inspiring stories booklet

Talk About

Inspiring Stories

10 Candid Conversations with Shannondell Residents

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The Farm at Shannondell

The origins of this popular phrase are most commonly associated with horse racing (betting) circles in the early 1900s. However, a current Shannondell resident and former horse trainer informs us that the phrase actually stems from the 1800s when cowboys, to determine a horse’s true age, would open their mouth and look at their teeth.

And, therein, lies the purpose of this booklet (don’t worry, we’re not examining teeth). But we are giving you first-hand accounts straight from our residents of how life at Shannondell is, indeed, “living to inspire.”

When we asked residents if they’d mind sharing their stories, we were overwhelmed with their response and, no surprise, inspired by their personal accounts.

The people highlighted on these pages came to Shannondell from a variety of places, backgrounds and circumstances. But today, these residents all share at least one commonality – since moving to Shannondell they’re doing more, living healthier and feeling better about themselves. That’s their story. They invite you to read and learn more.

Once you do, we hope you’ll want to visit Shannondell. After all, the only thing better than hearing from our residents, is your own first-hand account of what living at Shannondell is like.

To schedule a private tour or reserve a place at an upcoming Lunch & Learn at Shannondell, call 610.728.5211 or 800.669.2318.

Thank you, again, for your interest in Shannondell at Valley Forge.

Straight from the horse’s mouth

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www.shannondell.com

Q: So, how do you know a place like Shannondell is the right move before it’s even built?

Nancy:Instinct, I guess. I don’t know. The people were so nice and the plans and home designs and floor plans were just what we were looking for. Even before it was built, you could tell it was like nothing else in this area. I mean, you could fit three or four other communities’ clubhouses into either one of Shannondell’s fabulous Ashcroft or Bradford clubhouses. There was simply no comparison.

Q: And your children thought …

Nancy:… we were nuts (laughing). If they could have seen me improvising in acting class this morning, they’d probably bring it back up. Actually, our children (and grandchildren) love Shannondell. They admit it has completely changed their idea of retirement living – for the better.

Q: So, I assume Shannondell lived up to your expectations once you moved.

Nancy:It has. Although, it was interesting to be one of the first residents to move in here. You know, they were still working on this and that, still working out the kinks, still staffing. It was during those early days, watching how management responded to us, that we knew we made the right decision. They (Shannondell management) did whatever it took to make sure we were not only comfortable, but they also surprised us with trips to nearby restaurants, bars, concerts and other things. They set the bar high and, to this day, continue surprising us (for the better), as residents.

Inspiring Nancy

2 shannondell at valley forge

If you would have told me ten years ago I would be up on a stage, today, in front of hundreds of people belly dancing, I would have cracked up.

Nancy Foster and her husband are

founding members of Shannondell.

Growing up in nearby Norristown,

Nancy watched Shannondell come

out of the ground, literally. She looked

forward to shedding the headaches

of caring for a large, aging home and

was ready to “be waited on,” for a

change. She was also looking forward

to making new friends and trying new

things. Little did she know, though,

that one of those “new things”

would have her practicing

improvisation, reading scripts,

rehearsing scenes, singing in

trios – and loving every minute.

Q: And I hear you’ve grown (your schedule) right along with the community? Nancy:

Who’ve you been talking to? Well, I stay busy. That’s for sure. Before we moved here, I walked in the park with my husband. Now, I’m doing machines and water aerobics in the Aquatics & Fitness Center three times a week. I’m also doing tap, ballet and, get this, belly dancing. We’re having a belly dancing show in the Performing Arts Theater in a couple of weeks.

If you would have told me ten years ago I would be up on a stage, today, in front of hundreds of people belly dancing, I would have cracked up.

Q: But it wasn’t belly dancing that led you to the stage, right?

Nancy:No. I guess you could say I was bitten by the acting bug.

Q: Bitten by or smitten with?

Nancy:Both. I had never acted in my life, and through a colleague at Lilly Pulitzer, I met the director of the King of Prussia Players, one of the resident theater groups at the Shannondell Performing Arts Theater. And, well, one thing led to another and the next thing I knew, I was in the chorus of The Music Man. You know … 76 Trombones, Harold Hill, River City. I was the only Shannondell resident in the musical, and I had a blast!

Q: And that led to others? Nancy:

It did. Let’s see, Dracula, which was an interesting follow up to a Meredith Willson musical, and more recently Annie. Robb Hutter works with our Actors’ Studio (resident) group. We read plays and prepare shows. We also take trips to Walnut Street Theater, Kimmel Center and Broadway shows in New York.

Q: So, Broadway beckons?

Nancy:As a training ground, only (smiling). It’s so inspiring to see these professionals who can do it all – sing, dance and act – and make it look so easy.

Q: But you know it’s not.

Nancy:Kevin Bacon once said, ”A good director creates an environment, which gives the actor the encouragement to fly.” And today, at Shannondell, I’m flying.

www.shannondell.com 3

Tom Warren kiddingly refers to himself as just a “peasant from Texas.” Don’t be fooled. Yes, Tom’s a native of Waco. But, he’s also a successful executive with a long track record of helping to build corporate value within global companies. When he retired, Tom bid adieu to his 80-hour workweek, but he maintained an important part of his daily schedule – swimming. And we don’t mean a couple of laps. So, when Tom discovered the Aquatics & Fitness Center at Shannondell, the indoor Olympic size pool drew him in, well, like a duck to water.

Q: How long have you been swimming?

Tom: Since I was 14, after a lengthy recovery from an accident that included rehab work in the pool. It was a savior mentally and physically. Q: And you maintained the practice throughout your corporate career?

Tom: Yes, for the most part. Running companies is time consuming, but being an early riser, I would just get up earlier to allow time to swim before heading to the office. Even after I retired, I would swim in the pool behind our home. But being a small pool, I constantly had to turn when I hit the edge. Here at Shannondell, I can swim a mile in just under 80 laps.

Q: So, was it the Shannondell Aquatics Center that sealed your decision to move here?

Tom: That was certainly part of it. When my wife and I started looking at communities, we thought we wanted to live closer to Newtown Square, where our home was. So, when a friend who had worked with me invited us to join them for dinner at Shannondell, I can remember pulling out the map and thinking that’s a long

Inspiring Tom


way. Once we walked through the front door of the Ashcroft clubhouse, the distance became moot. We fell in love with the place. My wife says it’s because the dining room served our favorite dessert, Bananas Foster, that first night with our friends.

Q: So, the pool and bananas did the trick?

Tom: Yeah (laughing), and about a thousand other details.

Q: What do you mean?

Tom:We had looked at other communities: Dunwoody, the Erickson properties … the usual in this neck of the woods. You have to see the others to appreciate the attention to detail at Shannondell – architecturally, staffing, personal services – and, performing arts. I’ve always been very interested in music, but never had the time to devote to it. Now, I’m taking music appreciation classes with Jeffrey Uhlig, and through the Shannondell Performing Arts Center we’re exposed to top talent like David Kim, a world-class violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Q: So it sounds like the Performing Arts act as a balance to your swimming.

Tom: Not just swimming, now. About a week after I was here, I got out of the pool and walked into the Fitness Center and met Michelle, one of the personal trainers here at Shannondell. She re-introduced me to all the strength-training machines and

put together a program to complement my daily swim.

Q: Can you tell a difference since you added the new program to your swimming? Tom: I’ll tell you how much of a difference it’s made. I had to use a cane when we first moved to Shannondell. After a couple of months of working on the machines and swimming, I didn’t need the cane anymore. I thought I was pretty fit when we lived in Newtown, but I’m more active and healthier because of it, since we moved to Shannondell.

Q: And I understand you’ve become quite a role model for other residents.

Tom: I do know there are more people in the pool at 5 a.m. than when I first moved here. I have heard from a couple of women that they figured if I could swim 80 laps, they could at least do walking laps around the pool. And they have thanked me for providing the motivation. I don’t take credit, though.

Q: I know, you’re just a “peasant from Texas,” right?

Tom: You’re dang toot’n.


After a couple of months of working on the machines and swimming, I didn’t need the cane anymore.

Q: Before we delve into your art, talk a little about the events that led up to your being “discovered” as an artist here at Shannondell.

Grace:After I lost my husband, I had never experienced so much support, and not just from my friends and neighbors here at Shannondell, but also from the staff. From the C.E.O. to security, everybody was sincerely supportive. It was comforting, and surprising, really. I mean residents that I barely knew were stopping by and calling me, most every day, inviting me to join them for a class, dinner or a movie.

Q: So, in your eyes, Shannondell has lived up to its reputation as a true community?

Grace:Yes. This is an ecumenical community. When they find out that something’s needed, they help. It’s a nice feeling to know they’re there. A lot of these people I would have never met without moving here.

Q: One of those people being Maria Orr, the art instructor, right?

Grace:Maria came to my apartment and couldn’t believe I had made all these wild sculptures. I mean some of these pieces are really “out there.” I had been experimenting with copper enameling, clay, metal, paper-maché and found objects. I enjoyed it, but didn’t think that the work was that good.

Marie gave me the name of a gallery owner in Phoenixville and encouraged me to take some pieces to show her. I laughed at the suggestion, at the time. Then

Inspiring Grace

Grace Blumberg grew up in western Pennsylvania. She moved to Shannondell with her husband, a retired physician, in 2003. Shortly after, her husband passed away. In her mourning, Grace discovered the true meaning of a “community of support.” Part of this support came from Maria Orr, an art instructor at Shannondell. While visiting Grace in her Shannondell home, Maria noticed her many abstract sculptures. Only then did she learn that most of the sculptures were created by the same artist – Grace. The rest, as they say, is history.


one day, I was feeling down and I looked up at the artwork around me and decided, “why not.” So I drove to the gallery. The gallery owner took nine of my sculptures to sell.

Q: And they sold?

Grace:One did. I couldn’t believe it. So then I applied at a local juried show and sold another work. After working on some new pieces, I applied to a gallery “Art in a Storefront” and was not only accepted, but they offered me a one-woman show. So, in a period of three years, I moved from giving my art away to having my own show and selling some work.

Q: And what has that meant to you?

Grace:You’re looking at a whole different “me” today. I didn’t have much confidence in my work before moving to Shannondell, meeting Maria, having the tools right here and receiving praise and encouragement from other residents.

This past fall, I joined two other sculptors for a three-person show at The Shannondell Art Gallery. There was a line outside the Gallery doors opening night. It was very exciting.

Q: What are you working on now?

Grace:A few months ago, I was emptying my paper shredder and looking at the multi- colored confetti and said, “this is interesting.” So, I went to Home Depot and bought gutter guards and came home and bent, cut and twisted these guards into interesting shapes, then took the shredded paper and started putting paper onto the wire. It’s all experimental, but people seem to like it.

I’m also teaching an art class for some of the dementia patients at The Meadows. We use magic markers, paint and clay. I titled our first show “A Moment in Time.” The families of the residents were amazed at their loved one’s work.

Q: What’s your dream?

Grace:To keep working, getting accepted into more shows, selling more work and, perhaps, winning a prize.

When they find out that something’s needed, they help. It’s a nice feeling to know they’re there.


John asked Anita to marry him on the second day he knew her. Anita accepted three days later. Almost 43 years later, as Shannondell residents, neither seems to have slowed down. John teaches ballroom dancing, plays table tennis, chess and regularly “runs the table” shooting pool. Anita matches John step-for-step on the dance floor, plays bridge, Scrabble, chess, Pinochle and, together, they’ve won sixty community billiard tournaments, and counting. The thing is, neither had shot pool before moving to Shannondell.

Q: I have to start with the marriage proposal story.

John:Here it is … I met her on a Saturday, proposed on Sunday, she accepted that Wednesday. We got married three months later and within a year, we had our first child.

Q: You guys don’t mess around.

Anita:So we’ve been told (giggling). We enjoy doing a lot of things … playing golf, swimming, dancing … and now that we live at Shannondell, we can do it all, every day.

Q: But I hear that you hadn’t planned to move here. You were actually planning to retire in Florida.

Anita:We had spent a lot of time at a community near Orlando and thought we’d like to move there. But my daughter, who has three small children and lives nearby (in Pennsylvania), wanted us to be able to see our grandchildren more than just once a year. So, one day, she drove us to look at Shannondell.

Inspiring Anita & John


Q: And you thought …

Anita:I thought I wasn’t sure I could live in a high-rise, which is funny now that we live here, because one … it’s nothing like a big skyscraper, and two ... we can’t imagine living anywhere else.

John:You see it from the outside and it looks nice, but it’s not until you walk through the front doors and see all the beautiful decorations, furniture, billiard rooms and more that you realize why people like us choose to call Shannondell home. It grabs you when you see it.

Q: Other than billiards, talk about what else grabbed you once you moved here. John:

Neither of us had exercised before. Well, I did teach roller-skating, and we did a pretty good Jitterbug, but we hadn’t gone to gyms while raising our family. Now, we swim in the indoor pool and take fitness classes. Anita’s lost ten pounds.

Anita:And I must say that it’s very hard to stay away from desserts here.

John:You’ve probably heard people talk about all the dining choices – brick oven pizza, bakery, deli, bistro, buffet, fine dining. It’s true.

Q: Well it sounds like you can afford the calories. I hear you also teach ballroom dancing.

John: Ballroom dancing is very similar to skating. And we used to take lessons, so it comes naturally.

Q: Let’s talk about something else that seems to come naturally to you both: billiards. Neither of you had ever played before? John: Nope. I started by substituting for another player during one of the community tournaments, and we won the tournament. So, I did it again, and we won again. Then I was hooked. The same with Anita. We’ve won the community co-ed tournament so many times that they won’t let us play together any more.

Q: Banned from the pool hall (laughing).

Anita: It’s a little embarrassing. But it’s all for fun. And we do have fun. If you don’t believe us, pop in on one of our Wednesday or Thursday night tournaments. You’ve never heard such laughter.

John: But be warned, somebody’s liable to stick a pool cue in your hand ... and a glass of wine.


We enjoy doing a lot of things … playing golf, swimming, dancing … and now that we live at Shannondell, we can do it all, every day.

Q: I hear your artistic talents may have surfaced during World War II, when you were recuperating from a wound shortly after the D-day invasion. Tell me about that.

George:I guess I just got bored after spending months in hospitals. I started “doodling” and drew some sketches of MacArthur, Eisenhower and Roosevelt. They were okay, but I never seemed to find the time to explore it further.

Q: Until you retired, right?

George:Yeah, my neighbor was a painter, and he encouraged me to give it a try. But it wasn’t until my son started carving decoys and got me to join him that I really developed a passion for creating things.

Q: So when you and your wife started looking at retirement communities, were you looking for a place you could continue to carve?

George:Not really. I mean there were other things we were looking for, like access to quality health care and lots of activities, and, of course, nice people. We looked at nine communities in all (laughing). Our children told us we were making a second career out of our search. It paid off though. None compared to quality and details you find at Shannondell. Moving here was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done.

Inspiring George


During his career, George carved out a reputation as a trouble-shooter. A role that likely started on the Normandy beaches during D-day. After George retired, he tackled woodcarving with the same determination. So, when George and his wife moved to Shannondell, it didn’t take long for his reputation as a master carver to spread. The only problem, George didn’t have a space to hone his hobby. Enter Shannondell management. Today, the Shannondell Woodcarving Studio is home to dozens of residents and staff who are not only learning to carve, but also winning awards. All thanks to George’s inspiration.

Q: So when were you planning on carving again?

George:One day, Shannondell’s C.E.O. knocked on my door and asked me the same thing. I told him I needed a dedicated space, so we carved out – pardon the pun – room in one of the Arts & Crafts rooms. That humble beginning led to what is now the Shannondell Woodcarving Studio, and also includes two large glass cabinets in the clubhouses that display residents’ carvings and ribbons many have won in competitions.

Q: So, you not only fueled your own passion, but also inspired others to grab a knife?

George:Residents look at our work and say, “I wish I could do that.” So, I tell them if they can peel a potato, they can carve. Many times that’s all it takes.

Q: From looking at all the great wildlife carvings in the display cabinets, I’d say it’s working.

George:Thanks. It’s gratifying to see my neighbors, including several Shannondell staff members, beaming with pride when they put the finishing touches on a lifelike carving of a fish or bird that started out as nothing more than a raw block of Tupelo wood. It’s like somebody turned on the light switch and, suddenly, they see themselves in a whole new light.

Q: You’re the one who should be proud.

George:My wife always said I was very persuasive. A lot of people don’t recognize that confidence resides subconsciously in all of us. I simply help them find it. And they return the favor by helping me with my billiards game.

Q: I had heard that you’re quite the pool shark.

George:(Smiling) More like the pool goldfish. Between shooting pool and carving, that’s my week. I can’t think of a better way to spend my days, can you?

Q: No, we can’t.

Inspiring George


Residents look at our work and say, “I wish I could do that.” So, I tell them if they can peel a potato, they can carve.

Q: As an Audubon native, what’d you think when you first saw Shannondell rising up on Egypt Road?

Barb:Like a lot of people my age, I think my first thought was it looks nice, but it’s not for me.

Q: A common reaction. So what changed your mind?

Barb:Well, I became a caregiver for relatives who lived nearby. It opened my eyes to the importance of both planning for one’s future care and staying active and healthy longer. That’s why I was so attracted to what Shannondell offered … you know, the health care and these great fitness programs.

Q: So, the wellness and fitness facilities at Shannondell drew you in?

Barb:They did. I had belonged to a fitness club years ago and I walked and had some free weights at home, but I never could find the time, while teaching, to exercise. I probably got more of a workout trying to keep up with all the responsibilities of a large family home of 32 years. You know … the lawn, the leaves, the gutters, the snow, the roof, broken appliances. There was always something that needed doing. (laughing) I guess that was my exercise regimen.

Inspiring Barb

An Audubon, Pennsylvania native, Barb watched Shannondell rise up and transform the retirement landscape, literally and figuratively. So, when she retired after more than three decades as a teacher, Barb attended one of the Lunch & Learns at Shannondell. The fitness and aquatics center peaked her interest, but it was the variety of provided services like housekeeping, maintenance and dining that sold her. After 32 years in a large single-family home, she was ready to shed those chores and focus on her own desires. Or, so she thought.


Q: At least you have a sense of humor about it.

Barb:I do now that I don’t have to worry about any of that stuff anymore. Now, when a light bulb is out, I pick up the phone and they come and take care of it.

Q: Which leaves you time to take better care of yourself.

Barb:You bet. Not only do I have a fitness center and indoor pool I can walk to without stepping outside, but I also have my own fitness trainer, Michelle, who works with me. I swim laps two days a week, work out with the machines and do power walks around the community.

Q: Have you noticed a difference in your health?

Barb:I’m healthier and stronger since I moved to Shannondell. When I came here I was taking a medication for osteopenia. After a year living at Shannondell, they took me off the drug. That’s how much of a difference it’s made.

Q: Let’s talk a little about the difference you’ve made in the lives of others since you moved here. I hear you helped to spearhead getting a polling place here at Shannondell. Tell me about that.

Barb:I’ve always been involved in local politics, volunteering for candidates and working the polls. When I saw the difficulty some Shannondell residents were experiencing while standing in polling lines, braving the elements at the local school, I got involved with Lea Bertha and Glenn Landis to get a polling place approved here at Shannondell. We appealed to the Montgomery county commissioners and got it passed. Now, it’s easier for residents to not only vote, but also stay up to date with the candidates and their platforms.

Q: How do you mean?

Barb:As a committee person of one of the political parties at Shannondell, my job is to introduce candidates to the residents and give them an opportunity to ask questions and better understand who really has their best interests at heart.

Q: I assume you were busy this past fall, then.

Barb:Busy as a bee. And we’re already gearing up for the next election. You’ll really need to do your homework before that one.

Q: Spoken like a true teacher.

Now, it’s easier for residents to not only vote, but also stay up to date with the candidates and their platforms.


An interior designer turned fine artist, Shirley is a true visionary when it comes to staring at a blank canvas. So, when she moved to Shannondell and discovered that residents didn’t have a space to display and sell their artwork, Shirley along with other artists convinced Shannondell management to build a dedicated art gallery. Today, Shirley’s vision and design skills have turned into a highly anticipated, revolving showcase of community and outside, regional talent that inspires others to say, “I can do that.”

Q: Let’s start back before you moved to Shannondell, you were represented by several area art galleries, correct?

Shirley:Yes, in Chadds Ford, Swarthmore and Philadelphia. I had a studio at home and painted a lot. Living in Chadds Ford, I soaked up (Andrew) Wyeth.

Q: So, when you and your husband began looking at retirement communities, I assume having access to studio space was paramount.

Shirley:It was important. We made a career of looking at different communities. Most have some form of arts and crafts space. But none could match the size of the studios here at Shannondell, or the variety and quality of instruction. Maria Orr, our teacher, is wonderful.

Q: I’ve heard that from other residents. Before you moved to Shannondell, did you know there were so many artists who lived here?

Shirley:I had no idea. I mean you think you’ll meet a couple of people who share the

Inspiring Shirley


same hobbies and passions. But once I started painting in the studio at Shannondell, I met all these talented people.

Q: Is that what inspired you to create what’s now The Shannondell Gallery?

Shirley:A few of us went to Shannondell management with the idea of showcasing residents’ work in our own gallery. We established a committee, and I drew up a plan. The next thing I knew, Shannondell presented us with the exact space that we hoped for. The woodworking shop even built us pedestals. I was adamant that the gallery look and feel like a professional gallery.

Q: I think you succeeded.

Shirley:Thank you. It was a community effort. When we had our first exhibition showcasing only residents’ work, people were lining up, early, outside the gallery doors. It was so exciting for the artists.

Q: The gallery means a lot to you.

Shirley:I’ll tell you how much – after I lost my husband, it’s been a true lifesaver for me – to be so involved.

Q: So the art is part therapy.

Shirley: It’s not just the art, it’s also the people. The residents here are genuinely nice and so supportive and encouraging. That’s how I started doing yoga, aerobics and Tai Chi. My friends convinced me to join them. And now I’m doing all these things for the first time.

Q: And feeling better, I bet.

Shirley: I am. I have more energy than I did before moving to Shannondell. And, believe me, you need it when you have to hang an entire new art exhibition every month or so in the gallery, even with the help of a wonderful committee. We all agree, though, it’s worth the effort.

Q: And you have the fans to prove it. Congratulations.


The residents here are genuinely nice and so supportive and encouraging. That’s how I started doing yoga, aerobics and Tai Chi.

Q: Should we start with Ground Hog Day?

Pat:My uncle was the mayor of Punxsutawney and, supposedly, came up with the idea for Ground Hog Day.

Q: On a cold winter’s day while wearing a top hat, I picture.

Pat:I’ll add that to the story. I remember telling soldiers in the Tank Corps during WWII about this bit of family history, usually on February 2, and we’d laugh because we were training for European battle by burrowing in the ground just like Phil.

Q: Was it the Tank Corps where you learned to love working with your hands?

Pat:Actually, when I was a kid, we used to build these gas powered model airplanes. Not the fancy types you see now. These were balsa wood and paper. We’d go to meets and compete. But, yeah, the Army furthered my knowledge of gadgetry, I guess.

Q: A knowledge you carried with you into retirement. Pat:

After I retired, my wife and I bought an 8-bedroom home that was built in 1726. It was a former Tavern and had 64 windows, 14 gardens and a swimming pool. So, I inherited more than my share of projects to keep me busy. And eventually, it overwhelmed me.

Inspiring Pat


As a WWII soldier in the Tank Corps, Pat worked with his hands and led using his mind … two traits that served him well over his later career in manufacturing. After he retired, Pat, a self-professed historian, and his wife bought a historic 18th century home. But, eventually the 64 windows and 14 gardens overwhelmed even Pat’s capable hands. So, he began looking at retirement communities near his home in Wayne. One visit to Shannondell and he quickly understood why friends had moved there. In his words, “a campus for the mind and the hands.” A campus where Pat now enjoys the role of professor.

Q: Which led you to Shannondell.

Pat:It led me to looking at different communities. I was on the board of a church- related community, so I knew the industry, the challenges that churches now face in maintaining properties. But, this experience served me well. I knew what type of community I was looking for. Many places don’t have a lot for men to do. Most stuff is geared for women. I wanted a place that offered a variety of things to do. And, in that category, I can tell you, nobody comes close to Shannondell.

Q: Was there one particular activity that drew you to Shannondell?

Pat:Friends we had known in Wayne drew us here. The size and beauty of the place sold us. As soon as I saw the woodworking shop, computer room, resident garden and golf club, I said, this is it.

Q: So, that was before the Model Train room was built. I hear that’s a hobby of yours.

Pat:It is. I was involved in getting the train room built and spent hundreds of hours there inventorying engines, cars, landscape and electronics. We had over 1,000 cars at one point. It’s a great social activity. Model trains are a great equalizer. They put everybody on the same track (laughing).

Q: Model train humor. You guys must have fun.

Pat:We do. And like most things here, you meet others who get you involved in another activity they participate in. That’s what led me to the non-fiction book club, which I now chair. We’ve got about thirty members.

Q: I assume you read a lot of history.

Pat:Yep, lots of history. Some autobiographies. The group chooses the books. Most members are serious readers. I just try to keep the conversation down to a “quiet roar.” When you get a bunch of well-read, highly educated people together, it can get lively.

Q: What are you reading now?

Pat:The Last Stand, about Custer’s final campaign. Guess I’ll have to circle the wagons at the next meeting (smiling).

Inspiring Pat


As soon as I saw the woodworking shop, computer room, resident garden and golf club, I said, this is it.

Q: Your schedule makes me tired.

Diane:I guess I’m one of those people who likes to stay busy. Not that I don’t enjoy my downtime. I do. But, I think what makes Shannondell a great place to live is you can set your own schedule, every day. There’s no community regimen you’re forced to follow. You can choose to participate in any number of activities, classes, concerts and trips, or you can just chill.

Q: I didn’t think chill was in your vocabulary.

Diane:As much as there is to do here, the chilling is easy.

Q: Gershwin couldn’t have said it better.

Diane:He did. We’ve danced to the Porgy & Bess score.

Q: I stand corrected … and most intrigued by your Shannondell ballet group. I hear your son danced.

Diane:He danced with the Pennsylvania Ballet from age 7 to age 20. When I watched him dance on stage, I always thought, “I want to know what that feels like.” So, when Shannondell offered the opportunity to study ballet, I jumped at the chance.

Inspiring Diane

Before Diane moved to Shannondell, she maintained a vigorous schedule – teaching exercise classes for older adults, swimming and walking on her own. So, when Diane became a Shannondell resident, the last thing she wanted to do was slow down. What Diane didn’t expect, however, was that she would end up with an even busier calendar. But, swimming led to yoga. Yoga led to Tai Chi. Tai Chi led to belly dancing. And belly dancing led to ballet. Today, Diane and her fellow ballerinas are enjoying newfound agility and, as a result, raising the bar for each other.


Q: I’ve always heard it’s quite a workout.

Diane:It is. But it’s also addictive. Much like yoga and Tai Chi.

Q: And belly dancing?

Diane:(laughing) That too. I laugh because people picture us on stage with these skimpy outfits on swirling our hips. We do swirl, if you can call it that, but fully clothed, thank you.

Q: How hard is it to get other residents to try some of these things?

Diane:A lot of the residents have never exercised before they moved to Shannondell. So, they’re hesitant. But let me tell you, once you get them to join you in a class, it’s like the floodgates open. They discover more energy from the endorphins, and they’re hooked. Of course, having an Aquatics Center and two fitness centers within steps of your front door helps. As do personal trainers and neighbors who are always encouraging you to join them.

Q: Speaking of encouraging, I hear you also lead singing at The Meadows.

Diane:I do. It’s so gratifying to see patients, some who face lengthy recuperation and rehab stays, laughing at themselves and with others as we sing “Oh! Susanna” and other favorites. We play the piano, and one resident brings his harmonica. The dementia residents really love it. Sometimes all it takes is just a few bars of a familiar tune to get them tapping their toes and clapping … talk about inspiring.

Q: Indeed.

A lot of the residents have never exercised before they moved to Shannondell ... once you get them to join you in a class, it’s like the floodgates open. They discover more energy from the endorphins, and they’re hooked.


Vivian lived just down the road from Shannondell. Her granddaughter lives in an adjacent neighborhood. Another family member is married to one of Shannondell’s fitness trainers. So, it’s no surprise that Vivian now calls Shannondell home. What is a surprise, at least to Vivian, is that she’s busier today than before she moved to Shannondell. From swimming and exercising, to computer classes and Tai Chi, she takes full advantage of her neighborhood. But ask Vivian what she enjoys most and she’s quick to sing the praises of The Shannondell Singers, a resident choral group that fills the Performing Arts Theater with sweet harmony.

Q: I hear you still maintain a lot of your long-time connections from your former home.

Vivian:I’m still involved with the Phoenixville hospital. My husband, John, was on the board for years. I also maintain my membership in a Club, and I still sing in a local church choir. Because they’re all so close to Shannondell, it’s easy. But I’m not alone. A lot of residents here maintain ties to their former neighborhood. With all there is to do here, though, it gets harder to leave.

Q: So you sing in two choirs, counting The Shannondell Singers?

Vivian:Actually three. I also sing in a choir in Tucson when I’m there.

Inspiring Vivian


Q: We’ll come back to singing, but tell me what else attracted you to Shannondell?

Vivian:The Aquatics Center. I never had an indoor pool. You have no idea what it’s like to be water walking in 88-degree water and watching it snow outside. It’s wonderful.

Q: Did you exercise before you moved here?

Vivian:Some, but not like I do now. In addition to swimming, I also use the bicycles in the fitness center, and I just started taking Tai Chi. If I don’t have to kick up my heels too high, I’ll be okay. My son, the psychiatrist, is encouraging me to stick with it for the meditation.

Q: What do your children think about Shannondell?

Vivian:They love it, but I think they’re surprised by how many friendships I’ve formed here. I’ve become friends with residents that, it turns out, knew some of the same people as me sixty years ago growing up in Nebraska. One resident worked with my husband for 20 years. This is such a fun, social place to live, it’s easy to meet people who share the same likes and hobbies.

Q: One of those shared hobbies being singing, right?

Vivian: When the Shannondell Singers started, we only had eight or ten of us. Now, we barely fit on the stage at The Performing Arts Theater. We count several former opera singers, but we also have a lot of residents who just love to sing and perform. We do two or three concerts every year. It’s something I really enjoy, but if my voice gets any lower, I’ll have to start singing tenor.

Q: Most choruses welcome more tenors. Vivian: Spoken like a singer. They do. I’ll be in Vespers and hear a nice male voice and go up to them after the service and recruit them for the Shannondell Singers.

Q: And they say …

Vivian: I haven’t sung in chorus since high school. To which I usually reply, “You’re over qualified, but we’ll take you anyway.”

Q: I think you missed your calling as a talent scout.

Vivian: (laughing) Our choir director says American Idol needs help.


This is such a fun, social place to live, it’s easy to meet people who share the same likes and hobbies.

Let’s Talk About Shannondell

We hope that you enjoyed these excerpts from conversations with Shannondell residents. Each person has embraced their neighborhood in interesting and varied ways. But they all agree that since moving to Shannondell – many from long-time family homes – that they’re doing more, living healthier and feeling better about themselves.

Healthy Living Comes Easy

Indeed, healthy living comes easy at Shannondell. Especially when, right outside your door, you’ll find not one but two huge clubhouses offering more than 220,000 square feet of top quality amenities, personal services, activities and events including:

• Aquatics & fitness centers • Arts & crafts studios

• Indoor & outdoor bocce courts • Woodcarving studio

• Movie theaters • Model train room

• Video game & table tennis rooms • Performing Arts Theater

• Main Line Heath Center & • Clubrooms with card & pharmacy billiard tables


Peace Of Mind Comes With The Neighborhood

Shannondell also offers residents peace of mind that stems, in part, from comprehensive, progressive on-site health care to match residents’ changing needs. In addition to a physician-staffed Main Line Health Center, Shannondell residents enjoy access to elevated levels of quality care within The Meadows. This includes personal care (assisted living), Alzheimer’s and dementia care and skilled nursing care.

So residents and their families can rest assured that they will always receive top quality care.


24 © 2014 All Rights Reserved, Shannondell, Inc.

10000 Shannondell Drive • Audubon, PA 19403

See Shannondell For Yourself

You’ve heard from some our residents and found out a little more about our community. Now, we invite you to take the next step – see Shannondell for yourself.

We’ll be glad to schedule a private tour for you and other family members. Or, you can reserve a place at an upcoming Lunch & Learn, where you’ll learn more about Shannondell and have a chance to ask your own questions, plus enjoy a delicious three-course lunch. Simply call 610.728.5211 or 800.669.2318.

You may also contact us via email at [email protected] or by submitting a request on our website at www.shannondell.com

Thank you, again, for your interest in Shannondell at Valley Forge. We look forward to hearing from you and having you as our guest soon.

10000 Shannondell Drive • Audubon, PA 19403610.728.5211 or 800.669.2318 • www.shannondell.com

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