SHARING OUR STORIES

News of the American

Baptist Homes of the West

VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 3 • MARCH 2010

Mature Living Since 1949

Residents of Plymouth Village took the stage with staff, board

members and students from nearby Highland Grove Elementary

School. Their song received a standing ovation – and set the tone

for the three-day meeting.

Through educational sessions, special speakers and tours, the

ABHOW family marked the deep connections across its 32 cam-

puses while specifically celebrating the relationship between its

three Redlands communities and the city.

“We’re asking the question, ‘Is ABHOW better because we’re

in Redlands, and is Redlands better because it has three ABHOW

Company CelebratesCommunity ConnectionsI N S I D E

Pages 3 & 4 Company salutes top

administrator, executive director.

Page 6 Twelve stars shine brightly

among ABHOW employees.

Page 12 South Lake Tahoe artist

overcomes adversity to pursue

his vision.

An intergenerational choir opened ABHOW’s 2010 Annual Meeting Feb. 19 in Redlands, Calif., with an inspiring performance that captured the conference theme, “A Community of Communities.”

Continued on page 2

2 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

communities?’” said Kay Kallander,

senior vice president for strategic plan-

ning and organizer of the event.

The answer is clearly yes. Meeting

in the auditorium of Redlands’ largest

private employer, ESRI – a company

whose founder’s mother was a resident

at Plymouth Village – attendees heard

guest speakers from the University of

Redlands and the city council highlight

ABHOW’s strong ties with the wider

community.

It was the perfect stage for ABHOW

to give its first social accountability

award to Plymouth Village. Former

ABHOW Vice President Steven Gar-

ner presented the award, named in his

honor for his visionary effort to link

the mission of ABHOW communities

to the towns and cities they serve. Garner recognized

Plymouth Village’s “outstanding program of charitable

care and community service,” valued at nearly $400,000

in the 2009 fiscal year.

Plymouth Village Executive Director Keith Kasin

received the award on behalf of his community. “It is

an amazing honor for Plymouth Village to be selected

as the first recipient of the Steven M. Garner Social

Accountability Award,” he said. “To me it is in keeping

with Plymouth Village’s tradition of being an active

participant in the larger community of Redlands and

continually seeking ways to give back to a community

that has been so supportive of us over the years.”

Kasin also won the Executive Director of the Year

award. Melody Daugherty of Casa de Redwood in Red-

wood City, Calif., received the Administrator of the Year

honor. (See stories, pages 3 and 4.)

ABHOW honored the social vision of David Kelly,

an advocate for affordable housing in South Lake

Tahoe, Calif., a member of the Tahoe Senior Plaza

board, and namesake of ABHOW’s newest affordable

housing community, Kelly Ridge. He received the

Corporate Governance Award.

ABHOW saluted the long service of board member

Art Christman Jr., a resident of Valle Verde in Santa

Barbara, by naming him an honorary corporate mem-

ber. Christman received the 2002 Corporate Governance

Award and the 2004 Trustee of the Year Award from

ABHOW’s state professional association, Aging Services

of California.

President and CEO Dave Ferguson presented the

Presidential Citation to Yannick Himber, formerly the

dining services director at San Joaquin Gardens, for his

exemplary leadership in creating new dining programs

for the Fresno, Calif., community. Himber is now area

general manager for ABHOW partner Sodexo.

Annual Meeting Continued from cover

Chief Governance Officer Randy Stamper (above, at left) names Art Christman Jr. an honorary corporate member, while President and CEO Dave Ferguson presents the Presidential Citation to Yannick Himber.

3 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

serving the needs of residents, as well as superior manage-

ment skills that involve everything from dealing with local

contractors to handling the flow of federal housing money.

“I have had the opportunity of working with Melody

for more than 10 years and have seen her assume more

and more responsibilities over that time,” said Ancel

Romero, ABHOW’s senior vice president for affordable

housing.

“She has met each and every one of those responsi-

bilities with characteristic tenacity and aplomb. Given

her considerable skills, experience and professionalism,

Melody truly personifies an ABHOW Administrator of the

Year,” he said.

But when Daugherty was first assigned to Casa de Red-

wood, it wasn’t a career move – only a fill-in. When Casa

de Redwood board members and residents realized what a

good job she was doing, they asked Romero to let her stay.

“That’s the first glimpse we had of this lady’s knowl-

edge and capability,” said William Van Cleve, board

chairman for Casa de Redwood. “There was no slack and

no downtime. She just amazed us with her grasp of the

situation, particularly with her knowledge of things relat-

ing to HUD.”

Daugherty continued to impress those around her with

her effective hiring practices, selecting a dedicated staff to

help the community run efficiently.

“We also admire her ability to get along with residents,

which is a critical issue when you’re dealing with elderly

people,” Van Cleve said, noting the community’s diverse

cross-section of residents might pose a challenge to others.

“It’s like she just walked in and became a member of the

family in her ability to deal with resident issues.”

Corporate

Stories Daugherty Named Administrator of the Year

When Melody Daugherty stepped into a temporary role as Casa de

Redwood’s property supervisor in January of 2007, it’s unlikely she was looking for any awards.

But three years later, she is ABHOW’s Administrator

of the Year, an honor presented at the ABHOW Annual

Meeting in February in Redlands, Calif.

The award recognizes Daugherty’s unflagging com-

mitment to her Redwood City, Calif., community and to

4 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

Corporate

Stories Executive Director Honor Goes to Kasin

Call it a double honor for Keith Kasin, executive director of Plymouth Village.

The Redlands, Calif., CCRC not only played host to

the ABHOW Annual Meeting in February, but it can

now boast that the person who helped put it all togeth-

er is ABHOW’s Executive Director of the Year.

“It is unusual that the Executive Director of the Year

happens to be hosting the meeting,” said Jeff Glaze,

ABHOW’s senior vice president and chief operations

manager. “It was very nice to be able to recognize Keith

on his home turf so that his staff and residents could

share in his recognition. It goes to the executive direc-

tor, but it’s a team award. It can’t be won without the

support of his team on campus.”

The Executive Director of the Year is determined

each year from the nominations of other executive

directors throughout ABHOW as well as staff in the

ABHOW home office.

Criteria for winners include exemplary performance

standards, extraordinary performance beyond established

goals, special contributions to ABHOW co-workers and

leadership, and mentoring of colleagues.

In their nominations, Kasin’s peers lauded his cre-

ativity and celebration of diversity, as well as his ability

to communicate with residents and staff. Annual meet-

ing attendees witnessed his organizational skills.

“One of the things that really worked in Keith’s favor is

his mentoring of Mildred Makamure, the administrator at

Fern Lodge and Casa de la Vista,” Glaze said. Kasin served

as her preceptor in the administrator training program

and helped her prepare to sit for her nursing home

administrator license.

“He’s giving back to Mildred what he was given

previously,” Glaze said,

noting that Kasin was

originally hired as

facilities manager in

1999. Through men-

toring, he was able to

earn his nursing home

administrator license

and be considered for

the executive director

post, which he assumed

in 2004.

“He’s a shining

example of the opportunity one has within ABHOW to

start in one role and ultimately move up to the execu-

tive director position,” Glaze said.

ABHOW, FoundationAnnual Reports Available

ABHOW celebrates its 60th anniversary and the ABHOW Foundation honors its donors’ generosity in the organizations’ 2009 annual reports, now available on the ABHOW Web site.

The ABHOW report explores the company’s trail-blazing leadership and highlights the pioneering lives of residents. The Foundation report, “A Mosaic of Generosity,” looks at the varied gifts that make up the Foundation and the many benefits it provides to resi-dents and the wider community. Both reports provide detailed financial statements for 2009.

The ABHOW report is available online at http://www.abhow.com/about/annual_report; the Foundation report is available at http://www.abhow.com/founda-tion. Hard copies can be obtained in the administrative offices of each ABHOW community.

5 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

Community

Stories Las Ventanas Joins ABHOW’s CCRC Family

The CCRC family recently expanded to 11 with the addition of Las Ventanas to ABHOW’s managed

communities.

Located in Summerlin, a master-planned community

in Las Vegas, Nev., Las Ventanas

was developed in partnership with

Greystone Communities Inc. of

Irving, Texas, which maintained

management, sales, and marketing

responsibilities after the community

opened in 2004.

Though the community’s 60

assisted living apartments and

60 skilled nursing suites are fully

occupied, filling the 186 residential

living apartments at Las Ventanas

has proven to be a challenge, says

Jeff Glaze, ABHOW’s senior vice

president and chief operations

manager.

“The community is well run,

but we needed to find a way to build the sales momen-

tum and get the residential living apartments full,” he

says. “The research showed market awareness of Las

Ventanas is low, so we’re launching a new campaign to

make more people aware of the community.”

The campaign touts Las Ventanas as “a wise decision.”

Advertising across all forms of media, including print,

television and billboards, began on Feb. 1, Glaze says.

Kedney Marketing Services has been retained to

manage the ongoing sales effort and implement new

strategies for marketing the community. SB&A, an

advertising and market research firm specializing

in senior living communities, is in charge of market

research and advertising.

Part of the success of the transition has been the deci-

sion to respect and keep what was working, Glaze says.

Las Ventanas is a lifecare community, and the new cam-

paign emphasizes the campus’ lifestyle while recognizing

the benefits of its care services, if they are needed.

“We’re moving the community over to ABHOW’s

financial systems and have been

working on that since Oct. 1,” he

says. ABHOW has also focused

on rebuilding and maintain-

ing relationships with vendors

serving Las Ventanas. “Building

on that continuity, we’ve hired

Executive Director June Con-

nelly. She knows the campus,

and we have confidence in her

leadership.”

“I’m very optimistic for this

change for many different rea-

sons,” Connelly says. “ABHOW

has over 60 years of experience

in this industry, and this is defi-

nitely a positive change for us.”

The response from residents has been supportive, she

says. “They see this as a seamless and natural transition.

They are happy to see ABHOW take more responsibility

to manage us and help us be successful. The residents see

we can benefit from ABHOW’s experience.”

Connelly is also optimistic that the new branding

and marketing direction will help more people realize

what Las Ventanas has to offer.

“The goal is to let people know what they’re miss-

ing by not being at Las Ventanas,” she adds. “I hope

that when people realize the true value of lifecare in a

CCRC, it will trigger a lot of interest and an upward

push on inquiries and visits to Las Ventanas.”

6 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

Community

Stories 12 Stars Enter Special Orbit

Debbie HallExecutive Assistant

Seniority, Inc., Pleasanton, Calif.

Debbie Hall is the executive assistant for Seniority.

She supports the president, the ABHOW sales team and

all Seniority managed properties. Because of Debbie’s

professional representation of ABHOW and Seniority,

her excellence in customer service, her strong sense of

humor and creative contributions, she deserves to be

recognized for the excellence, integrity, quality and car-

ing that she brings to her position.

Debbie’s interactions with

residents, co-workers, and outside

business partners are always pro-

fessional. They value her creativity

and wonderful sense of humor. It’s

not unusual to hear compliments

about her likable personality and

dedication.

This year Debbie dedicated an

enormous amount of time and effort in developing the

Seniority Spirit Program. She enthusiastically sup-

ported the development of a corporate-wide hospitality

program from the introduction of the concept. She was

instrumental in the development of over 30 products

and systems needed to support the culture shift.

Debbie’s work on Seniority Spirit was in addition to

her regular duties, including the coordination of trade

show logistics and Leadership Summit. The success of

this year’s event was due in large part to Debbie’s out-

standing efforts.

Maria GodoyCertified Nursing Assistant

The Terraces of Los Gatos, Los Gatos, Calif.

Multiple residents nominated Maria for the Circle

of Excellence. Their comments about her outstanding

service included the following:

“Maria is very considerate, gentle and con-

cerned about all the residents she cares for.”

“Maria makes sure that I am

covered up at bedtime.”

“Maria has performed

outstanding services for me.”

“She anticipates my needs

without me having to ask her.”

“She is always friendly, en-

couraging and smiling.”

“Maria is always attentive, kind, gentle and

caring.”

“Maria makes me feel cared for – she is a warm

and caring person.”

Every day across ABHOW’s 32 communities, employees embody the company’s mission with great energy. But 12 stars shined most brightly in 2009: the winners of the

Circle of Excellence. ABHOW communities sin-gled out the following employees for extraordinary performance. Their nominations say it all.

Continued on page 7

7 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

Maria began her employment with The Terraces of

Los Gatos on April 2, 2001, as a certified nursing assis-

tant in The Health Center; she also has a certificate as a

restorative nursing assistant (RNA).

The Terraces of Los Gatos is proud to select Maria

Godoy as our Circle of Excellence Finalist as she has

and continues to demonstrate excellence in the perfor-

mance of her job.

Jung Yi WhiteRestorative Nursing Assistant

Plymouth Village, Redlands, Calif.

Jung Yi (Jay) White is an exceptional RNA working

in The Health Center for the past eight years. She was

nominated by both residents and co-workers; they all

speak highly of her sweet disposition and dedication to

her job.

Jay has shown an unfailing

willingness to answer call lights,

work extra shifts and cover for

others in addition to her regular

duties. Jay is efficient and moves

quickly through her tasks, though

she never seems rushed. As one of

our residents said, “She always has

a smile for the residents and staff,

and is willing to lend a hand for

any task – no job is too large or small for her.”

Jay’s strength and knowledge allows her to convince

even the most reticent resident to cooperate, and her

easygoing manner makes them look forward to her vis-

its. One of her co-workers said it best: “Jay consistently

demonstrates excellence in everything, whether she

works the floor or as an RNA.”

The staff of Plymouth Village is proud and privileged

to select Jay as the recipient of the Circle of Excellence;

her values clearly support the ABHOW philosophy of

integrity and commitment to the rights of our residents,

while her work ethic supports her ability to continually

provide quality care to our residents.

Mildred Makamure

Affordable Housing Administrator

Casa de la Vista and Fern Lodge, Redlands, Calif.

Mildred strongly demonstrates and exemplifies what

a good property management professional should be.

She has the responsibility of run-

ning two separate senior affordable

housing communities in Redlands.

Mildred’s communities are con-

sistently maintained and kept in

immaculate condition. She oversees

a staff of seven and a social services

program. Additionally, she operates

an efficient meals program at Casa

de la Vista.

Under Mildred’s leadership, she and her staff

achieved an “above average” MOR rating and a REAC

score of 97 from HUD in calendar year 2009. Due to the

hard-working staff and excellent resident engagement,

outstanding property appearance, meaningful senior

programs and activities at both Casa de la Vista and

Fern Lodge, the National Affordable Housing Manage-

ment Association (NAHMA) has certified and recog-

nized both communities as Communities of Quality.

What makes all these accomplishments worthy of

recognition is that this was all done on an abbreviated

work schedule due to her AIT Internship work at Plym-

outh Village, from which she will successfully graduate.

Mildred works well with all Home Office staff and is ex-

tremely responsive, no matter what the request. Mildred

maintains an excellent working relationship with all of

her staff in addition to maintaining very good tenant

relations and the fiscal responsibility of both properties.

Continued on page 8

Circle of Excellence Continued from page 6

8 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

Nancy SpearConcierge

The Terraces of Phoenix, Phoenix, Ariz.

Nancy Spear is the “perfect

concierge.” She sits at the main

entrance to The Terraces of Phoe-

nix and is the first person whom

everyone meets as they enter the

lobby. Nancy has been with The

Terraces team since February

2005. She greets everyone with a

warm smile, is the master of han-

dling numerous issues at one time, and if she doesn’t

know the answer to a question – which is rare – she will

take the extra steps and find out. This is what customer

service is all about!

Her patience and warm demeanor make her a fa-

vorite with residents. In her quiet and efficient manner,

she handles the concerns of many and ends up with a

happy group of people who realize that their needs have

been met as well as the realization that someone cares.

It is with great pride that the Circle of Excellence

Award from The Terraces of Phoenix goes to Nancy

Spear. We celebrate Nancy and all that she brings to our

community.

Jesus NevarezDriver

Piedmont Gardens, Oakland, Calif.

Jesus Nevarez is the primary

driver at Piedmont Gardens; he was

enthusiastically selected as the Circle

of Excellence winner.

Jesus is reliable, responsible and

very customer service-oriented –

qualities that are appreciated by

everyone at Piedmont Gardens,

especially the residents.

Normally a journey by a resident to a medical or

dental appointment either for a check-up or a specific

problem can produce anxiety, but not when being

driven by Jesus!

When he meets you in the lobby with his welcoming

smile, when he helps you out of the car at your destina-

tion, Jesus is always friendly, considerate, on time and

very accommodating, making you feel cared for.

Riding in the car with Jesus is like being with fam-

ily, sharing bits of our lives and thoughts on current

happenings. Jesus sees the passengers as people to enjoy,

not old, sick and helpless. He exudes a passion for his

work that exemplifies the spirit of Piedmont Gardens.

Kathy SmithReceptionist

Grand Lake Gardens, Oakland, Calif.

Kathy started her career at Grand Lake Gardens in

November 2000 as a certified nursing assistant in our

Wellness Department, and her

dedication to residents was

exemplary. When a receptionist

position became available a few

years ago, everyone agreed that

Kathy was the best person for

this position, and she has proven

everyone right!

Kathy is the first person our

residents, prospects and visitors see when they enter

the community, and she makes a fantastic impression,

greeting everybody with a smile. She can be counted on

in case of an emergency and always shows true patience

with residents. Kathy is dedicated, reliable, and always

cheerful; her professionalism and knowledge are true

assets to Grand Lake Gardens.

Kathy has willingly taken on more responsibility,

and she is always looking for ways to improve the front

desk processes, while continuing to maintain excellent

customer service.

Circle of Excellence Continued from page 7

Continued on page 9

9 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

One resident summarized it best by describing Kathy

as “the best at the front desk!”

Steve CaseLifestyle Fitness Coordinator

San Joaquin Gardens, Fresno, Calif.

Steve came to San Joaquin

Gardens with in-depth experi-

ence as a fitness trainer and a

physical education coach. His

commitment to physical fitness

is shown in his personal workout

routine and his love of playing

basketball.

As the lifestyle fitness coor-

dinator at San Joaquin Gardens, Steve’s enthusiastic

approach to exercise and fitness has created “active and

enthusiastic” participation from residents at all levels.

One of our residents says, “Steve’s ability to connect

with residents at all levels is remarkable. His skill in

communicating with each resident makes each person

feel important and special.”

His professional expertise in developing individual

fitness programs to meet individual physical needs has

encouraged more residents to change to a healthier and

more active lifestyle. Since Steve joined our team at San

Joaquin Gardens, participation by residents in the fit-

ness programs has tripled.

Bill BeaversWait Staff

Pilgrim Haven, Los Altos, Calif.

Bill Beavers began working at Pilgrim Haven on Jan-

uary 10, 2001 as a waiter in the residential dining room.

He has endeared himself to the residents with his infec-

tious smile and his enthusiasm. His skills in customer

service are displayed every day as he greets each resident

by name and always remembers their preferences. He is

able to answer questions about the menu and is prompt

and accurate in delivering requested items.

One resident wrote, “He knows how to make you

feel comfortable by handing down cushions to those of

us who are shorter.” He is very prompt and accurate in

bringing the correct walker to each specific diner at the

close of a meal.

Another resident wrote, “He

makes being a waiter look like a

fun job. In fact, he always looks

like he is enjoying himself!” He

is gracious in offering assistance

to all and is especially sensitive

to those needing just a little extra

help. This quote by a resident says

it all: “Although he is so young, he never treats us like

little old ladies or men; he adds a special sunshine to

our dining room.”

In addition to receiving the Circle of Excellence

Award, Bill was the recipient of the Dependable Em-

ployee Award of 2009 at Pilgrim Haven.

Alex AlvarezCustodian

Rosewood, Bakersfield, Calif.

Joining our team as a cus-

todian on February 25, 2002,

Alex has proven himself to be a

great leader. Conscientious of his

responsibilities, Alex was nomi-

nated for Employee of the Month

in July for his excellent contribu-

tions to Rosewood. Aware of the

residents’ needs, Alex completes

his job duties without any complaints. His leadership

ability, warm smile and friendliness make him a great

asset to our team.

The residents describe Alex as a caring and compas-

sionate person who will do anything for them. Alex

is always friendly, helpful, courteous and kind. Alex is

Circle of Excellence Continued from page 8

Continued on page 10

10 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

a team leader with a wonderful personality; nothing

seems to bother him. He takes pride in his work and

follows through with perfection. He has never turned

down an assignment; with his happy, cooperative team

spirit he sets the example of Rosewood pride. He is a

great friend to everyone at Rosewood.

His work ethic is very impressive. He is a dedicated

employee who is always pleasant and helpful. Alex al-

ways works with a smile. We are thrilled to have such a

dedicated and wonderful employee here at Rosewood.

Rosewood is proud to select Alex Alvarez as our

Circle of Excellence Winner for 2009.

Raquel SernettHousekeeper

Judson Park, Des Moines, Wash.

Raquel has been working as a

housekeeper in the Judson Park

Health Center for nine years.

She has endeared herself to the

residents by not only being thor-

ough in her job but also by being

thoughtful.

Her thoughtfulness extends to

bringing residents flowers from

her own garden to brighten their rooms. She always has

a smile, and loves to sing for the residents as she goes

about her duties.

Raquel attended the Pioneer Network this summer

and is an advocate for culture change. She wants her

residents to have choices and feels that it is important

for them to live in a homelike environment.

Raquel’s commitment to her work and to the resi-

dents exemplifies excellence at Judson Park, and we are

proud to have her as the recipient of this year’s Circle of

Excellence Award.

Donna HamelFacilities Coordinator

Valle Verde, Santa Barbara, Calif.

An overwhelming majority of

residents wanted to make sure that

Donna received recognition for the

outstanding customer service that

she has provided over the last six

years. Her demanding job requires

processing hundreds of facilities

requests from the residents. While

managing the myriad details of

these requests, she delivers results in a timely and ac-

curate manner.

Residents are very complimentary of Donna and

note that even though a large part of her job is to hear

residents’ problems and complaints, she is always cheer-

ful, competent and courteous. Residents consider her

the “glue” that holds the maintenance and facilities

department together.

Valle Verde residents believe that Donna is long

overdue for this recognition and want to express their

sincere appreciation for all she does by making their

lives at Valle Verde exceptional!

Circle of Excellence Continued from page 9

11 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

Like many who watched the news out of Haiti after the devastating January earthquake, 82-year-old

Earline Small of Oakland, Calif., was deeply moved.

“I turned the television on, and I saw a woman who

did not have a face,” she told Angela Sanders, who is on

the activities staff at Piedmont Gardens’ health center,

Garden Terrace, where Small lives. “If I could, I would

be just like George Clooney. I would collect money from

other stars.”

Instead, Small and about 20 other Garden Terrace

residents sorted and packed boxes of quilts, dolls, pillows,

baby garments, and the like that their neighbors had made

by hand. Piedmont Gardens regularly hosts a senior center

where residents make craft items to donate to local organi-

zations. After the earthquake in Haiti, the residents chose

to donate their handmade gifts to the Buckner Interna-

tional Relief Foundation, which will ship them to Haiti.

“So far, we’ve shipped approximately five boxes,”

Sanders says. “One of the nicest things was these little

dolls they made for the children. On one side is a smiley

face and, on the other side, a frown. They’re safe, made

of cloth, and so cute.” Community members donated

30 or 40 of these therapeutic dolls, along with dozens of

other handmade items.

The effort was a real partnership among the residential

living, assisted living, and skilled nursing residents, says Liz

Chamish, community services director. “Residents were

involved at all levels. All these things were made with love,

and they are beautiful things.”

Residents of other ABHOW communities have also

found individual and collective ways to contribute to

the relief effort in Haiti. At San Joaquin Gardens in

Fresno, Calif., Chaplain Nancy Jen says three Sunday

collections raised a total of $2,135. Resident Arline

McElroy’s son-in-law works for World Vision, an inter-

national Christian relief foundation; the community

chose to send its donation for Haiti there.

At Valle Verde in Santa Barbara, Calif., resident Paul

Edwards raised $5,340 by holding a sale of his watercolor

paintings. Once a Disney animator, Edwards mounted

Community

Stories Residents Rally to Help Haiti

Continued on back page

Piedmont Gardens residents assemble handmade gifts (top photo) for survivors of the Haiti earthquake, while Valle Verde artist Paul Edwards (above) shows off a few of his paintings that were sold to raise money for the relief effort.

12 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

Resident Stories Kelly Ridge Artist Thankful for Comeback

Many a morning finds Larry Kendall at his easel in the for-est near Kelly Ridge,

the ABHOW community in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., where he lives. A painter, a woodcarver and a published poet, Kendall is grate-ful to be able to hold a paintbrush. Seven years ago, he was doing just that, starting work on a mural for a friend, when the scaffolding on which he was standing gave way and he fell more than 30 feet.

He landed face down on concrete, unconscious, his

left arm and one eye socket shattered. When paramedics

arrived, they found no pulse. His legs were entangled in

the collapsed scaffolding, and he was covered in blood and

gray paint from the five-gallon can he had been holding.

“The paramedics fought for 11 minutes to bring me

back,” Kendall says.

“One of them knew me

and she said, ‘I can’t let

him die.’”

He was flown to

Reno, Nev., where

specialists performed a

19-hour surgery to re-

construct his shoulder

and arm with titanium

parts. Doctors also re-

built his eye socket and

replaced his eye with an artificial one. Sixty-three at the

time, he was in and out of comas for weeks. Recovering

from the accident took four years, and it left him with

nothing to live on but a small disability payment.

“I couldn’t afford a place to live, so I lived in my

car,” he says. In the summer of 2009, he found a new

home in the just-opened Kelly Ridge affordable hous-

ing community.

Born in Colorado Springs, Kendall led a diverse and

peripatetic life before his accident. He served nine years

in the Army as part of a general’s security detail, work

that took him to Alaska, Africa, Asia and Europe. He

was in Berlin when the Berlin Wall was built, and he

spent off hours visiting art museums in Russia, China,

Germany, Italy and France. He wasn’t a practicing artist

Artist Larry Kendall works in his beloved Lake Tahoe.

Continued on page 13

13 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

at the time, but the masterworks he saw in his travels

stayed vivid in his mind.

After he left the Army, he worked in supply services

at the Sacramento Army Depot and then as a traveling

salesman before going back to school on the G.I. Bill.

He moved to South Lake Tahoe in 1970 and became

first a mechanical engineer and later a prison security

officer.

“I took up woodcarving to have something to do

when I retired,” he recalls. Working mostly with scrap

wood, he started making small carvings of wildlife in

1997 and has created more than 800 to date.

Painting came a few years later. With the help of lo-

cal artist Dave Russo, Kendall mastered oil, acrylic and

watercolor techniques and began painting landscapes

and animals. His work has been exhibited in dozens

of art shows, and about 60 of his paintings are now in

private collections.

Russo “has been behind me with his number nine

shoe, giving me kicks,” says Kendall, who credits the

man he calls the grandmaster with both his introduc-

tion to painting and with his comeback in the art.

“While I was in a coma, the grandmaster sat by my

bed,” he says. “We’re back now to where we were before

the accident. He comes to see me at Kelly Ridge three

or four times a week, and I appreciate the man beyond

all words.”

Gratitude is something Kendall expresses often these

days. Once he was well, he says, he made a point of

contacting every doctor, every physical therapist, every

single person who had a role in his recovery. “I had the

privilege of being able to thank everyone personally,

including the helicopter pilot, for what they did to save

my life.”

Kendall shows off some of his pieces.

Kelly Ridge Artist Continued from page 12

14 M a r c h 2 0 1 0ABHOW Words

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the Aging: www.aahsa.org

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“American Baptist Homes of the West, as an expression of Christian mission, seeks to enhance the independence, well-being and security of older people through the pro-vision of housing, health care and supportive services.”

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Help for Haiti Continued from page 7

30 paintings on the walls of the Valle Verde art

room. Over the course of three days, dozens

of community residents and their neighbors

came to look. Many purchased their favorites by

writing a check to the Red Cross, designated for

Haiti relief.

Residents in various ABHOW communi-

ties intend to continue their relief efforts. The

Valle Verde Resident Council put a notice in

its weekly newsletter suggesting that residents

could make further donations directly to the

Red Cross. Piedmont Gardens expects to hold

fundraisers and collect clothing donations. At

San Joaquin Gardens, plans are moving forward

to collect food to donate to Haiti.

Residents’ reasons for giving are straight-

forward and heartfelt. Earline Small says she

wanted to pack donated items for Haiti “because

they need them. And we might have something

over here like that.”

Paul Edwards referred to a Bible story. “The

rich young ruler went to Christ and asked how

to get into heaven,” he says. “He was ordered to

give to the poor. I’m not a rich young ruler, but

I’m a rich old geezer and I wanted to help.”

San Ramon Community Breaks GroundDevelopment of Valley Vista, ABHOW’s latest affordable housing com-munity, is now under way in San Ramon, Calif., following a Feb. 12 groundbreaking ceremony. ABHOW and community leaders put their collective muscle into the project. Participating were (from left to right) Ryan Chao, executive director of ABHOW development partner Satellite Housing; Jim Kennedy, redevelopment director for Contra Costa County; ABHOW President and CEO David B. Ferguson; Larry Fergison, director of HUD’s development division; Cheri Clasen, field representative for the office of Congressman Jerry McNearny; H. Abram Wilson, mayor of San Ramon; John Chan, board chair of Merritt Community Capital; Margaret Schrand, vice president of Wells Fargo; Roger Gaither, legal counsel for Church on the Hill; John Weaver, pastor of Church on the Hill; and Ancel Romero, ABHOW’s senior vice president for affordable housing.