Finding Fulfillment
Creative. Social. Relaxing and worry-free. The ideal lifestyle looks different for everyone, but one thing is for certain: Wherever you find meaning – and whatever the future has in store –you’ll find that there’s a lot more living to be done at The Glenridge, as our members will tell you.
All the Right Notes
If there’s one common chord in Bob and Laurel Dove’s life, it’s music. Between his career working with instrument manufacturers like Steinway and Yamaha, and her lifelong commitment to music education, they’ve found plenty of opportunities to combine creativity with purpose throughout life.
That shared love of music brought them together – and more recently, it brought them to Sarasota. “Concerts, theatre, opera – Sarasota is rich in all those things, and that’s exactly why we moved here,” says Laurel. “And especially at The Glenridge, we’re in a community of people who are passionate about culture.”
The Doves are active volunteers in the local arts scene. Bob recently
retired as treasurer of the Sarasota Concert Association, while Laurel is a board member of the Choral Artists of Sarasota. And with the 2024-25 season just beginning at the Glenridge Performing Arts Center, they look forward to enjoying fine music even closer to home.
“When you get here, you realize that this is a place full of possibilities,” says Laurel. “You meet people from all over the world who have lived exciting and fascinating lives – and there’s a lot more living to be done. It’s vibrant.”
A Gem of a Community
When Chuck and Joyce Gregory chose a Glenridge Club Home, they had a long list of good reasons: security, healthcare, welcoming neighbors … and a two-car garage with plenty of space for a custom jewelry workshop.
Chuck’s jewelry-making hobby, he says, came about by chance when he inherited an assortment of tools from his father. “I gave it a try, and it’s become sort of a passion,” he says. “I enjoy taking raw material and turning it into something beautiful.”
Every piece Chuck makes is custommade for the person who wears it –and in the same way, the Gregorys have found their “perfect fit” at
At The Glenridge, the Gregorys have the freedom to focus on personal projects, peace of mind for the future – and plenty of space for Chuck’s extensive silver jewelry workshop.
Music has always been a part of life for Bob and Laurel Dove – and in the couple’s elegant new residence, their piano and organ take center stage.
Fulfillment …
The Glenridge. It gave them the freedom to do more of what they love –from yoga classes to long walks around the 150-acre campus. “We love the atmosphere out here,” says Joyce. “We have wetlands behind us, a pond out in front. It’s just so peaceful.”
“To be able to come here and thrive, rather than sitting at home – that was important to us,” adds Chuck. “We’ve always been very active, and we’re going to be involved for the rest of our lives in a community with caring, engaged people.”
A Culture of Creativity
Paying a visit to Elisabeth Root’s Glenridge apartment is a bit like walking into a museum: Everywhere you look, you’ll see intricate needlepoint tapestries and detailed paintings – almost all made by Elisabeth herself.
Born and raised in Vienna, Austria, Elisabeth has always loved the arts, but it wasn’t until she retired that she had the opportunity to explore her own creative side. As an artist, she says that the culture in Sarasota is one of the reasons she loves life at The Glenridge.
“When I first came to visit, my eyes got wider and wider with everything I saw,” she says. “There’s a theatre here, and they bring in singers, choirs, the opera, the orchestra – you are never far from music and art.”
But beyond the programs and activities, the art and culture, there was one more big advantage to life in our community: peace of mind. “Before this, I was living alone in a big house,” she recalls. “I said to myself, ‘Why would I stay here and worry about what might happen?’ At The Glenridge, everything is oriented around your needs – and it gives you such security.”
I was living alone in a big house, and said to myself, ’Why would I stay here and worry about what might happen?’ The Glenridge gives you such security.
– ELISABETH ROOT
Glenridge Member
It Makes Life That Much Richer
As a former airline pilot and lawyer respectively, Tom and Pat Loop know how to chart a course for success. And now that they’ve arrived at their destination – The Glenridge – they’re glad to say it’s exactly where they wanted to be.
“People asked us, ‘Why move, when you’re both active and in good health?’” recalls Tom. “But that’s exactly why it was the right time: because you don’t want to wait too long. When you move here, you meet new people, you find new interests and activities –and it makes your life that much richer.”
In fact, that’s exactly what the Loops have been doing. Pat enjoys walking and mahjong, while Tom likes bike rides, fitness, and cooking. And from Glenridge Academy classes on World War II codebreakers and the history of the Seminole tribe … to golfing at nearby TPC Prestancia, a PGA-tour
golf and country club that offers a partnership with The Glenridge, they’ve wasted no time getting involved.
“As soon as we moved in, we received invitations for dinner with members here,” Tom adds. "That’s the kind of community this is – welcoming and full of friendly, interesting people.”
From her dedicated art studio to her tapestry-laden walls, Elisabeth Root’s apartment is a colorful reflection of her creativity.
With a spacious designer kitchen and a patio perfect for grilling, Tom and Pat Loop’s brand-new Northside Club Home was ideal for a couple that loves to cook.
Where Health & Fitness
THRIVE
Here at The Glenridge, we understand the connection between health and happiness – and the important role fitness plays in that equation. And with that in mind, we’ve always strived to create an environment that supports and encourages members to lead healthy, invigorated lives. From working out in our Fitness Center … to swimming in the heated pool … to playing tennis, bocce or pickleball, you’ll find everything you need to flourish!
It Keeps You Feeling Young
When Peter and Delane Ferrucci returned from their tour of Spain last summer, they looked each other in the eye and came to a decision: It was time to make their move. “We were slowing down and realized waiting wasn’t our answer,” recalls Peter. “We wanted to be in a community that would meet all our needs – for healthcare, security, and socialization – for life.”
While Peter and Delane are still settling in, they’re already familiar faces at the Fitness Center. Delane has joined stretch and balance classes, while Peter
has plans to organize a doubles league to take full advantage of the complex’s new bocce court.
They also enjoy The Glenridge’s stunning campus. “It’s wonderful,” says Delane. “With the lake in the center and the fountains and all the foliage in the trees, I felt like I was walking around Disney. Wow … it is a beautiful sight to see!”
For the Ferruccis, it’s all part of an environment dedicated to helping members stay healthy and live their best lives. “People meet us and say, ‘You don’t look your age,’” says Delane.
The Ferruccis love taking classes at the Fitness Center, and they’re already putting together a bocce team.
The Glenridge’s new pickleball courts are a popular amenity for many members, complementing our HAR-TRU® tennis courts and 75-ft. heated pool.
“Living here, we’re not sitting at home all day long – we’re busy and engaged, going out to dinner at The Glenridge dining venues in the evenings and meeting new people. And that keeps you feeling young.”
Fitness First
For Bonnie Richards, fitness has always come first. “I have never ‘acted my age’ – I believe age only matters as much as you let it, and I do everything I can to lead a healthy lifestyle,” she says. “So when I was looking at communities, The Glenridge by far was my top choice.”
From tai chi and yoga to Zumba®, she thrives on the wide variety of exercise programs available at the Fitness Center. “It’s wonderful, because you can just do what you want to do and have fun,” she says. “There’s no pressure to do anything, so you’re free to try everything.”
Life here keeps Bonnie active – not only physically, but intellectually and socially, too. When she’s not stepping it up at dance aerobics, she can be found trying her hand at ceramics, enjoying an evening of music at the theatre, or spending time with her many new friends. “You move here and right away
A balanced lifestyle has always been important to Bonnie Richards – and with top-quality healthcare and fitness programs right on campus, she says The Glenridge “has it all.”
you become part of a community,” she says. “You feel right at home.”
The Glenridge was an answer to all her needs in one place – and she says she’s glad she moved when she did. “No one ever says ‘I came here too early,’” she says. “Most people say, ‘I wish I’d done it sooner,’ and what I would say is ‘the sooner, the better.’ Start early, do your homework, and don’t wait – The Glenridge has it all.”
I believe age only matters as much as you let it, and I do everything I can to lead a healthy lifestyle.
– BONNIE RICHARDS Glenridge Member
LIVE WITH RENEWED
VITALIT Y
While evidence of The Glenridge’s commitment to total well–being can be found throughout our community, one of the main hubs (and one of the most popular spots on campus) is our 9,000–sq.–ft. Fitness Center. Here, members can work out on their own, join group fitness classes, or sign up for one-on-one sessions with a certified personal trainer.
“At The Glenridge, we help members pursue an active lifestyle in a positive, no-pressure way,” says Andre LeClair, Manager of the Fitness Center and Spa. “It’s our goal to make fitness as accessible and enjoyable as possible — no matter your age or experience level.”
Our amenities include a variety of cardiovascular equipment, a group fitness room, massage therapy services, showers, lockers and a lounge.
Fitness Center Classes feature:
• Balance Boot Camp
• Zumba®
• Tri-Fit
• Yoga and Pilates
• Water Aerobics
Personal Training Options include:
• Posture and Balance Coaching
• Strength Training
• Cardiovascular Fitness
• Aquatics
• Tennis Conditioning
• Yoga and Pilates
Glenridge member Joyce Gregory (pictured here with Manager Andre LeClair) works out frequently at the Fitness Center.
An Expanded Approach to Holistic Well-Being
Since it first opened in 2023, the Kamberg Center has become more than just a gathering spot for members; it is now a focal point of the community. And, like The Glenridge itself, Kamberg has evolved. In addition to providing routine check-ups, urgent care, and classes geared toward preventive wellness, the Center has recently expanded mental health counseling services – further reinforcing the Six Keys to Living Well® philosophy that informs our motto: adding years to life … and life to years.
A New Dimension of Care
In a well-tuned orchestra, every instrument plays its part. And if you ask Deniese Williams, Director of Living Well at the Kamberg Center, living a balanced life is much the same: It takes not only fitness and healthcare, but also emotional, cognitive and social wellness.
In her long career working with patients as a Board-certified Adult Geriatric Specialist Nurse
Practitioner, Williams has seen firsthand how a lack of mental health care can limit recovery and treatment – and in 2022, that experience inspired her to return to school and earn a second master’s degree as a nurse practitioner, this time with a certification in psychiatric mental health.
What Williams has seen in her own practice is borne out nationally. AARP recently reported that since the pandemic, the percentage of patients with mental
health diagnoses increased across all age groups, with the largest increase seen in those age 65 and older. A July 2024 report from Brookings reinforced that finding, noting that the mental health needs of older adults are not being adequately addressed and citing the need for increased support to mitigate the stressors of aging.
“Mental changes can affect a person’s physical well-being, just like physical changes can affect a person’s mental well-being,” says Williams. “So, by providing mental health services to our members, we now have more options –we can get to the root of the problem and figure out why it’s happening.”
The Kamberg Center is about making all aspects of wellness accessible to everyone.
– DENIESE WILLIAMS Director of Living Well at the Kamberg Center
“If a patient comes to the clinic with symptoms such as stomach upset, headaches, difficulty sleeping, etc., maybe it’s physical, and we can treat it physically. Or maybe it’s related to a mental aspect like stress or anxiety. We can treat either – or, if needed, both.”
Deniese Williams spearheaded the expansion of mental health services at the Kamberg Center.
With the Six Keys to Living Well® at its core, the Living Well Clinic at the Kamberg Center helps members live more balanced lives through every aspect of well-being. The clinic provides wellness checks, vaccinations, testing and lab draws, and treatment of minor illnesses or injuries.
Ahead of the Game
With its emphasis on holistic health, the Kamberg Center is also focused on prevention. “We try to get ahead of the game,” says Williams. “So we offer a number of programs and services aimed at helping members proactively manage their health and emotional well-being.”
These include mindful wellness classes, social events, and daily exercise programs like chair yoga, tai chi classes, a variety of social and educational events, and outings to places like Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, a bayfront sanctuary that showcases native Florida plants. Members are also encouraged to take advantage of the host of opportunities offered through the Glenridge Fitness Center. (See page 5.) “You know what happens when we exercise – really, really exercise?” says Williams. “We release endorphins, and it helps to make us feel better!”
Kamberg also houses the Living Well Clinic, Chaplain’s Office, Brain Health Studio, and library/reading room with access to games, books and brain-building activities.
SAFE. SECURE. PREPARED.
When It Comes to Meeting Some of Life’s Most Stressful Moments, The Glenridge Defines “Peace of Mind.”
When Barb Farrel chose The Glenridge, she knew she’d have security for a lifetime. But it wasn’t until the recent Hurricane Milton made landfall that she realized what it really meant to have peace of mind, in rain or shine. “Even though the storm was heading to Sarasota, it was peaceful and calm here,” she says. “I had heard members say, ‘being at The Glenridge is like living in a fortress.’ But, this time, I really felt it.”
As Milton approached the coastline and other Sarasotans rushed to prepare for possible power outages or evacuation, Barb and her fellow members had little to worry about. The Glenridge was ready with emergency backup generators and plenty of provisions.
“My kids were calling all day long to make sure I was okay, but I said, ‘I’m perfectly fine,’” Barb recalls. “Before, living alone in my house, I’d be worrying about what might happen, or going out to pick up tree branches afterward – but this time, I didn’t even think about that.”
Throughout the storm, Glenridge staff provided continual support and communication. “No one was alone,” Barb adds. “You weren’t sitting in your apartment by yourself. You were talking to your neighbors and your friends, connected and assured that everything was taken care of. And it was.”
Barb Farrel says living at The Glenridge lowered the stress of worrying about storms like Hurricane Milton.
The Kamberg Center offers classes in tai chi, a gentle, low-impact exercise that has been found to improve balance, health, and emotional well-being.
