Category Archives: Announcements

On Monday, May 23, 2016, Plymouth Harbor celebrated its 50th anniversary on MacNeil Day 2016 — an annual tribute to our founder, The Rev. Dr. MacNeil. The event began with a Commemoration Ceremony at 4:00 pm in the Mayflower Restaurant and Café, and was followed by a reception.

Plymouth Harbor opened its doors on January 15, 1966 to the first residents of our community, and on May 6, 1966, an official dedication ceremony was held. Over the years, Plymouth Harbor has grown, welcoming residents from all over the world, enhancing programs, activities, and amenities, and expanding, first with the addition of the North Garden, and now the Northwest Garden. There is no doubt that Plymouth Harbor has endured the test of time due to the willingness of the entire organization to adapt and evolve to meet growing needs and changes in the industry.

The MacNeil Day celebration paid tribute to this notion, honoring our past, present, and future. It included remarks from President and CEO Harry Hobson, and a special address by John Patterson, former Chair and Trustee of the Plymouth Harbor, Inc. Board of Trustees. A proclamation from the City of Sarasota honoring Plymouth Harbor’s 50 years was presented by Suzanne Atwell, Vice-Mayor.

The proclamation conclusion read: Now, therefore, the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, and on behalf of the citizens of our community, takes great pride in recognizing May 23, 2016 as “Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay’s 50th Anniversary,” a day of special importance and worthy of the recognition of the citizens of the city of Sarasota.

The Rev. Dick Sparrow, Interim Chaplain, gave the invocation, and The Rev. Dr. Wes Bixby, Senior Minister at the First Congregational United Church of Christ Sarasota, concluded the ceremony with a responsive reading and benediction.

More than 230 guests attended the event, including Plymouth Harbor residents, employees, past and present members of the Plymouth Harbor, Inc. Board of Trustees and the Plymouth Harbor Foundation Board of Trustees, representatives from the United Church of Christ, and the local media.

Plymouth Harbor is proud to celebrate 50 spectacular years, and we look forward to many more. Below please find the 50th anniversary video:

HISTORY

Earth Day, celebrated each year on April 22, marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement that began in 1970. Earth Day is now a globally celebrated holiday, and serves as a day of education about environmental issues.

The brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI), and inspired by the anti-Vietnam War protests of the late 1960s, Earth Day was originally aimed at creating a mass environmental movement. It began as a “national teach-in on the environment,” and was held on April 22 to maximize the number of students that could be reached on university campuses. By raising public awareness of air and water pollution, Senator Nelson hoped to bring environmental causes into the national spotlight. It is safe to say that he largely accomplished that goal.

In 1990, Earth Day went global, with 200 million people in over 140 nations participating, according to the Earth Day Network (EDN), a nonprofit organization that coordinates Earth Day activities. Today, EDN collaborates with more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries. EDN estimates that more than 1 billion people are involved in Earth Day activities, making it “the largest secular civic event in the world.”

HOW PLYMOUTH HARBOR IS CONTRIBUTING

With the establishment of the Conservation Committee several years ago, Plymouth Harbor does its part to contribute to the green movement. The committee promotes conservation of resources within Plymouth Harbor, including recycling, water, and electricity usage, and other appropriate conservation measures. The committee also researches and makes recommendations on ways in which Plymouth Harbor may become more environmentally responsible. The committee has begun tracking Plymouth Harbor’s recycling, water, and electricity usage over the last few years.

PLYMOUTH HARBOR’S 2016 EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

Friday, April 22, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. in the Club Room.

The Conservation Committee invites all Plymouth Harbor residents to its annual Earth Day Celebration. At this year’s event, you can expect something different! We will provide refreshments, and most importantly interactive, informative, and fun activities! There will be giveaways, trivia, videos, and prizes. Mark your calendars, and stay tuned for more information.

The years of 2012 to the present represent a time of extreme growth and forward vision for Plymouth Harbor. Not only did Plymouth Harbor implement programs and practices that would best serve its current residents, both now and into the future, but the community also looked at the needs and services desired by future residents. Thinking of both today and tomorrow, Plymouth Harbor began drafting plans for a new building that would feature additional assisted and independent living units as well as a memory care center (now known as the Northwest Garden Building). In addition, in 2012, the Plymouth Harbor Foundation was established to further ensure the stewardship of funds contributed to Plymouth Harbor.

By: Becky Pazkowski

For the first time, Plymouth Harbor is able to offer Workplace English to our primarily Spanish-speaking employees, as part of our OnBoard Employee Wellness Program. The course is administered by State College of Florida’s Workplace Education program.

The classes are 2 hours per week for 10 weeks, and will be offered here on the campus of Plymouth Harbor for the convenience of our employees who wish to participate. At the end of the 10 week course, which runs March 1st through May 3rd, participants will receive a certificate of completion. This course is made possible through gifts to the Plymouth Harbor Foundation.

The years of 2007—2011 represent a smaller period of growth for Plymouth Harbor, as we geared up for major developments to take place in 2012 and beyond. In 2007, the Smith Care Center secured approval to open our beds to the community at large. This same year, Plymouth Harbor embarked upon a 36-month Capital Improvement Project that helped provide improvements to the infrastructure of the campus. Plymouth Harbor also expanded in areas of community outreach, dining services, and resident wellness activities.

Lee DeLieto, Sr., Trustee

“My involvement and appreciation of the composition and dedication of the Plymouth Harbor, Inc. Board of Trustees motivated me to accept an invitation to become a member of the Plymouth Harbor Foundation Board of Trustees.”

Lee DeLieto, Sr. joined the Commercial Group at Michael Saunders & Company more than 20 years ago and he and his partner, Lee Jr., have repeatedly received the “Top Commercial Real Estate Team” recognition. Lee is an active member of various professional organizations including member and Past President of The Commercial Investment Division (CID) of the Sarasota Association of Realtors, member of Sarasota Association of Realtors and the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Lee’s community involvement includes Founder and Board Member of Insignia Bank, and current Board Member and Past Chair of Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. Additionally, Lee is a Past President of the Downtown Sarasota Kiwanis Club, Past Board Chair of the Sarasota University Club, and Past President of the Sarasota Alumni Club of Phi Delta Theta. Lee received a Bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at the University of Rochester.

In 2004, Harry E. Hobson was recruited and hired as the President/CEO of Plymouth Harbor, succeeding Stan Clouse. During this decade, Plymouth Harbor conducted a general “sprucing up” of the campus, and each year brought a new project. The buildings received a fresh coat of paint, Mote Marine installed an aquarium on the main floor, the fitness room received a facelift and new equipment, the North Garden atrium project was completed, and the Mezzanine was expanded and renovated for resident gatherings and informal get-togethers. In 2006, our 40th anniversary year, a new strategic plan was approved that focused on six key initiatives, including insuring Plymouth Harbor’s long-term success and providing modern and updated accommodations.

Ann and Ray Neff had occasion to spend a good deal of time with Bobby Broderick before he passed away. Over time, Ray learned of Bobby’s career in the laundry business and heard stories of how he began that business as a job and how it blossomed into a fulfilling and successful career. Remembering this important part of Bobby’s life, and the role it played in his family life — taking his children to work with him on Saturdays and how they would play in the laundry bins and conveyors — it seemed most fitting to Ann and Ray that when our own Plymouth Harbor laundry room was being renovated, to do something to honor Bobby and his contributions to life at Plymouth Harbor.

The Neffs have made a gift to support the purchase of the large industrial-sized washer and dryer (roughly half the cost of the equipment) in memory of Bobby Broderick. A memorial plaque will be installed by the end of the February. Please join us in thanking Ann and Ray Neff for their thoughtful gift to remember our longtime friend, neighbor, and colleague Charles “Bobby” Broderick.

CADE SIBLEY

We are excited and honored to welcome Cade Sibley as our new Chair of The Foundation Board. Cade has served as a member of The Foundation Board since its inception in 2013. She and her husband Whit are residents of Longboat Key, having moved here in 2010 from Denver. In Denver, Cade was involved in advanced estate, business-transfer, and investment-planning strategies. She was a longtime member of several of the Lincoln Financial Group’s most prestigious honors societies, and served as Vice Chair of Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center Board for The Denver Foundation, and on the Denver Arthritis Foundation Board.

Cade assumed her new role as Chair in January of this year. Bill Johnston will continue as a Foundation Trustee as a resident of Plymouth Harbor, as he and his wife Betsy became residents in December of 2015. Harry Hobson continues as Vice-Chair of The Foundation Board, and Garry Jackson continues in his role of Secretary/Treasurer.

In December 2015, three members of the Plymouth Harbor, Inc. Board of Trustees reached the end of their term, and in January 2016, the Board gained three new members. Below please find biographies introducing these new members.

KATHRYN ANGELL CARR

“I am looking forward to serving on the Plymouth Harbor Board because it is a facility I have admired since moving to Sarasota in 1983, and the more I learn about Plymouth Harbor, the more I treasure such a valuable resource in our community.”

Kathryn Angell Carr is a partner at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP where she is Board Certified in Real Estate Law. She has been involved in the representation of both purchasers and sellers in residential and commercial real estate, including several shopping centers, hotels, apartment complexes, restaurants, and office buildings. Kathryn also has experience in the leasing and financing of both residential and commercial projects, including securitized financing and bond financing. Kathryn has represented developers of residential projects in all stages of development, including acquisition, financing of the land, and platting of the property, and has advised clients as to the effects of the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act and the Florida Land Sales Act.

Kathryn received a BS degree in Political Science from Iowa State University and earned her law degree from the University of Florida. In addition to Plymouth Harbor, Kathryn previously served on several community Boards, including, but not limited to, The Argus Foundation and the Animal Rescue Coalition. She has three stepchildren and six grandchildren, ranging in age from three to 27. In her spare time, Kathryn enjoys cooking, having learned much from her husband who was a page boy in the Ringling Hotel in the 1940s while his father was the manager.

ALAN B. GRINDAL, M.D.

“As a Sarasota physician, I have long admired Plymouth Harbor as a model for providing a successful aging lifestyle.”

Dr. Alan B. Grindal is a Board Certified Neurologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. He received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and his Medical degree from the University of Illinois. Dr. Grindal obtained his Neurology training at the Medical College of Virginia, where he also served on the medical faculty.

For over 30 years Dr. Grindal was in private practice in Sarasota, and he is currently on the Clinical Faculty of Florida State University. He also works with the Memory Disorder Clinic at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and is a volunteer at the hospital’s Community Clinic. In addition, Dr. Grindal often teaches at the University of South Florida Lifelong Learning Academy and Pierian Springs Academy. He was selected by his peers as one of the Best Doctors in America from 1997 to his retirement in 2004. Dr. Grindal and his wife will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this summer with their three children and six grandchildren.

AMBASSADOR JAMES D. MCGEE

“I am pleased to serve on the Board of Trustees at Plymouth Harbor. As the premier vertically integrated care facility in Florida, Plymouth Harbor affords me the opportunity to continue my life of service with an institution that does so much for its residents and the community at large.”

Ambassador James D. McGee spent the majority of his 30-year Foreign Service career overseas working in support of U.S. Government policy. His professional skills include political-military affairs, crisis management, and international negotiation and management. He was nominated and confirmed as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Swaziland 2002-2004, Madagascar and the Comoros Islands 2004-2007, and Zimbabwe 2007-2009. He then returned to the National War College in Washington D.C., as the senior advisor to the Director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. At his last assignment, Ambassador McGee opened the first political-military office to provide diplomatic advice and guidance to the Commander of U.S. naval forces Europe, Africa and the 6th Fleet. Ambassador McGee served in the U.S. Air Force for five and a half years during the Vietnam conflict and earned three Distinguished Flying Crosses and 16 Air Medals while flying on 471 combat missions.

In addition to his military honors, Ambassador McGee was presented the Palmer Award for Diplomatic Excellence in 2011, the Diplomacy for Freedom Award in 2008, and numerous Presidential Pay and Superior Honor Awards. He is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and serves on the Board of Directors for the Global Alliance for Zimbabwe and the Committee for the Community of Democracies. He is a graduate of Indiana University and the Defense Language Institute, and speaks French and Vietnamese.

Category Archives: Announcements

MacNeil Day 2016: Celebrating A Spectacular 50 Years!

Earth Day at Plymouth Harbor

A Taste of Plymouth Harbor History: 2012-2016

The Spirit of Philanthropy: OnBoard Launches Workplace English

A Taste of Plymouth Harbor History: 2007-2011

Meet the 2016 Foundation Board of Trustees

A Taste of Plymouth Harbor History: 2002-2006

A New Gift to Honor An Old Friend

Meet the 2016 Chair of The Foundation Board of Trustees

Meet the New 2016 Board of Trustees

The New Northwest Garden

Addie H., Resident since 2011

Cynda G., Resident since 2013