Senior Profiles: A Series of Life Stories
The Council on Aging is privileged to serve Wayland residents age 60 and over.
But we don't think about seniors as a demographic. We know them as individuals, and we love to learn their fascinating life stories.
To celebrate Older Americans Month in May 2022, we asked a few seniors if we could share their stories publicly, so that others could have the pleasure of getting to know them like we do. Below are their stories. We are grateful for support from a grant awarded to the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. This collection launches a regular series of senior stories -- we will continue to add new stories.
Enjoy these glimpses into fascinating lives, and stay tuned for more.
On her first night in the historic 19th century Harvard Square home she occupied as Dean of Freshmen at Harvard College, Elizabeth “Ibby” Nathans had a visit from the police. “They came by to say, ‘You do understand that you should never go out alone at night,’” she recalls. And indeed, she’d found herself in a bit of an unpredictable neighborhood in 1992: earlier that very evening someone on the street had tried to take her purse. . . READ MORE. . .
Judy Currier is a woman who gets things done. She’s smart about business and smart about people, and folks turn to her when they need help. So did Bill Currier, who hired her, back in the day, and then married her. Together they ran eight small businesses over the course of their working lives, sharing a passion for problem-solving. They also managed to devote themselves to Bill’s five children, spending lots of family time on and around their beloved Dudley Pond. . . READ MORE. . .
When Tonya Largy – then Tonya Baroody -- met Tom Largy, she was already dating a few nice young men. But, she says, “when I met him, I knew I would marry him if he called me the next day like he said he would, because he was so interesting!” Tom did call the next day, and the two have been walking life’s path together ever since. Living in Wayland since 1971, Tonya and Tom have made their marks here by stewarding our land and its history, and our water. An archaeologist who spent most of her career at Harvard...READ MORE....
The arc of Kathleen Woehrling’s interesting life runs from Maynard, Mass., to Belgium, and back to Wayland, and includes important connections from France, Chile, Burundi, and Guatemala. Her four adult children live in Scotland, England, Belgium, and Texas. Wayland residents are fortunate that Kathleen – SHINE counselor extraordinaire -- calls Wayland home. The older of two daughters born in Maynard to a mill worker and homemaker.... READ MORE....
“My birth and early years were miserable,” begins Huaibin Lu, simply. A native of China, Huaibin immigrated to the US in his forties, leaving nearly everything behind to build a better, freer life as an American citizen. During his career, he encountered oppression and political pressures in China, and racism in the US. But a steady internal compass guided him. And by the measures that matter -- a happy and productive family, a successful career, and community connections built on kindness and volunteerism -- Huaibin has quietly and unquestionably succeeded. “I was born in 1946 in the east part of China, in the middle of war,”....READ MORE.....
Ellen Vinciulla and Joy Heider
Ellen Vinciulla and her daughter Joy Vinciulla Heider live in a sunny home that looks out on the aqueduct and Dudley Pond. From this home base, Ellen has served the Town of Wayland in important ways over the course of her long life here. She worked in the Wayland Public Schools for 12 years, with the Wayland Police Department for 25 years, and spent 22 years delivering meals and eventually managing the Meals on Wheels program in Wayland. Ellen and her husband Tony moved to Wayland in 1945....READ MORE...
Rahul Ray
Calling Rahul Ray a Renaissance man –- accomplished in science, art, music, and literature –- only captures part of what makes him so interesting. Equally important are his warmth, interest in the growth and well-being of others, and wonderful laugh. He is a Renaissance man who takes his pursuits seriously, but not himself. His life’s journey has taken him from Kolkata, India to Washington State and here to Wayland, where he and his wife Swapna have lived for nearly 30 years....READ MORE....
For decade after decade, Jim and Nancy Santamaria have quietly woven their time and talents into the fabric of our community. From working at iconic local businesses and organizations, to stealthily delivering Easter baskets in the wee hours to children’s homes in their neighborhood, to delivering Meals on Wheels and driving Wayland seniors to medical appointments, they exemplify the idea of “good neighbors.” Jim’s family owned Benson’s Store, which for about fifty years served up coffee and conversation in the circa-1800 building...READ MORE....
Three Friends: Hilda Bulkley, Thelma Ricci, Shirley LaRochelle
Tupperware parties, potluck suppers, trips to the Wayland Town Beach with kids in tow, or piling into the station wagon for an adventure -- these are the things that helped build lifelong friendships among three Wayland women in the 1960s. “We did so many things together, we went through so much together,” recalls Thelma Ricci, who lived within walking distance of her friends Hilda Bulkley and Shirley Larochelle in the neighborhoods surrounding Old Connecticut Path and Stonebridge Road. When Thelma, Shirley and Hilda gathered recently, ...READ MORE....
Margaret Dergalis’ path to Wayland began in Philadelphia and detoured through Wisconsin. Eventually, it brought her here to a life far more exciting and fulfilling than she might have imagined when she first arrived in this quiet town as a young single woman. Her grandmother and her late husband – a renowned artist whose works have hung in The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and galleries and museums around the world – were major influences in her life, helping to shape her interests and passions. She has shared those passions first as a teacher, then as a partner in business and in life, and more recently as a volunteer lecturer opening up others’ eyes and hearts to the enduring power of fine art. Born and raised in the northeast suburbs of Philadelphia....READ MORE.....