Video showing scenes from The Mansion at Rosemont

Mike and Linda

Listening, Learning and Loving Your Neighbors

When Linda and Mike moved to The Mansion at Rosemont, they took the time to learn about the history of the community and to get to really know the people who lived and worked here. “From the very beginning, we enjoyed listening to everyone’s life stories and were so impressed with the fascinating, smart and, frankly, wise people who make up the fabric of this community,” Linda says.

It wasn’t long before they themselves embraced the social and cultural fabric of The Mansion and began making a positive and beautiful impact here.

Linda and Mike co-chair the Team Member Appreciation Fund Committee, which raises money for annual team member bonuses. “I believe this is one of the most important committees at The Mansion at Rosemont,” Mike says. “The team members give so much of themselves each day, and we are appreciative of their efforts. It’s nice to know we have a way to recognize and properly thank them.”

Linda and Mike also serve on the Dining Committee and the Good Neighbor Committee, where they ensure that every resident who moves to the community feels welcome and part of The Mansion at Rosemont family.

In addition, both Mike and Linda became members of the “Rosemont Players,” where Mike takes to the stage as an actor and Linda works as a stage crew manager running tech and lighting. “These productions give us a creative outlet, and it’s fun to be part of something that brings joy and entertainment to the whole community,” Linda says.

Linda also enjoys taking art classes in the Mansion’s beautiful art studio. “There’s nothing better than spending hours learning new ways to create pieces with different types of pain in this beautiful space,” she says. “Every class offers me an opportunity to learn something new, which is good for my heart and soul.”

Mike and Linda also give back to the greater Philadelphia community through the work they do with Daylesford Abbey. For more than 12 years, Linda has worked with Stephen’s Ministries as a Stephen Leader, which has been very rewarding for her as she listens to and supports individuals who are deeply grieving a loss, such as a spouse, a job or their health. Mike also serves on several outreach committees, including a committee that assists refugees.

“Giving back and supporting others has always been a way of life for us,” Mike adds. “We are grateful for the neighbors we now call friends here at The Mansion.”

Victor

Finding a New Passion for Center Stage

When Victor was invited to attend one of the first meetings of the “Rosemont Players,” he was somewhat apprehensive because he had no real interest or experience in drama. However, at the time, he was caring for his now-late wife, Janet, and knew he needed a creative social outlet, so he accepted.

Six productions — including “A Christmas Carol,” “Moonstruck” and “Hamlet” — later, and Victor is smitten with the stage and the camaraderie it has created in his life.

“As a former high school principal and musician, I was used to being in front of large audiences, but I had to step out of my comfort zone to start acting in front of people," he says. "The good news is that all my fellow Rosemont Players and residents who attend our plays are encouraging and laugh with us, not at us!”

Getting involved was paramount for Victor as he navigated the “new normal” when Janet passed away. “It was a difficult time for me, but I was fortunate to have the support of nearby family and good friends I have met here. After dinner, there are a few of us that gather and watch television together in one of the common areas. It seems like a simple thing, but the act of gathering, talking and hanging out together makes a world of difference to me. I like to call our group ‘the gang!’”

These days, Victor doesn’t have a lot of downtime because he also serves as the president of the resident association. He leads the association meetings and ensures that all the residents have a safe and fair place to voice their opinions and make suggestions.

“It’s important for me to continue trying new things so I keep my brain active and my spirit alive," Victor says. "I am grateful for the opportunities and the encouragement I receive from my friends and team members, so I can live a productive and fulfilled life.”

Terry and Debra

Leaving the Earth Better Than They Found It

“To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived — that is to have succeeded.” This beautiful quote sums up Terry and Debra perfectly as they live their lives trying to make the world a better place.

Sustainability efforts and the overall health of the environment are very important to Terry and Debra, so Terry was happy to serve as The Mansion at Rosemont representative on the national HumanGood Environmental Sustainability Action Committee. The committee shares ways for each of its communities to be better stewards of the environment.

“I developed a resident survey of about a dozen ideas under The Mansion Goes Green, and the community overwhelmingly supported such efforts as single-stream recycling, eliminating single-use plastic and Styrofoam carryout food containers, and reducing nonessential lighting at night,” Terry says. “Our community can be a model of how small changes can make a significant difference.”

The Mansion is also known for its beautiful gardens, so Debra was pleased to start her own garden plot and expand butterfly-friendly plantings. “Butterfly gardens provide food as well as a place for butterflies to live,” Debra says. “It’s a wonderful way to help protect the environment and add beauty to the existing gardens here at The Mansion.”

Terry and Debra are also passionate about education and giving back. They spent their careers working at higher-ed institutions, including Stanford University and Bryn Mawr College, respectively, and believe in giving children the opportunity for a good education. To honor Terry’s ancestral roots (he is an enrolled member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians) and his two grandmothers, Terry set up a college scholarship for children in the tribe.

“I am proud of my Mohican heritage and glad that we can help students from the tribe make their college dreams a reality,” Terry says. Before going into higher education, Terry was a journalist at the Milwaukee Journal and Los Angeles Times and, since retirement, has written for the Mohican News. 

“Leaving this Earth better than it is now is a goal many of us share,” Debra says. “If we all just make one change for the better, our world would be a happier and gentler place.”

Suzanne

There’s No Place Like Home

The first time Suzanne visited The Mansion at Rosemont, she knew this was where she wanted to live and immediately embraced everything the community had to offer.

“From the beautiful mansion and grounds to the kind team members and close proximity to my immediate family, it felt like the perfect place to live and call home.”

And for more than 20 years, Suzanne has been an integral part of The Mansion at Rosemont family, serving on committees and volunteering her time and talents to make sure that all the residents feel welcomed and informed. For more than a decade, Suzanne has served as the editor of The Voice, a monthly newsletter that includes community updates, stories and resident profiles. As the editor, she handles it all, from designing and writing it to personally delivering the finished piece to everyone’s mailboxes.

“The Voice is one way for all the residents to feel connected to each other, and I am proud that I am the conduit to making this happen every month,” Suzanne says. “The Voice is very near and dear to my heart. It’s nice to hear the positive feedback I receive from residents and, more importantly, it’s a way to keep my brain active and healthy.”

Suzanne is an energetic doer who also volunteers at the Beaupré (which translates to beautiful meadow) Shop, where she is responsible for ordering and stocking all of the over-the-counter items for purchase. Additionally, she spends time volunteering at the Mansion’s beautiful library. And she takes pride in being a member of the Good Neighbors Committee, where she makes sure that all new residents feel welcomed and included when they move in.

“Living here has given me so many good things — a beautiful place to live, great friends, security and a sense of peace and purpose — so it’s been a pleasure to give back to others as they have done for me.”