees at White Sands. And if there isn’t a committee catering to a resident’s particular interest, they can always find people who share their passion and start a new group.
Osher sponsors about two lectures every day throughout the year—the majority are presented by UCSD professors. As a retired lawyer and a member of the Osher curriculum committee, Mark also organizes about 20 lectures each year for the Law & Society course, drawing speakers from law schools in San Diego and Los Angeles. He occasionally presents a talk for this course.
The change in audience can be refreshing to speakers accustomed to teaching often-distracted college undergrads. “Our speakers tell us Osher is their favorite place to lecture,” Mark says. A few years ago, Mark helped launch the White Sands Lifelong Learning Committee with other residents who enjoy exploring new interests in a friendly, social environment. The committee taps Osher’s library of recorded lectures available on demand, as well as recorded lectures from One Day University, TED Talks and YouTube. Last year, the committee offered a series on the Byzantine Empire given by a professor who summarized 1,000 years of history in four lectures. Another wellattended series covered the art of the Dutch masters. “The interesting topics are just endless,” Janet says. Along with the recorded lectures, the committee also recruits live speakers, including some White Sands residents. Mark himself is giving a talk on the inside workings of the Supreme Court, including how it chooses which cases to hear. “We strive to enrich the intellectual life of our White Sands community. It’s very rewarding to see how engaged people are here,” Mark says. 14 WHITE SANDS LA JOLLA
Spirits
“It’s very rewarding to see how engaged people are here.” —Mark Evans
Janet and Mark Evans spark joy at White Sands through lifelong learning. WHITE WHITE SANDS SANDS LA LA JOLLA JOLLA 15 15
Coastal Elegance Classic Comfort C M
T EE
S
hef David Bland talks about his farm-to-table philosophy and the art of mixing in local California cuisine with old favorites.
As executive chef at White Sands, Chef David takes his inspiration from the world around him. The result is a beautifully handcrafted menu that supports local farms and purveyors while also providing healthy—and delicious—meals to his White Sands family of more than 300. To develop the farm-to-table options, he works in partnership with Bon Appétit Management Co., which has a deep background in taking a local, sustainable approach to dining. Why did you decide to focus on local cuisine when you were reshaping the White Sands dining program? I always look at a space and try to figure out what kind of food we should be serving. And here it’s coastal California cuisine. That’s what it looks like. That’s what it feels like. We call it coastal elegance. Where else can we get fresh rockfish? Residents love the sea bass that comes right out of this water, the local swordfish and the San Diego yellow fin tuna.
White Sands Executive Chef David Bland
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Grilled sea bass over squid ink linguini, lemon grilled asparagus and cherry tomatoes.
Fresh, mixed berry galette with cinnamon-spiked whipped cream.
Grilled peach, chicken and local greens salad with Meyer lemon vinaigrette dressing.
Classic Angus beef cheeseburger and seasoned french fries. WHITE SANDS LA JOLLA 17
“It changes things because you’re actually cooking for an individual—not just some stranger you don’t know.” —Chef David Bland, Executive Chef, White Sands La Jolla
HT E RIG TS H T ALL EDIEN INGR
1,000
meals served each day
231
distinct menus each month
30
kitchen staff
58
dining staff
12
local farm partners:
True Leaf Farms Pablo Farms Coastal Farms CA Sweet Potato Growers Ketner Farms Baloian Farms Cumcaya Farms Ocean Mist Farms Church Brothers Farms Western Pacific Produce Casas Farms Santo Produce
Every daily menu offers seasonal produce from local farms. We feature Imperfectly Delicious Produce that is taken from farms rather than going into compost. This is used in our stocks and soups, for example. We create conscious cuisine using in season ingredients that supports local farms. And the best part is that food eaten in season just tastes better. What challenges do you face creating this type of menu? It requires more flexibility, but as you get into it and your whole team is owning it, you can step back and play. It’s really a team effort. I’m talking to the farmer about what’s going to be available and what’s going out of season—making sure I know exactly what my offerings are going to be. One day we might have fresh-roasted beet salad with a Meyer lemon vinaigrette. And when it’s out of season, I’m going to change that dish completely. Then we’ll have a really great harvest of mushrooms. Four seasons of menus—it’s the best way, using every type of produce you can imagine. How do you balance classic favorites with new items? You’re going to have some people who want classic dishes and a little more old-school recipes. So we have included classic comfort foods on our weekly menus. Residents also submit recipes to me. I have a huge stack and I add them to the menus. It’s really nice because it opens communication with them. How have residents responded to the new dining program? The residents really love it. They will ask: “What’s coming out? What are you going to have for us tomorrow?” It’s really fun because they like to be surprised. I’m close to the residents, so I can get their opinions. I learn a lot from them. And it makes it like a family. It changes things because you’re actually cooking for an individual—not just some stranger you don’t know. And that’s what makes me enthusiastic about what I do.
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Our mixed berry galette made with fresh local strawberries, blackberries and raspberries.
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At the End of the Day Catching up with friends over a glass of wine before dinner is a long-standing tradition at White Sands. Our residents have a glorious place to gather—our new Oceanfront Bar. Come join us!
White Sands La Jolla is a senior living community with a one-of-a-kind location on the beach in La Jolla. As a Life Plan Community, we offer you the freedom of independent living, surrounded by vibrant, interesting neighbors and first-class amenities, as well as the peace of mind that comes with knowing a solid plan is in place for the future. Find out more at WhiteSandsLaJolla.com. White Sands La Jolla 7450 Olivetas Ave. La Jolla, CA 92037 White Sands La Jolla is owned and managed by HumanGood, a nonprofit public benefit corporation serving older adults since 1949. License #372000641, DHS License #080000109. Certificate of Authority #303.
HumanGood is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of housing and services for older adults. We serve more than 10,000 older adults in more than 100 communities across six states. Why we do what we do. Everyone should have the opportunity to live life with enthusiasm, confidence and security, regardless of circumstances. We all want to be purposeful. Stay connected to family and friends. Continue to learn and grow. Become our best selves. We’re here to help you make that happen. Learn more about HumanGood communities at humangood.org.