What's Size Got to Do with It?

By Melinda Davis

As the national debate on defining senior centers continues, groups of seniors from around the nation are forming, self governing, providing vital services to the communities they serve, and making a difference.  During a recent visit to New York City, I had a chance to visit with such a group-The Fordham Hill Oval Committee on Elders.

Built in 1950, Fordham Hill Oval is a 1,200 cooperative company consisting of nine high-rise buildings in the University Heights section of the Bronx. The development is a gated community located on a park-like, 12-acre campus with features such as a children's playground, patio seating areas, community room, and senior center. The community overlooks the Harlem River and connects to the Bronx VA Hospital, in addition to neighboring Fordham University. With 24-hour security and close proximity to public transportation, Fordham Hill Oval is convenient, affordable, and attractive living for seniors, but is not a senior citizen development. 

The on-property, self-managed senior center is called the Committee on Elders. According to the committee, approximately one fourth of Fordham Hill Oval residents are over age 50, with a large number living alone and aging in place. The Committee on Elders was founded in 1994 by Carolyn Manning, Kay Stevens, and Joye Clarke, residents who wanted a peaceful and safe place for senior residents to congregate, make friends, and provide support to one another. The committee is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization.

The cooperative owners of Fordham Hill Oval initially voted to provide the Committee on Elders a one-room unit with a kitchen located in the lower level of Building 4. Due to growing membership, an additional adjoining room was opened in 2008 to expand the senior center. Through the leadership of the current board of directors, led by president Gloria Marshall, the senior center negotiated with the property management company, and an emergency exterior door was added to provide direct street access into the senior center.

The two-room senior center (approximately 600+ sq. ft.) is vibrant and reflects the love and attention provided by its members. Members are diverse in culture, age, education, income range, as well as interests and life experiences. The men do set-up and breakdown of furniture for functions and activities, in addition to participating in overall center operations.

Teamwork is the motto of the center-without it, the center could not function. One member volunteers as the center DJ. Jazz enthusiast Ronald Marshall, husband of the current president, sets the mood with music from his personal collection, in addition to music requested by members. Members donate everything from televisions, games, and furniture to make their center cozy.

The committee is a volunteer-based program; however, the level of work being performed would make you think that there were paid employees on staff. Activity calendars and special event flyers are designed by secretary Susan Millman, and the editors of the center's newsletter are vice president Joye Clark and S. Jay Martin. Anthony Williams is the resident/member artist and photographer. The Photo Gallery has just opened and is available for viewing daily.

Membership is designed for Fordham Hill Oval residents aged 50 and older; however, guests of residents also may join. The fee is a nominal $25 per person for a two-year membership. Members also pay for their own supplies, field trip fees, and special events. Current membership is at 120; however, daily attendance averages between 10 and 40 members. The center is open Monday through Friday and on evenings and weekends for special events.

Health screenings and other health-related activities are provided. A special feature is the group shopping trips offered in partnership with the neighboring Tolentine-Zeiser Senior Center. Other activities include arts, crafts, jewelry/card making, table games such as Scrabble, and movie matinees. A monthly activity calendar and newsletter are posted in each building on the property. The senior center serves all of Fordham Hills through fundraising functions such as a Fall Festival where members exhibit and sell handmade items. A favorite of the community are the cookouts and baked goods made by the seniors.

The senior center provides a safe haven for Fordham Hill Oval seniors who would not otherwise leave their apartments.

In recognition of Older Americans Month, the committee sponsored "The Elder's Seniors Luncheon,"   which was its first effort to honor residents aged 86 and older. The honorees were well deserving of the honor-not just for their age, but for their perseverance and pride. I was humbled by each honoree and how their individual stories represented "walking history."

Here is a snapshot of each honoree:


 

• Tony Daddatto (standing, first from left), 87, raised in New York City. At the age of five, Daddatto walked the Harlem Tunnel when it first opened in 1940 with his father. He served in WWII in the Pacific where he was wounded and spent three years in the hospital. A retired optician after working for 60 years, Daddatto currently volunteers at the VA Hospital fitting glasses for veterans.
• Magda Ferencz (standing, second from left), 90, born in Germany and a proud New Yorker who loves the Bronx. She is retired from Presbyterian Hospital, is very active, and calls Fordham Hills "Our Park Avenue." As I met her, she pointed to the jazzy gold sneakers she was wearing, which reflected how active and proud she is!
• Daisy Hollie (standing, third from left), 92, born in Selma, AL. Retired from the City of New York, Hollie has been working every day since proudly taking care of her grandchild.
• Eldred Hill (standing, fourth from left), 86, a veteran who served in WWII, came out of the service, and went to work for and retired from the New York City Fire Department. Hill's platoon was completely lost in 9/11 trying to rescue trapped individuals from the World Trade Center. Although Hill suffered from breathing problems, he wanted to help in the 9/11 rescue efforts, but could not. As a retiree, Hill continues to provide support to his unit and families through participation in platoon events.
• Edythe Miller (standing, fifth from left), 86, a proud Tuskegee University graduate. Miller worked with the famed Tuskegee Airman as a nutritionist for 33 years. She's now retired and is the reigning senior center Scrabble champion.
• Carrie Horsley (seated, first from left), 91, born in Charlotte, NC, lost her mother at age 11.  Horsley is widowed, raised three children, and is soft spoken but a pillar of strength and courage.
• Mildred Odems (seated, second from left), 90, born and raised in New York City. She has lived through WWII, Korea, and Vietnam and lost two of her three children. She is retired from the telephone company.
• Margaret Thompson (seated, third from left), 88, came to New York from the South in 1939.  She wanted to attend Bethune College to become a dietician, but her family could not afford the $50 admission fee. She worked as a domestic servant for one family for 28 years. As a result of her valiant and dedicated service, her employer offered her a comfortable retirement so she could afford to live at Fordham Hills. Thompson is one of the original members of the senior center.

The COE Executive Board members are: (pictured from left to right) Joye Clark (Co-Founder), Lottie Raukx, Dolores Hill, Gloria Marshall, Susan Millman, Robert Konchalski and Jay Martin in the back; (not pictured: Dorothy Faison, Bertha Cooke and Connie Edwards).  The COE implemented and manages their own also emergency call/contact system open to all seniors of the Fordham Hill Oval (which the on-site property management company, police and fire department has used in several emergency situations) so that they can check in on one another especially for those residents who live alone.   

So what does size have to do with it?  Absolutely nothing!

I believe that it is not the SIZE of the building, budget, staff, membership or amount of activities/amenities that defines a senior center; it is the love, respect, pride, spirit of volunteerism, dedication and support of the users that defines a senior center. Additionally, I believe that the existing Senior Center Network is enriched by senior programs like the Fordham Hill Oval Committee on Elders, and is a program that can be easily replicated. Congratulations to the Fordham Hill Oval Committee on Elders for their vision, dedication, hard work, and a job well done!

For more information on the Fordham Hill Oval Committee on Elders contact Gloria Marshall, Executive Board President at 718-365-4148.

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