Webster at Rye News & Events

Webster at Rye News & Events

RYE’S ONLY NON-PROFIT HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY WINTER 2015

(603) 964-8144 795 Washington Rd. Rye NH 03870 www.websteratrye.com
Your support and charitable gifts make the difference!

A legacy of love… and time.

Editor’s Note: Leo Appel recently retired as Webster at Rye’s Chairman of the Board and is looking forward to travelling with his wife Lee.

Rannie Webster, a successful hat-maker and summer resident of Rye NH,
was so passionate about seniors that she gave the bulk of her estate to create
Webster at Rye. But without people like Leo Appel, a year-round Rye resi-
dent and retired businessman who gave thousands of hours of his time
along with years of business expertise, Webster would not be the home it is
to Seacoast seniors today.

In 1986 Robert Goss, Rye Selectman and NH State Representative, asked

Leo if he would join the newly formed Board of Trustees made up of twelve

volunteers overseeing the construction and administration of Webster at Leo Appel, Webster at Rye Chairman Emeritus,
Rye. Leo, who was recently retired and always interested in the challenges with resident Betty Carlsen, after receiving town
facing our senior population, saw an opportunity to make a difference.
approval for Webster’s expansion.

Less than a year later, Leo found himself voted in as chairman of the board Inside this issue:

when Bob Goss died unexpectedly. Though he stayed on as chairman for Legacy of Love 1
twenty-eight years, an amazing accomplishment, Leo always offered to pass

the mantle to any board member who wanted to take on that responsibility. A Webster 2
Until Leo himself decided to retire, no one ever did.
Original Retires

Leo credits the contributions of donors present and past, exceptional leader- The New 2
ship by Board members (still all volunteer), and the dedication and skillful Addition
management of Webster’s administrator Tom Argue with the on-going sus-

tainability of Rye’s only non-profit health care community. Over the years, Boston Post Cane 3

Webster has added skilled nursing care, rehabilitation, physical and occupa- Art in Bloom 3
tional therapies, a new solarium, and an expanded kitchen. Three years ago,

after careful consideration by the board, Webster completed a successful Opportunities 4
conversion of the original retirement apartments to a fully staffed assisted Come in All Sizes
living community.

Leo Appel exemplifies compassion, dignity, exceptional care and community Thank You 4

- all qualities the Rannie Webster Foundation had in mind when first carry- Donors!

ing out the wishes of its benefactor and all firmly in place thanks to Leo’s

gifts of time, talent and vision.

Marilyn Marchant, retired board member Page 2
at Machu Picchu, 1999.
Marilyn Marchant, a Webster Original,
Retires.

Gardens create quality of life, not only for the visitor but for the gardener, too.
Marilyn Marchant, recently retired thirty-year board member and original
Webster at Rye gardener, knows this first-hand.

As a registered nurse specializing in psychiatric care, Marilyn’s first career was
working in the old Portsmouth Hospital and later the new Pavilion. When
Marilyn agreed to serve as one of Webster’s original board members, thirty
years ago, she had no idea that it would lead her to a new passion and the crea-
tion of many beautiful gardens at Webster at Rye.

After leaving nursing, Marilyn was, for many years, the first official gardener
for Webster, nurturing some forty creations large and small. She describes that
time as “some of the happiest years of my life.” Her parents were living in what
was then the Webster at Rye retirement apartments, though both eventually
would move to the adjoining nursing home for care.

When she wasn’t gardening, Marilyn frequently found time to travel. Some-
times her husband Bob would accompany her, but often she travelled with a
group from a small college in Connecticut. During those trips she photo-
graphed children and elderly in the countries she visited, then framed and hung
the pictures throughout Webster for the enjoyment of Residents. Marilyn’s
passions for people and the natural world, shared with three decades of Resi-
dents, are a lasting legacy indoors and out.

A sneek peak at our brand-new expansion!

Are you looking for exceptional care in a beautiful setting for yourself or a loved one?

Webster at Rye has recently begun expansion on a long-awaited addition to provide fifty new apartments for both
residential memory care and traditional assisted living. We currently offer twenty-six units (including tw0-

bedroom apartments) for assisted living residents, along with fifty-two skilled nursing and rehabilitation beds in
the adjoining nursing home.

Occupancy is scheduled for February, 2016. For more information please contact Karen Johnson at:

[email protected] (603) 964-8144 or visit our website www.websteratrye.com

Page 3 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2
Webster at Rye Resident Renews Town Tradition

Honoring All Rye Seniors.

Robert “Bob” Mitchell, a long-time resident of the Town of Rye and for the
last nine years of Webster at Rye, got an unexpected honor just days after
his 104th birthday on August 2, 2014. Selectmen Craig Musselman, Priscil-
la Jenness and Joe Mills, along with Town Administrator Michael Mag-
nant, joined a packed room of Residents, staff, and family members to pre-
sent Bob with a replica of the town’s original 105 year old Boston Post
Cane, a gold-topped ebony artifact held permanently at the town office.
Bob fulfilled town requirements for the honor by virtue of his age and more
than ten years as a resident of the town of Rye. The tradition first began on
August 2, 1909 when, compliments of the Boston Post, the oldest male citi-
zen was given on loan this very special cane “for as long as he lives or until
he moves from town.” In 1930, the rules were changed to “oldest living
resident” making females eligible. During the presentation, Selectman Joe
Mills joked that as a former post office worker, he still remembered Bob’s
exact address on Brackett Road, attesting to the fact that Bob was indeed
Rye’s oldest living citizen. Bob’s advice for a good life? “Take what life
gives you and enjoy it.” Bob certainly was a great example of just that.

Editor’s Note: Bob Mitchell passed away on October 11, 2014 after living at
Webster at Rye for nine years. He was a beloved member of the community.

Robert Mitchell with Rye Boston Post Cane.

Save the date! You can support our seniors by ordering a pizza (either eat-in or take-out) from Flatbread Pizza in Portsmouth
NH on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 from 4-10 p.m. A raffle featuring local items and original artwork will also be offered. A portion

of all pizza sales go to Webster at Rye’s charitable foundation, turning pizza into music, art and outings for our seniors.

YOU are invited to Art in Bloom!

It’s free, it’s inspiring and it’s a tradition, too.

For the past 14 years, a dazzling display of original art and flower arrangements have
become an annual highlight for Webster at Rye Residents, their friends and families
and those living in the Seacoast. Collaboration between the Town of Rye and Web-

ster at Rye creates an event that will give everyone the promise of Spring.

This year’s event will be open to public Friday, April 17th from 6-8 p.m.
and Saturday, April 18th from 1-4 p.m.

Webster at Rye 795 Washington Rd. Rye NH 03870

Please call Kerry Robertson at (603) 964-8144 for more information.

All Webster volunteers will be celebrated with a Thank You & Recognition dinner here at Webster at Rye at 5 p.m. on Tuesday,
March 24, 2015. If you would like become a volunteer, our Residents would love to welcome you! For more information please

call Kerry Robertson, Volunteer Coordinator & Activity Director, at (603) 964-8144 anytime.

Page 4

Opportunities come in all sizes!

A puppy and an assisted-living Wii bowl-

ing team may not seem to be (at first

glance) a likely combination for making a

795 Washington Rd. difference in the world but, to Sally Fode-
Rye, NH 03870
ro, it’s an opportunity to change lives for
Phone: 603-964-8144
Fax: 603-964-1483 the better. Sally coaches Webster at Rye
E-mail:
Residents every week, encouraging them
A reputation for
Quality. A Commitment to celebrate life through friendships and

to Excellence physical activity. Some Residents even

bowl using walkers and wheelchairs and Front Row, L-R: Jan Thompson, Barbara Ripley, Norma, Lorraine Blackburn, Ginny Crandall.
all are brand-new to the idea of electronic Back Row, L-R: Sally Fodero, Eveline Perusse, Jane Woodie, Mary Brygider.

bowling. The bowling team is also helping Sally’s family to be a “puppy-raiser” for Nor-

ma, a young black lab, who will ultimately be a seeing–eye guide dog.

Find us on Sally and the Wii bowlers have a short time to get to know Norma and make a difference
facebook in her life. Every day really does count. If they do their job well, Norma will go on to
help a young person living with the blindness-causing disease, retinitis pigmentosa.
At
Webster at rye Sally knows first-hand how devastating the disease is as a member of her family has it.
Rehabilitation Through that diagnosis, she learned that many people spend years waiting for an availa-
& Assisted Living ble guide dog. Sally and her husband Mark, who own NH Hearing & Balance in Green-
We hope you’ll land, NH, discovered that Freedom Guide Dogs in Utica, NY paired young puppies with
families willing to give basic socialization and training for the dogs’ first eighteen months.
“like” us! The puppy then leaves for specialized training, ultimately becoming a guide to someone
in need. Through a willing spirit and a team effort, Sally and her bowlers are making a
difference.

How are you making a difference? Every day!

Through your generous donations, the Residents of Webster at Rye enjoy enrichment activities that include art
classes, special outings, live music, and most especially, care that goes above and beyond expectations.

One hundred percent of every dollar donated enhances quality of life for our elders.

Thank you to our most recent Donors.
You make each day better through your caring and generosity!

Family of Peter & Marge Allen, David & Linda Alves, Lee & Leo Appel, Barbara April, Tom Argue, Gwen Putnam-Baily, Bob &
Cyndi Bear, Charles Blouin, Kathy & Jim Borsh, Janet & Bob Brown, Mary Brygider, Betty Carlsen, Kyrre Carlsen, Chagaris Fam-
ily, Mary J. Champlin, Elly & Kurt Cockrell, Rita Cole, Josephine & Frank Concemi, Carol & Ian Cortina, Virginia Crandall, Jean
Cunningham, Brian R.G. Davis, Linda Doherty, Delores & Jack Driscoll, Andrea Ferrick, Beverly & Jim Fulton, Joanne Green-
halgh, Mary Frances & Bill Gardner, Alan & Donna Gould, Nancy Grant, Pastor Donald Gum, Robert & Merrianne Guy, Nancy
Hanscom, Shawna Healy, Marian Hegarty, Rebecca Helm, Patty Henschke, Chris & Laura Hikade, Alice M. Hotchkiss, Karen
Johnson, Mark & Lindsay Josephs, Patricia Z. Holt, Jim Kaufman, Hortense Kalet, Howard Kalet, Linda Kalet, Cynthia & Allan
King, Rick Kress, Claudia Landell, Barbara London, Jean & Mel Low, Frances MacDonald, Sally & Tony Manfredi, Marilyn
Marchant, Marcia B. Menes, David Michaud, Loring K. Mills, Steve & Marsha Palmer, Eveline Perusse, Bob & Sherry Phillips,
Greg Pickering, Mary Pongrace, George & Norah Predaris, Charles Rich, Nancy & Joe Ripel, Barbara Ripley, Ken & Betty Robbins,
Marge Robertson, Shirley Rogers, Carolyn Sanford, Debra Marshall Sarhanis, Suzanne Scott, William Scott, Jr., Terry Sessions,
Joseph E. Sexton, Scott & Monica Sibert, John Shelby, Jeannette Sheridan, Paul Skinner, Laurie Spigener, John Squires & Family,
Leigh Stoecker, Carol Sullivan, Bernie Tracey, Jerri & Phil Tucker, Andrea & Bob Vibbert, Barbara Whyte, Bob & Marsha Wiggin,
Jane Woodie, Mary Woodrum, Claudia Worth.