Age is Just a Number.
Wellness is a Joyful Pursuit.
Executive REPORT
Darrell D. Jones
Lieutenant General, USAF (Ret) President & CEO
It’s exhausting! Trying to keep up with all the activities at Blue Skies of Texas makes me want to sit and rest a while. Like returning from a trip and needing a vacation. In this Courier, you’ll be struck by how many activities contribute to the vibrant life we share here: purpose, passion, service, health, and heart.
You’ll read about the Play for Freedom golf tournament, a tradition that brings families together to raise money—and raise spirits—for a cause that touches many of us. You’ll see how it’s personal for the organizer Daniel Garcia Casillas and for the Excondes who have made Play for Freedom a family affair.
If you need to plan your day, our beautiful Pooch Parks are a great place to begin, with our loyal (and furry) residents in tow. Thanks to the generosity of our incredible partners, these parks are lush, shaded, and perfect for paw-shakes, tail wags, and conversation.
Try to keep up when you meet Livia Norman, who decades after being featured in a women’s fitness article, is still living with vitality and joy. Her story reminds us that healthy aging is not only possible but can be beautiful.
We wish a fond farewell to Shari Proctor, who spent more than 27 years pouring her wisdom and warmth into our community. She says the residents of Blue Skies taught her how to age gracefully, and I agree—they’re master teachers.
Libraries are an important part of life at Blue Skies thanks to Barbara Folkeson, Peggy Durack, Pam Kroyer, and Raquel and Steve Horton. You’ll learn how their work provides tremendous resources to keep our minds active.
You’ll meet Dr. Neela Patel, our new Medical Director, who brings medical expertise with a compassionate whole-person approach to wellness. Many retirement communities have the continuum of care, but Dr. Patel adds continuity of care so the same medical professionals can follow you through all levels of care. Peace of mind for residents and loved ones.
If you’re inspired by what you read here – the care, the community, and the joy of Blue Skies—consider making a gift to the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation. Your support helps us continue to offer exceptional care, build meaningful programs, and provide assistance to those who need it most.
If you haven’t jumped into the fun yet, your invitation is always open but rest up first. Just hearing about everything going on at Blue Skies might wear you out. There’s room for everyone at the table (and under the nearest shade tree at the dog park).
NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Brings 24/7 Expert Care to Residents
Blue Skies is a model senior living community, affirmed by its Newsweek designation as the #1 Continuing Care Retirement Community in Texas and #7 in the U.S. That acclaim soared even higher at the news that Neela K. Patel, M.D., MPH, and her team from UT Health have been named the Blue Skies Medical Director. Shari Proctor, longtime former Wellness & Life Enrichment Director, said, “You cannot raise the bar any higher than this.”
Residents in every level of care will benefit from this partnership. Dr. Patel and her team of physicians, nurse practitioners, LVNs and medical assistants are providing professional, compassionate care in an integrated approach specifically for older adults. “Residents do not need to go to the ER or call EMS. We are here for them 24/7,” Dr. Patel says.
Dr. Patel practices geriatric medicine, supportive care and comprehensive care with the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases. She began caring for Blue Skies residents in skilled nursing, memory care and hospice in 2005. Her trailblazing research with Alzheimer’s has helped many Freedom House residents and their loved ones.
Almost 200 Blue Skies residents volunteer in the research conducted by the Biggs Institute. Those who have attended Dr. Patel’s presentations on aging have benefited from her knowledge and mission. “Getting older is not a disease,” she says. “We just need to help people live better and age in place with dignity and grace.”
Her work involves training staff, listening to concerns, and finding solutions. “CNAs spend the most time with residents, so we listen to them. They deserve training and respect,” she says. Dr. Patel believes in following the 5Ms for age-friendly healthcare, all of which are emphasized in the Blue Skies’ wellness mission:
“We’re proud to welcome Dr. Neela K. Patel as our new Medical Director. With more than 25 years of experience, and board certifications in Geriatrics, Family Medicine, and Hospice & Palliative Medicine, Dr. Patel embodies the values that define our community. Her team brings expertise that will strengthen our commitment to helping every resident grow, flourish, and feel truly cared for.”
– Lt Gen Darrell D. Jones
Blue Skies President & CEO
• Meals: Nutritious, delicious, fresh meals are important to health.
• Mobility: Swimming, biking, walking, and group activities help keep residents active, fit, motivated, and healthy.
• Medications: Dr. Patel says, “The fewer medications, the better. A clinical pharmacist from University of the Incarnate Word reviews medications to see what is needed and what can be eliminated.”
• Mind Augmentation: Meaningful socialization and connection with others help those of all ages and offer healing effects for those with cognitive impairment.
• Matters Most: Focusing on personal preferences and values, respecting the person and what is most important to them.
LIBR ARIES
The lifeblood of a community
who take advantage of the valued resource.
WEST CAMPUS
Residents appreciate the professionalism that Barbara Folkeson and Peggy Durack bring to their volunteer work overseeing the Library. Both are retired school librarians whose many years of experience have built a well-organized collection that continually undergoes purging and updating. Many books, CDs, DVDs, jigsaw puzzles, and magazines are donated by residents, and the Activities Council allots a $650 annual stipend to purchase new books – mostly large print versions of best sellers and favorite authors. Volunteers re-shelve books to keep the collection current and easy to access.
Barbara says, “In addition to checking out materials, residents and employees can visit our donation table for free books. They also may request books that we order for them. It’s a very gratifying way for us to give back.” Browsers can find a large print section, fiction, non-fiction, and biographies. Books that have no activity get cycled out. Peggy says, “Barb and I also have cleaned up and organized the Liberty House (assisted living) Library, and we have a team of volunteers who regularly shelve books there.” She notes, “Libraries are the lifeblood of a community.”
with books for every taste, as well as DVDs, audio books, and newspapers. Membership dues are their revenue source. All residents and staff may check out books, but members who pay $25 per year earn voting rights. They meet bimonthly to select books to add to their collection, and their membership fees are used to purchase new books.
“The Library is very popular,” Steve says. They also oversee a library of paperbacks in the Community Room, where, Raquel says, “You can take a book without a card on the honor system.” Volunteers keep books shelved, and Pam Kroyer stays on top of circulation data. Books with no activity go in the donation pile for Fisher House at Lackland AFB, or are sold at Half Price Books, with the funds used to add new books.
Blue Skies Libraries – another brilliant way our residents are building a vibrant, intellectual, social community.
Peggy and Barbara.
Steve and Raquel.
Pooch Parks, Family...and Giving Back
Some retirement communities ban furry friends. But Blue Skies knows that our fur babies are family, and we welcome them. To show our love, Pooch Parks on each campus are dedicated socializing spots for dogs and their humans to enjoy the outdoors together.
And the Pooch Parks story illustrates that the Blue Skies family includes residents and their extended families, staff, beloved pets, and our faithful contractors who go above and beyond to ensure the comfort, safety, aesthetics, and happiness of
Our Contractors are Family, Too
In 2017, Moe Bhatti, owner of AHR (American Home Remodeling), was hired for a roofing job at Blue Skies. But this wasn’t just another project. Having cared for his mother through Alzheimer’s and later losing his father, Moe felt a profound connection to our mission of serving seniors with dignity and love. Heather Ransom, Chief Operations Officer, recognized Moe’s dedication. He says her warmth and trust welcomed him into the Blue Skies family. She saw not only his craftsmanship but his heart –and her confidence in Moe helped forge a lasting partnership with AHR. “This turned out to be not just a job—it’s my family, my home,” Moe shares.
“I’ll come in at 2 a.m. if they need me. When I see something that needs fixing, I don’t wait to be asked.”
Renovating a Pooch Park with Cheer and Love
In 2024, Moe offered a heartfelt gift: he volunteered to renovate the West Campus Pooch Park—free of charge. His improvements included new gravel, a custom-built dog playhouse, a faucet for thirsty pups, decorative touches from Mexico, a bird feeder, and string lights draped through the park’s iconic oak tree for evening strolls.
“These are our parents,” Moe said.
“We want to give back and bring joy to their lives.”
The parks have become more than just green spaces. They are symbols of community, joy, and compassion.
Doris Megonigal and her Yorkie, Laci, are regular visitors at the East Campus Pooch Park.
Bruce and Kathy Byers and their beloved Sadie have made lots of friends at the West Campus Pooch Park.
45 Years Later
She’s Still Fit and Energetic
In 1980, Livia Norman, an avid bicycler who depended on a bike as “the principal mode of transportation” in her native Italy, wrote an article under the headline, “Women’s Fitness Sports” for the Norton AFB (California) newsletter. The story included a photo of Livia as a young, fit, attractive woman pedaling down the street on her bike.
We visited with Livia, a 10-year resident of Blue Skies East, to see if she’s still biking, toning, and living a life dedicated to health and fitness. Now in her eighth decade, she walks an hour every day, eats a Mediterranean diet, exercises regularly, and lives life fully and happily. She no longer bikes, but she’s a positive, upbeat, well-rounded fitness devotee who loves to read and travel.
She met her husband Bob when she was working at Aviano AFB in Italy, just 11 miles from her hometown of Pordenone, and a friend introduced her to A2C Robert W. Norman. “I looked at this tall, blonde, blue-eyed Yankee and just fell all over in love,” she says. In retirement, she and Bob decided to move to Blue Skies, but tragically, he died shortly before they were able to settle in their dream retirement home. “I had moved 18 times and decided that this would be my final home, so I stayed with our plan. I was able to design my apartment, and it’s beautiful, and I am very happy here.”
That cute young biker is still living her best life, and we’re so glad she chose Blue Skies.
Blue Skies Residents Taught Her How to Age Gracefully
For more than a quarter century, Shari Proctor was a friendly, energetic, creative, multi-talented force at Blue Skies. A social worker by trade and training, she spent 27.5 years advocating for, nurturing, advising, and befriending hundreds of residents and their families.
As with all good things in life, this chapter, too, had to close, but it has a happy ending. Shari has earned an active retirement, and after observing what happy retirement looks like, she’s ready. “I could not have chosen a better place to become a senior citizen,” she says. “Blue Skies has been an ideal training ground. Our residents have taught me how to age gracefully, and I took really good notes.”
She’s ready to travel with her sisters, savor all that the future holds, and relish the treasured memories of her years at Blue Skies. We wish her the best, and thank her for her loyalty, love of Blue Skies residents, and unending compassion, kindness and good humor.
Lt Gen Darrell Jones, Blue Skies President & CEO, said of this milestone, “We always say it’s the people who make this place special—and Shari Proctor is a perfect example of that. For 27 years, Shari has poured her heart into this community, helping define what wellness really means here: not just fitness, but purpose, connection, and care. Her impact is everywhere you look. We’re incredibly grateful—not just for her years of leadership, but for the way she’s helped us all thrive. Thank you, Shari.”
Ever adventurous, Livia enjoys a cool hike in Northern Arizona.
At Shari’s retirement party, Marla Casanova, RN, left, and Ashlie Maltos, right, help her celebrate.
31 Years of Golf for a Cause
For 31 years, sponsors and golfers have been lending enthusiastic support to Play for Freedom, the annual golf tournament to benefit Freedom House and Blue Skies residents. This year’s tournament raised $173,500, thanks to our generous sponsors who believe in the Blue Skies Freedom House mission, and to the Blue Skies corporate office for underwriting all costs associated with the tournament to ensure that one hundred percent of donations go to their intended cause.
It was a full day of golf, sunshine, creative activities, friendly competitions, tasty food, and a successful raffle at The Quarry Golf Course. Daniel Garcia Casillas, who spearheads the tournament for the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation, says the event is personal for him as it is for many who sponsor, play, and cheer from the sidelines. Daniel’s mom had dementia, and he is a steadfast believer in Freedom House Alzheimer’s Care and Research Center with its professional, individualized, compassionate care. Freedom House serves as a model for memory care and has long set the highest standards in the industry.
The Exconde family is among the groups that sponsor and compete in the tournament. Residents Dr. Fidel Exconde and his wife Eppie have long supported the tournament, and have expanded their support into a family affair. Fidel tells us, “Initially, Eppie and I played. Then our son, a local architect, joined us. Our daughter in New York, not to be outdone, signed up. Then, more family joined the team.” Although Fidel has had to yield to some health issues and no longer plays (but happily volunteers at the event), he said, “Eppie is in golf heaven playing the game she loves, surrounded by family.” This year, Eppie invited her good friend Pam Westwood to complete a second foursome. Their daughter Faith designed a family logo that they’ve imprinted on caps, t-shirts, and a banner to fly over the hole they sponsor.
Thanks to all Play for Freedom sponsors, golfers, and volunteers who make this tradition an important fundraiser and community builder for Freedom House and Blue Skies. We are especially grateful to the 30-plus in-kind sponsors that contributed raffle prizes, and the 63 sponsors, including our Title Sponsor Leonard Contracting, and Presenting Sponsors Bridgehead IT, Just Company, Morrison Community Living, and Select Rehabilitation.
The Exconde Team! We are grateful to this delightful, golf-loving family for their enthusiastic support of Play for Freedom.
5100 John D. Ryan Blvd. San Antonio, Texas 78245-3502
OUR VISION
We will set the standard of excellence in senior lifecare through our relentless pursuit of innovation, service, and compassionate care.
OUR MISSION
We will improve lives by providing exceptional retirement living and continuing care with an emphasis on individual quality of life and dignity.
REFER AN ELIGIBLE AIR FORCE WIDOW
Blue Skies of Texas is an exceptional retirement community with an extraordinary charitable mission –reaching out to the widowed spouses of retired Air Force officers who would like to live in this safe community and may need some financial assistance to do so. Our mission comforts those in need and gives purpose to our community that transcends the ordinary. If you know of an eligible widow of a retired Air Force officer who might qualify, please call (210) 568-5029 or (210) 568-3282. All assistance is strictly confidential.
