For Friends and Neighbors of Crown Center for Senior Living SEPTEMBER 2024 Entering Crown Center, it is clear how residents, volunteers, and staff bring their whole selves to make this a special place. Sharing time, skills, and passions makes our community stronger and more vibrant. The professional experiences of those who call Crown home are varied and vast – our residents bring a wealth of skills and experience from their professional lives that can greatly benefit our community. At Crown we are home to retired medical professionals, artists, educators, scientists, farmers, and more from all over the world. Residents generously share their memories, experiences, and skills to connect with and benefit others. As supported by the research, meaningful engagement and sense of purpose not only bolsters communities, but older adults themselves. By sharing their gifts and reminiscing on their positive impact, residents not only contribute to their community’s well-being but also maintain a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their retirement years. I want to share some of their stories with you. Like me, I know you’ll be inspired to think about what experiences, memories, and skills you bring to the places you love. Andy Thorp, Executive Director
Residents bring a wealth of skills and experience Yefim Polevoy, originally from a a small shtetl on the River Berizina, faced many hardships early in life. His father joined the Red Army in 1941, and his mother passed away shortly after. He was evacuated to Uzbekistan and spent time in an orphanage. At 11, he moved in with his aunt, and after the war, his father reunited with him, and they settled in Bobrusk, Belarus. Despite tumult and antisemitism in Belarus, he pursued his dream of becoming a doctor by moving to Siberia for medical school, and graduating in 1959 with top marks. His career began as a country doctor in Tumen before moving to Novosibirsk in 1962 to lead the pediatric department at a hospital where he worked until his retirement in 1994. In retirement, Yefim stays busy with his iPad, watches Russian TV, and follows current events. He also did consulting work after moving to the U.S. in 1994, supporting former colleagues. He misses his birthplace, his family, and his colleagues, sometimes feeling nostalgic. Yefim credits his career with teaching him the ability to connect with others in a diverse environment. He shared, “I always make friends…I’m good with everyone. Because I oversaw the department, I learned to work with all types of people. We had a good community.”
Yefim Polevoy BIRTHPLACE A small shtetl near the River Berizina OCCUPATIONS Physician
Pediatrician Hospital Department Head PLACES LIVED Belarus Russia St. Louis Crown Center
Now, Yefim and his wife Tamara find community at Crown Center. As newer residents, they have been delighting in new experiences, connecting with neighbors, and thriving in a secure and caring environment. The Polevoys remarked, “Living here has been like a fairy tale. We could only dream about living here. People are friendly and sincere.”