Marion Pritchard’s remarkable efforts
during WWII helped to hide hundreds of
Jewish children.

Early in the occupation, Marion was asked by her supervisor to take home the young son of a Jewish couple before they were deported. However, her life as an insurgent really began when she saw the residents of a Jewish children’s home deported.

“That event really increased her resolve, and she decided that this [rescue work] was something she ought to do,” recalled her son, Ivor Pritchard.

Marion went on to dedicate much of her time to hiding, sheltering and moving Jewish children who were in danger of being sent to concentration camps. Ivor explained that Marion actually does not know how many of the children she helped ultimately survived  the War. “She knows that she helped to hide hundreds of children, but with the exception of a few, she doesn’t know how many of them survived,” he said.

Marion’s connections with her charges were naturally limited by her sense of duty. “When you’re trying to keep people hidden, you don’t want to know any more than you have to, so you don’t have anything to tell if you get caught,” Ivor noted.

After the War, Marion became a social worker for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) and helped to organize displaced person camps. It was at an UNRRA camp that she met Tony Pritchard, a former U.S. Army officer who became the camp director. “They had actually met while she was training for the job but parted ways and were reunited when he was brought in to run the camp,” recalled Ivor. “They reestablished their relationship there and were married at the camp.”

After several years working in the camps, the Pritchards returned to the United States and went on to have three boys. However, Marion never gave up her work on behalf of Jewish refugees, later taking a position with the Boston Jewish Family and Children’s Service.

After Tony passed away, Marion decided to move to the Washington, D.C., area to be closer to one of her children. Ivor lives in Cleveland Park, and Marion moved to The Georgetown Retirement Residence, an assisted living community that is only three miles away.

Marion had been living at The Georgetown for several years when a series of falls resulted in a trip to the emergency room. From the hospital, Marion went to a rehabilitation center to learn to walk with a walker. When she was released back to The Georgetown, they recommended that she receive additional nursing care and suggested Capital City Nurses, a full service home care agency.

“Capital City has been helping her since last November, and their services have been very good,” Ivor said. He explained that the degree of help provided has varied according to his mother’s needs.

The caregivers from Capital City have formed a strong bond with Marion. “The caregivers have come to understand how my mother sees things,” Ivor said. “They are very good at encouraging her to be active but also respect her independence, which is so important.”

The independent spirit that allowed Marion to risk everything to protect and save children during the War endures to this day. While she may not know all the victims she saved, her legendary efforts will certainly never be forgotten.

After the passing of his wife, Doris, Joel Richmond moved to an assisted living community where he has been receiving home care services, which give his son Allan, peace of mind.

For the ‘sandwich generation’, finding the appropriate care for a parent can be a stressful time, but it is particularly difficult if an adult child is without the support of siblings or other family. This was the case for Allan Richmond when his mother passed away in November of 2006.“She was the independent one and really the caretaker of my dad giving him his medications and things like that,” he said.  “Although my dad could walk around fairly well, at that time it was a two-story house and I knew he could not stay there alone.”

Allan’s father, Joel, worked for Glenn L. Martin making planes during WWII and eventually went into his wife’s family business full-time, helping her run their store, Ray’s Children Shop.  Living with his wife, Doris, and Allan above the popular spot near downtown Baltimore, Joel and Doris ran the business until they sold it in 1989.

By the time Allan helped move Joel into Springhouse, an assisted living community in Pikesville, he fortunately already had connections with the home care company, Nurses Available.

“They had provided intermittent services for my parents, such as transportation, and they would help in emergency situations,” said Allan.

The company was still assisting Joel in 2008 when he had a mild heart attack that caused him to lose his ability to walk.   Since Allan and his wife were out of the country at the time, Pat Kloiber, manager of Nurses Available, immediately stepped in to ensure Joel was provided with 24-hour care.

He has maintained this full-time care ever since, receiving assistance with dressing, bathing and meal preparation, among other services.

“He has 14 shifts a week and six caregivers who alternate working with him,” said Allan.  “They really know him personally since each individual has been with my dad for at least a year and they’ve been very good working with him.”

Most importantly, Allan’s longstanding relationship with the home care company has allowed him peace of mind, despite the fact that he sees his father up to six days a week.

“I do the best I can, but we occasionally go away, so I’m thankful we’ve been able to work with an agency that offers us this stability,” he said.

After his wife's passing, retired Rear Admiral Ed Keats was still determined to move to the retirement community they had chosen years before.

Ed Keats, a retired Rear Admiral is a graduate of the US Naval Academy.  He received the degree of Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  He was a career naval officer and aviator.  During World War II he took part in the captures of Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.  After his naval service he was engaged in civilian positions, the last being President of a dredging company operating in the Persian Gulf.  In retirement he has taught “World War in the Pacific” and “America in the Last Quarter of the Eighteenth Century” at the Johns Hopkins Odyssey program and at the Baltimore County Community College.  At present he is engaged in an hour and a half on Thursdays for ten weeks course on the Pacific.

Over a period of many years friends of Ed Keats and his late wife invited them to dinner at various retirement communities in the Baltimore area.  Both of them agreed that Brightwood was unquestionably the top of all such places.  They recognized its cost as being above that charged by many lesser competitors although comparable with others offering not quite as much.  They told their children and grandchildren that if they were ever to decide to leave the condominium where they lived they would move to Brightwood.  Even after Mrs. Keats died her widowed husband held on to his condominium apartment.  After he attended his Seventy-Fifth Reunion and found only three other classmates present, all of them confined to wheelchairs pushed by family members he interpreted the scene as depicting the inevitability of his own aging.  It affected him to the extent of his recognizing his need to live where he would have services to an magnitude not available at any condominium.   Even though he is still enjoying excellent health and vigor he promptly reacted.  Within a month he purchased a unit at the community, which calls itself “Brightwood Club,” eschewing the word “retirement.”  Now, after just a year’s residence, he desires to tell the readers of “SourceBook” of his happiness.  He says the staff treats the residents as though they were their grandparents.  The gated community has twenty-four hour roving security provided by experienced men and has Registered Nurses to attend to day-to-day medical concerns.  All of the rooms are spacious, all the views are unobstructed outside, the weekly cleaning and flat laundry service is thorough.  Best of all, the beautiful dining room provides “four star” dinner meals with at least three choices of soups, salads, entrées, vegetables and desserts.  Unique to Baltimore, all residents own their units outright.  Thus they, through an elected board, instead of a developer or outside investor, make the policy decisions for the community.

Mrs. H lives in a beautiful contemporary home in suburban Maryland that she and her husband had chosen for its design and location to friends and family. It was also the ideal home for accommodating their desire to eventually age in place.

The two met at a hospital outside of London in WWII when she was an Army nurse and he was a doctor caring for wounded pilots. “We fell in love, and when we returned to the states, we got married,” she says.

The couple had three children and proceeded to travel a great deal on overseas assignments. When her husband passed away, there was no question in her mind that she would remain at home. Unfortunately, she fell and broke her hip, but was determined to return home despite needing an extended hospital stay and rehabilitation.

While her family backed her decision, they knew she would need additional help. They then identified the homecare agency CarePlus Home Health, who connected them with caregiver Meri Tegegne.

Meri started working with Mrs. H after she received some rehabilitation at home and was able to help Mrs. H continue her exercises to properly recover. Mrs. H has since gone from using a walker to now just using a cane for balance.

When asked about her last year being Mrs. H’s caregiver, Meri says, “I feel blessed. I lost my mother about 10 years ago, so I treat Mrs. H like my mom.”

Mrs. H is equally enamored with Meri, “She is a wonderful person, very kind and loving. I can’t say enough things. It’s been a great help to me.”

While Meri provides assistance with bathing, meals, laundry, light housekeeping and companionship, the two enjoy spending their time walking around the neighborhood and visiting on Mrs. H’s deck overlooking a beautiful wooded backyard.

Not only does Mrs. H’s family feel her needs are being met, but they feel they have the “perfect system,” and Meri is a valuable team member. “On weekends we spend time as a family, and we feel very comfortable knowing that on Monday Meri will be with mom,” says Mrs. H’s daughter-in-law. “She is reliable and we know we can count on her and we trust her. Mom will say on Sundays, “I miss Meri- I can’t wait for Meri to come tomorrow.”

One of Sandy’s favorite memories growing up in Minneapolis, Minn. was seeing Roosevelt when he campaigned in her hometown and St. Paul in the 1930s.  “He was in an open car with his wife and we just thought it was so exciting,” she said.

After graduating high school, she worked for the Dayton Company for over two years, a job she was thankful to have as Americans were overcoming the Depression.  When WWII started, however, she enlisted in the Navy at age 20 with the help of her father and left her hometown for boot camp.

“Here I was this little girl getting out of Minnesota for the first time and I was in New York City,” Sandy said with a smile.  Through the Navy, she was able to attend college in Millersville, Ga. and was eventually assigned to the Patuxent River Naval Air Station where she handled payroll for all of the sailors and seamen. 

There, she met Donald, an accountant who was also in the Navy.  They married in her hometown and had two daughters.  Over the years, he worked for the Internal Revenue Service and later started his own business. Sandy enjoyed working for him while the couple frequently made trips to their house in Ocean City, NJ.

It was almost overnight that Sandy said she noticed a change in Donald.  “One time he got lost driving somewhere he’d been hundreds of times,” she said.  In addition to showing signs of dementia, he had experienced falling incidents, for which he had to receive minor surgery. 

When Donald passed away, Sandy stayed at their home for a year and half before deciding to make a transition.  With the help of her daughters who visited often, she found The Maples of Towson, an assisted living community that could offer her a maintenance-free lifestyle and a more active environment. 

“Fortunately, even in this bad market, our house sold right away,” said Sandy.  “When I arrived here, it was so much better than being alone in a big house.”

It was especially important for Sandy to meet other people, since at the age of 88, she said she is now either too far away from her friends or has outlived most of them.  With a smaller size of 70 to 80 residents at The Maples, she has found it that much easier getting to know her peers.

“Some of them are absolutely fascinating. We have someone here that was captured in WWII and was a prisoner in one of Hitler’s concentration camps,” she said.  “We’re all from different parts of the Union and have somehow come to The Maples.”

As she enjoys interacting with her fellow residents, she also takes advantage of seeing her family, who will come and stay with her, or take her to Ocean City for a few days. The opportunity to venture off-campus is something she especially appreciates, since the community’s convenient location to Towson Plaza and the library was among the perks that appealed to Sandy and her family.

When she is not venturing out to the local restaurants and shops, Sandy, who enjoys sewing and playing the piano, has the flexibility of being as active at The Maples as she chooses.  “I have so much to do writing letters, but I’m getting into the activities more and I’ve watched a few performances,” she said.   

Most importantly, she can participate in the variety of stimulating activities knowing she has access to a full range of care options.  At The Maples, the team of care providers works closely with residents, families and health care professionals to develop personalized service plans based on an individual’s needs, desires and abilities.  Residents can also receive assistance with activities of daily living or take advantage of other onsite medical services such as diagnostic services and physical therapies.

In addition to comprehensive care, Sandy enjoys numerous amenities which include three daily meals, housekeeping, laundry services and a state-of-the-art emergency call system.  She can also be seen utilizing the beauty shop or reading in the small library where people have contributed various books. 

“You don’t have to cook or clean, and after cooking so long, I don’t miss it at all,” she said.  “I’ve heard about other people not as happy with how the staff takes care of them in other retirement homes; I’m very satisfied here.”

From seeing a future president to her service in the Navy, there is no question Sandy has led an eventful life.  Among those experiences she can look back fondly on is her decision to take the next step and look into a new housing option.  While this is a transition others often find difficult, Sandy can say that with the supportive and stimulating environment she has found at The Maples, life continues to be fascinating.

“So far, I’m very happy,” she said. 

After serving in WWII as a combat infantryman, Frenis taught eighth grade science for 25 years while Mabel worked as a secretary and moved up to management for Montgomery Public Schools. She has also published an autobiography and held the title of Ms. Senior America. The Hoffmans have two children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, most of whom live close by in the Frederick area.

When Frenis began to experience health issues, he quickly learned that a nursing home was not his ideal living arrangement. “He became an accomplished escape artist,” Mabel said of his attempts to leave the facility and get back home.

Mabel then learned of the possibility of home care from her elder law attorney. When he recommended Home Instead Senior Care, the Hoffmans contacted its local franchise serving Frederick, Washington and Carroll Counties.

For the past three years, the home health agency has not only allowed Frenis to live at home, but it has provided Mabel some respite as the caregivers, who help with laundry, cleaning and meal preparation, are always available. “The company is here for us, whatever the needs are,” she said. “They will always ask, ‘Is there anything else I can help you with?’”

Mabel described a situation in which she had an engagement she wanted to attend that conflicted with Frenis’ care schedule. The caregiver said, “I really want you to go do this for yourself.” Confident with the aides, Mabel has peace of mind knowing there is always someone who can look after Frenis.

Their companionship has also enhanced his quality of life as he continues his favorite activities including going to Baker Park to feed the ducks and shooting pool at the senior center. When asked how he felt about spending time with his caregivers, Frenis responded, “I love it!”

As individuals who thrive on their relationships and feel blessed with the memories they have shared, the Hoffmans feel that the individuals at Home Instead are an extension of their family. “We’ve lived a great life and we’ll continue to live a great life with the help of Home Instead,” said Mabel.

Born in St. Louis, Mo., Thelma worked as a salesperson until WWII broke out. It was then she decided to take an examination in order to qualify for work with the federal government and, as a result, she came to Washington, D.C.

She recounts eating lunch one day with several of her coworkers when one mentioned that she “had a wonderful brother.” Eventually her coworker introduced her brother, David Aronin, to Thelma just as he was getting ready to go overseas with the Navy. After the war, the couple married.

Thelma speaks fondly of their first home in Washington, D.C. and the fact that it only cost $8,500. The couple proceeded to raise their two children in the District, but eventually the family moved to Langley Park, Md. when the children were school aged. They lived in their Maryland home for many years until the children were grown and moved out.

As empty nesters, the couple decided it was time for a change. They moved to Leisure World in Silver Spring, Md., where they lived in a two-bedroom apartment for 22 years. Thelma says, “There were all kinds of activities and restaurants; it was a good place to live.”
In 2002, David passed away and their home became difficult for Thelma to maintain. “The apartment was just too much for me,” she says. She decided it was time to find a different option that would better suit her lifestyle and needs.

With the help of her daughter, Bobbie, Thelma narrowed her options and ultimately selected Morningside House. The independent and assisted living community would allow her to be closer to Bobbie, who would often make the near-hour drive to visit her mother at Leisure World. It would also offer Thelma a maintenance-free lifestyle with its housekeeping, linen and laundry services in addition to the sense of security both women felt with the community’s 24-hour emergency call system.

Among the many other amenities residents have the luxury of are spacious floor plans, daytrips, live music and entertainment, computer centers, a full-service beauty/barber salon and a concierge service.

Although the search for housing options can seem daunting, Bobbie advises others helping a parent find a community to “do your research and visit different communities.” She recommends that families bring an “additional set of eyes” to look at the different choices and to come prepared with questions.

And based on her mother’s experiences since making the move, it is very evident to Bobbie that her efforts have certainly paid off. Thelma has enjoyed participating in the vast amount of activities the community offers, most notably the lectures and the meetings. She particularly enjoys the weekly discussions about current events. “If you like to take part in things, this is the place to live,” she says. In addition, she loves going on the weekly shopping trips and the overall convenience of having transportation provided by Morningside House.

Thelma also enjoys the food at Morningside House and is very appreciative of the fact that the staff is able to accommodate her diet under her doctor’s orders. She states, “During the day you can eat as much as you want and ask for more. They are very generous here.”

This support from the staff extends beyond Thelma and her peers since making connections to the outside community is a priority for Morningside House. The community participates along with their seven sister communities in an innovative program titled C.A.R.E, which is designed to provide outreach and support to local causes. Each month, a portion of the community’s profit is donated to assist an organization or individual in need.

“In 2009, Morningside House Assisted Living decided the best way to help the community during these difficult economic times is to give back,” said Kelly Mason, President and CEO of Morningside. “Local families and organizations are vital to the overall economic health of our communities and we are happy to help out in any way we can. That is why we created the C.A.R.E Project. We know how important the community is to our seniors and their families. I hope that our donations will inspire others to do so as well and help a local family in need.”

Within the community, Thelma is currently involved in a physical therapy program after breaking a bone in her hip. Providing individualized care, her therapists are able to visit her right in her apartment and engage her in exercises throughout the community.

This treatment is actually part of a new “comprehensive medical model of care” program at Morningside House. The program is administered by Dr. Salazar, who is a Board-certified geriatrician and the Medical Director at the community’s Ellicott City branch.

The program includes 24-hour on-site nursing; Geriatrician-approved resident care plans; in-house coordinated care and case management services; onsite physical, occupational and speech therapies; and an electronic medication management system. There are also weekly interdisciplinary team meetings and staff training that far exceeds State regulations.

It is these elements that make the comprehensive care model so beneficial. In addition to Thelma, the program has impacted many of the residents’ lives already by reducing their amount of hospitalizations and improving their overall quality of life.

“It’s very convenient,” says Bobbie, who has been very impressed with not only the medical services team, but everything the community as a whole has offered her mother.

The following are real-life stories of residents that have benefitted from the program:

Getting Great Rehabilitation in Assisted Living

Mildred Walker grew up in Northern Michigan before she came to Washington, D.C. during WWII to work in the Pentagon. She worked for several news commentators during her career and met her husband, a Navy Officer, with whom she had three children.

Living alone, she had an unfortunate fall that sent her to the hospital and then to a rehabilitation center. She eventually found Emeritus of Arlington, an assisted living community in Ballston that offers a full rehabilitation program in partnership with Genesis.

Previously using a wheelchair when she moved to the community, Mildred now only requires the use of a walker. “I have come a long way,” she said, crediting the team’s approach to her rehabilitation and therapy.

Using Technology to Rehabilitate in Assisted Living

Alex Almasov was born in Argentina and moved to the U.S. at age 12. After college, he joined the State Department and served in five countries while raising two children with his wife. In 2009, he showed symptoms of paralysis in his lower extremities caused by an infection and, despite several surgeries, did not regain control of his legs.

Alex started a rehabilitation program and had been at two facilities before moving to Emeritus. “The rehabilitation services are wonderful,” he said. “I have made very clear progress in my three and half months here.”

He marveled at the technology and opportunities for independence that his electric wheelchair offers and the progress that has been made since the Americans with Disabilities Act first passed. He has also been impressed with services like MetroAccess which makes it possible for people to better connect with others.

For those facing similar challenges, Alex said therapy requires discipline, but he greatly appreciates the support he has received in rehabilitation in order to achieve his goals.

Occupational Therapy in Assisted Living Makes a Difference

Mary Buckley was not only born and raised in New Orleans, but it is where she had four of her five children. Her husband’s service in the Regan Administration brought the family to Washington, D.C.

Following his passing, she was reaching for something up high in the grocery store and fell which ledi to several complications. She was already familiar with the assisted living community and felt it was an excellent alternative.

At the community Mary serves as the head of the Resident Council. An avid swimmer, she compared the philosophy she shared when teaching swimming lessons to the encouragement she receives in the rehabilitation program. “I don’t believe in telling someone what they are doing wrong all the time; you have to give them encouragement so they will come back the next day,” she said.

Occupational Therapist Pat Smith said, “Mary has been a wonderful student.” In addition to traditional exercise programs, Pat’s team was able to modify Mary’s environment, making her apartment easier and safer to navigate.

As a pilot, Norman served in the Marine Corps during World War II, but left the military following his graduation from college in 1948. Two years later, he married and went on to start a 20-year career in the manufacturing and construction business, through which he and his family traveled to various parts of the U.S., England and Canada. After serving as executive vice president for the Canadian subsidiary of Turner & Newell, Ltd, he left his Montreal home of eight years to return to the U.S. where he joined Merrill Lynch. For 20 years, he managed several offices in the Delaware Valley and eventually retired in 1988.

It was in 1999 that Norman’s wife passed away and he began to seriously consider the idea of a making the transition to a retirement community. Wanting the convenience of staying near his hometown of Berwyn, Pa., Norman had visited Dunwoody Village on several occasions to see his mother and cousin and was impressed with the care they received.

“It was very important to me to have the healthcare facilities that Dunwoody has. My mother had a couple of health incidents in which they took very good care of her,” he said.

Aside from the medical care that extends to assisted living and skilled nursing, it was also the luxurious residential accommodations and friendly service Norman knew he would find that further attracted him to the community.

“Dunwoody has all of the amenities that I wanted,” he said.

And for the past 10 years, he has enjoyed the amenities that have offered him a fun and maintenance-free lifestyle, from housekeeping services to transportation to a fitness center and game room. He also noted how easy it is for one to assimilate in the community, thanks to the welcoming staff and residents.

“I had a couple of friends who lived here as well, but I found it very easy to meet other people. There is a New Resident Hospitality Committee that gives people the opportunity to meet and go to dinner with some of the current residents if they wish,” said Norman.

While a range of activities keeps residents socially engaged, there are also several organizations in which to get involved. Norman is the treasurer of the community’s Residents’ Association and also the chairman of the Model Railroad Committee.

“Dunwoody has a large collection of trains that belonged to one of Dunwoody’s original residents and the whole thing has been expanded and maintained,” he said.

Although there is always something going on within the community, Norman also feels fortunate in being just a short trip away from his two daughters and twin granddaughters in West Chester and New Jersey.

As a second generation resident, Norman’s decision to make the move to Dunwoody may have been an obvious one, however, it a decision that for the past 10 years he has never regretted.

Madeline met her husband Stan during WWII. He was a B-17 pilot assigned to the Air Force base in her hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. “We met on a blind date and were married about three months later,” she said. “We were together for about 60 years.”

After several assignments around the country, they settled in Stan’s hometown, Swickley, Pa., and raised their two children. Her husband flew for commercial airlines for a while, but said that he “felt like a bus driver,” so he joined the family business. “We built a beautiful house in a wooded area that we loved,” said Madeline.

As much as she loved the family home, she did not feel comfortable living there by herself after her husband’s passing with the amount of work needed to maintain the property and its secluded location.

She opted to find a new home near her daughter Susan in Northern Virginia. After visiting many communities in the region, Madeline chose Sommerset. She cites the location, which was walking distance to the library and other amenities, as what initially drew her to the community. However, it has been the friendships she has formed and the full plate of activities that has kept her fulfilled.

While many people might find the downsizing process a huge challenge, Madeline graciously accepted help from her daughter and daughter-in-law to make the transition. With her granddaughter also helping organize her spacious two-bedroom apartment, it was soon ready for Madeline.

At her arrival, she was greeted by another resident who took her down to dinner, “I have been enjoying my new friends ever since,” she exclaimed. “Friends are so easy to make.”

Madeline had also made up her mind that she was going to take advantage of every opportunity possible at Sommerset. She not only tries to participate in every activity, but is also very involved as a member of the activity committee, which is made up of residents who plan the activities, events and trips for the community with the activity director.

One aspect of living at Sommerset that Madeline particularly enjoys is the daytrips, especially to the museums in Washington, D.C. “There isn’t one single thing I don’t think that I haven’t seen; I’ve seen everything!” she said with a laugh. Her daughter even marvels at the various attractions Madeline has been able to visit.

Another convenience at the community is its regularly scheduled transportation to local grocery stores and shopping centers. Madeline is also able to get a ride to her doctors’ appointments, “I love the fact that I don’t have to bother my daughter for a ride to the places I need to go,” she said.

In the eight years that Madeline has been living at Sommerset, she has experienced some slight changes in her mobility. “They take such good care of you,” she stated, referring to the supportive staff and services that have helped many of her friends maintain their independence. The community works closely with the residents to coordinate healthcare providers if needed, offering a cost-effective alternative to other senior care settings.

With endless activities and a sense of security, Madeline is of course pursuing her artwork and proudly displays some of her paintings in her apartment. After spending some time with her, one quickly realizes that her first and best work of art is the wonderful lifestyle she has created for herself at Sommerset.
“It’s a very happy place to live,” she said.