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Ron Hall, co-author of the New York Times best-seller “Same Kind of Different As Me,” returned to Fort Worth, the city where the story of his remarkable friendship with a homeless man began at the Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County almost 20 years ago. Hall was back in town to speak to residents and invited guests at The Stayton at Museum Way, an SQLC retirement community, where he talked about his unique friendship with the late Denver Moore, with whom he helped raised millions for the underserved all over the country. The event was highlighted by The Stayton’s donation of $1,500 to Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County, which was accepted by the organization’s president and CEO, Don Shisler.

“Ron Hall has lived what is truly an amazing story that has blessed countless people, so it was our great pleasure to host Ron at The Stayton at Museum Way and to make a donation to the Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County, a wonderful organization serving our community,” said Melissa Heiss, director of sales and marketing at The Stayton at Museum Way. “Ron and Denver Moore truly left an imprint on our Greater Fort Worth community and many other communities all over the country.”

During the Red Carpet Speaker Series event at The Stayton, Hall said he met Moore, a homeless man with a storied past, while he and his late wife were volunteering at the Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County in 1998. He and Moore eventually forged a strong, close friendship and helped raise funding for the Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County as well as other organizations nationwide, totaling almost $80 million before Moore’s death in 2012.

Hall also recalled the challenges of finding a publisher for “Same Kind of Different As Me,” a book that was Moore’s idea, which Hall co-wrote with him and Lynn Vincent. The book is now a film of the same name starring Renee Zellweger, Djimon Hounsou, Greg Kinnear and Jon Voight set to open in theaters later this year. Hall said the book, which was on the New York Times best-seller list for three and a half years, was rejected by as many as 20 publishers before it was finally accepted. He also recalled the trials and tribulations which came later with the film industry, including his rejection of a fictional and highly sensationalized screenplay until he finally regained the rights to the story. Eventually, Hall served as a writer on the project and helped make the film he originally envisioned.

The Red Carpet Speaker Series at The Stayton at Museum Way provides unique and often once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet renowned individuals and hear inspirational presentations. The speaker series is a dynamic piece of the Masterpiece Living®philosophy which encourages continual learning in all regards – physical, mental, social and spiritual.

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Alzheimers Association Presents Award to The Stayt

A special recognition award was presented by the Alzheimer’s Association – North Central Texas Chapter to The Stayton at Museum Way, an SQLC retirement community, for supporting the ALZ Stars team, which raises money for the association as annual participants in Fort Worth’s Cowtown Marathon. Each year since the team’s formation in 2013, The Stayton serves the team a fabulous pasta dinner on a day leading up to the race to help energize and encourage the ALZ Stars team of runners and walkers. The dinner also serves as an opportunity for team fellowship, as many of the team members are either reuniting or meeting for the first time. In addition, The Stayton supports other Alzheimer’s Association initiatives and activities including sponsorships of the chapter’s signature fundraiser, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, as well as the annual Spring Symposium which provides education to caregivers and health care professionals in North Central Texas. Last year, residents also produced “The Stayton Cooks to End Alzheimer’s” cookbook to raise funds for the organization.

“We wanted to give The Stayton at Museum Way an award to recognize their consistent hospitality and generosity on our fifth anniversary, as they’ve been a key asset to our team’s value and growth since ALZ Stars began in 2013,” said Sarah Ethridge, special events coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association – North Central Texas Chapter. “We are grateful for our partnership with The Stayton, because without relationships like the one we have with them we could not successfully execute our mission of providing the care, research and support needed for those facing Alzheimer’s in North Central Texas.”

The ALZ Stars team had 46 participants who collectively raised more than $53,000 in this year’s Cowtown Marathon, held Feb. 26. Fundraising efforts are still underway in hopes of reaching the team’s $75,000 goal. Donations can easily be made at act.alz.org/alzstarscowtown2017.

“We are grateful for this beautiful award, which represents our commitment to the Alzheimer’s Association and, in a unique way, to some of our residents living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia,” said Melissa Heiss, director of sales and marketing for The Stayton at Museum Way. “As a life care community, we not only have independent living residences, but also multiple levels of living including memory support. Family members, caregivers, and health care professionals all benefit by the awareness and educational efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association, which is why supporting them is important to us and all of our North Central Texas community.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, every 66 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s, and it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Currently, more than 350,000 Texans are living with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to grow to 490,000 by 2025.

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The Stayton at Museum Way resident Marcia Kurtz was recently awarded one of the highest honors from the Jewish Federation of Tarrant County. Kurtz received The Manny & Roz Rosenthal Spirit of Federation Award during a prestigious banquet ceremony held at the Kimbell Art Museum. The award is given to Tarrant County residents in recognition of their dedication and selfless service over the years. Kurtz, who is described by the Jewish Federation of Tarrant County as a tireless volunteer, has lead hundreds of fundraising projects for nearly 50 years in the Fort Worth area.

 

“I feel overwhelmed and honored to receive this distinguished award,” said Kurtz. “I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment over the last 50 years helping raise money for organizations in my community which are dear to my heart. I was fortunate enough to stay home and raise my children, giving me the special opportunity to volunteer and meet residents within the Fort Worth community who were doing wonderful things through their dedication to philanthropy.”

 

The Manny & Roz Rosenthal Spirit of Federation award was established on April 7, 2016 to recognize and honor the devotion and investment made by the Rosenthal family to ensure the future of the Tarrant County Jewish community. For decades, Kurtz has led, created, given her time and energy, and has made significant contributions for the well-being of Tarrant County’s local and global Jewish community. Kurtz truly embodies the generosity, kindness, and dedication this award represents. Kurtz is an amazing example of The Stayton at Museum Way’s Masterpiece Living® philosophy, which serves as the retirement community’s foundation. The philosophy embraces a wellness-minded attitude that encourages learning which focuses on an individual’s key development areas – physical, mental, social and spiritual.  

 

“Marcia Kurtz is humble, well-loved, respected and admired not only within the Jewish community in Tarrant County, but also here at The Stayton,” said Melissa Heiss, director of sales and marketing at The Stayton at Museum Way. “She spends an enormous part of her life giving back to the Jewish community by spearheading fundraising campaigns that have truly made a difference in Tarrant County. The Stayton community feels very fortunate to have the opportunity to say we personally know such a selfless, tireless volunteer.”   

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The Stayton at Museum Way, Fort Worth’s premier retirement community, recently hosted a sneak peek of the Kimbell Art Museum’s groundbreaking exhibition Monet: The Early Years. Invited guests and residents were treated to a presentation and private conversation with Kimbell Art Museum Deputy Director George Shackelford, who identified and secured the artwork in the exhibit. He provided insight into why he selected certain pieces, where he found them and how he acquired them.

 

“I truly enjoyed sharing these incredible works with the residents at The Stayton,” remarked George Shackelford. “We’ve come upon so many paintings that are virtually unknown, like a brilliantly sunny painting of a hut perched above the sea. It's a composition that Monet loved, showing it four times in major exhibitions between 1868 and 1889. It was never once chosen by a curator for an exhibition in the 20th century; and in fact this is only the third time it has been lent. It has never even been to France, and of course this is the first time it has ever been shown in the United States. It's as if we had discovered a new painting—and a masterpiece, at that.”

 

“It was such a privilege to have George Shackelford at our community to share the story of how this amazing Monet exhibit came to fruition,” said Melissa Heiss, director of sales & marketing for The Stayton at Museum Way. “Residents and guests enjoyed hearing firsthand about George’s vision for the exhibition. It was fascinating to learn more about Monet and how his early works defined a 19th-century art movement that inspires us still today.”

 

This is the first time in The Stayton’s tenured relationship with the Kimbell Art Museum that the deputy director visited the community. The collaboration between the Kimbell Art Museum and The Stayton is an extension of the community’s Masterpiece Living® philosophy, which promotes successful aging by providing residents and invited guests opportunities to enhance their spiritual, intellectual, social and physical wellness—including exposure to astounding artists and noteworthy speakers. In addition to the Kimbell, the community occasionally brings in cultural events and performers from the Fort Worth Opera and The Cliburn.

 

 

Monet: The Early Years provides a stunning view into the formative years of the artist’s impactful career. The exhibition runs through January 29, 2017, and features approximately 60 paintings from the first phase of the artist's career, from his Normandy debut in 1858 until 1872, when he settled in Argenteuil on the River Seine near Paris.

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The Stayton at Museum Way, an SQLC retirement community, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary with an evening of food, fun, fellowship and dancing. At 98-percent occupied, The Stayton has experienced tremendous growth and success over the years. Residents form deep friendships, and together they create a true community where they dedicate many hours to volunteer work, including reading to kindergarteners in local schools. In addition, the community brings cultural events from the Kimbell, as well as performers from the Fort Worth Opera and The Cliburn to the residents and invited guests. These activities are an extension of the community’s Masterpiece Living® philosophy, which promotes successful aging by providing residents and invited guests with opportunities to enhance their spiritual, intellectual, social and physical wellness.

“We have a lot to celebrate, and our anniversary event was a huge success attended by residents, their families and team members,” said Scott Polzin, executive director of The Stayton. “The party was a wonderful way to not only honor the residents and exemplary team, but also acknowledge the evolution of The Stayton during the past five years and recognize the role that we play in our local community.”

For Kathryn Bryan, one of The Stayton’s first depositors and a five-year resident, The Stayton is the perfect location for community involvement and culture. She and her husband Lowell also like the fact that the retirement community offers a continuum of care from independent living to memory support.

“We moved into The Stayton before we had to, and by doing so we got rid of the headaches of homeownership,” said Bryan. “We wanted stay involved in activities in and around the cultural district and be near our church. Over the past five years, we’ve been involved in unique activities including a new ukulele band.”  

Bryan, who helps coordinate the annual Stayton Style Show, says she enjoys the lifestyle offered at the community. She is particularly complimentary of the dining experience. She also acknowledges an increase over the years in the number of activities and programs that residents can participate in, which she credits to Amy Janak, who has been the lifestyle director at The Stayton since the community opened.

“Amy continues to find wonderful things for us to do, and is so supportive and open to new ideas that we bring to her,” said Bryan.

“We have an engaged and high-quality team, and we work together each day to provide the best lifestyle possible for the residents,” said Polzin. “It is rewarding to be a part of this milestone, and I am proud of our community. We look forward to enhancing lives of many more seniors and their families in Fort Worth for many years to come.” 

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Residents at The Stayton at Museum Way, an SQLC retirement community, are using appetizers, entrees and desserts to help raise funds for the North Central Texas Chapter of The Alzheimer’s Association’s October Walk to End Alzheimer’s®. “The Stayton Cooks to End Alzheimer’s” cookbook – which includes recipes submitted by residents – will sell for $40 with half of the proceeds being donated to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which takes place at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth on October 22. Residents and staff encourage the public to purchase a copy of the cookbook. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, every 66 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s, and it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Currently, more than 350,000 Texans are living with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to grow to 490,000 by 2025. 

“This is our fourth year to participate in the local community’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s®. It is a cause that is near and dear to our hearts, and we are honored to do our part to help raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia,” said Scott Polzin, executive director of The Stayton at Museum Way.

As a life care community, The Stayton not only has resort-style independent living residences, but also multiple levels of living including memory support and assisted living. For Stayton resident Julie Zobal, whose husband Arthur was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2009, the cookbook fundraiser is her way to help contribute to research that will hopefully one day find a cure.

“Arthur and I will have been married for 59 years in November, and he has been in the memory support since April 2015,” said Zobal. “The tragedy of Alzheimer’s is that he is no longer able to paint, which was truly his passion. In addition, he practiced patent law for many years. I feel so strongly about helping the cause of Alzheimer’s but I can’t participate in the walk, so contributing my recipes to the cookbook makes me feel like I’m helping in some small way.” 

Zobal has several of her recipes featured in the cookbook, including gazpacho soup, cold cantaloupe soup, chicken and rice casserole and a flaming ice cream dessert. 

“It is truly moving to see residents, like Mrs. Zobal, working tirelessly to raise awareness and funds to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s,” said Polzin. “She is selflessly contributing to the cause with the knowledge that her husband Arthur may not personally benefit from the research currently underway or have the opportunity to be cured. She is committed to making a difference for those who will experience similar circumstances as hers in the future.”

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Senior living community developer Senior Quality Lifestyles Corporation (SQLC), parent company of The Stayton at Museum Way, has elected Dr. Jan van Sant as the newest member of the Board of Directors. Dr. van Sant, who is President of the Resident Council at The Buckingham–the SQLC community in Houston–is the first resident to hold a full voting membership at the SQLC board level.

Joe Anderson, Chairman of the Board of SQLC, made the announcement, adding that the appointment of Dr. van Sant will contribute to the ongoing transparency of both the governance and operations with residents of the SQLC communities.

“Our nonprofit charter is to provide quality housing, hospitality and health care to a protected class of people–older people,” Anderson said. “SQLC has entered into lifetime contracts with its residents who have a right to participate in the governance process that affects their daily lives and the financial performance of the communities in which they live. We are delighted to welcome Dr. van Sant to the board, and look forward to his input and contributions.”

Dr. van Sant is a 34-year oil industry veteran with particular experience in the areas of exploration and production research and technology. He began his career with Jersey Production Research Company, an Exxon Corporation predecessor in 1962. In 1964, he organized and lead Exxon’s technical services group in Bordeaux, France, which supported all Exxon exploration groups responsible for the North Sea, Europe and Africa. He transferred to Exxon Production Research Company in 1966, serving in positions of increasing managerial responsibility, including coordinating all technical training for explorationists, and becoming manager of the Exploration Research Division. He joined Pennzoil in 1980 and retired as Senior Vice President Technology & Systems in 1996. Dr. van Sant was responsible for geology, geophysics, reservoir engineering, drilling and technical computing in support of oil and gas operating units.

After retiring, Dr. van Sant was the Executive Director of the American Geological Institute Foundation, which raised more than $20 million for certain AGI-sponsored educational and other national programs. The AGI is a federation of 52 Earth Science societies in the United States, with a combined membership of more than 250,000 geoscientists. He is now Associate Director of the Foundation. Dr. van Sant also served as Assistant to the Vice President for Research at the University of Houston, and was a member of advisory committees at various times including the University of South Carolina, University of Utah, University of Kansas, and Rice University.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin (Madison) and Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in geology from the University of Kansas. Additionally, he graduated from the Harvard University School of Business in Management of Industrial Research. He served in the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant for Special assignments in Korea, Alaska, and elsewhere.

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Three times a week, the heat of competition boils up in the swimming pool at The Stayton at Museum Way, Fort Worth’s premier senior living community, where residents engage in friendly–and highly competitive–games of water volleyball.

“It’s not ‘do or die,’ but we do a lot of screaming at each other, and competition gets pretty good when the men play against the women,” said Madison Mauze, a regular player, along with wife Charlene. “You wouldn’t think we would get all worked up, but it’s pretty competitive. We have a good time. If each team wins a game, we’re all happy.”

What began as water exercise with swimmers batting a ball around quickly progressed into putting up a net and holding competitive volleyball games that often draw crowds of resident spectators. Each pool outing begins with about 45 minutes of exercises, after which teams are formed to play two 20-25 minute games.

“Competitive volleyball is a great activity within our exclusive Masterpiece Living® culture, which emphasizes successful aging with customized activities for our residents,” said Scott Polzin, executive director of The Stayton at Museum Way. “This activity not only addresses the physical, but also nourishes the mental and social needs of the residents.”

“I feel like I’m playing with a bunch of twelve-year-olds,” said Bobbie Dubbs, a water volleyball “regular” who has lived in Fort Worth for about 50 years, the last two years at The Stayton. “I think it’s mental more than physical. The competition is unbelievable–you want to win. We have fun.”

Mauze said that life-enriching activities are why he and his wife were among the first residents to move into The Stayton four years ago. “We’re both very active. The Stayton assured us that there would be plenty of physical and other activities here, and that helped sell us. We haven’t regretted a minute.”

The Masterpiece Living program, based upon findings from a 10-year study by the MacArthur Foundation, found that successful aging requires attention to four levels of wellness: spiritual, intellectual, social and physical. This wellness program sets measurable and personalized goals for each resident.

A review article on aging and exercise, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in 2014, stated that exercise can help maintain physical fitness that may otherwise be lost over time. It also said that any regular, vigorous exercise may reduce the decline in aerobic capacity–the ability of the heart and lungs to deliver oxygen to muscles, a main component in overall age-related physical decline–by as much as 50 percent.

“The water volleyball program here has taken on a life of its own and created a lot of buzz in our community,” said Polzin. “When there’s a game on, you can hear them before you see them. It’s clear that they are young at heart and have competitive spirits.”

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The Stayton at Museum Way retirement community hosted international award-winning pianist Peter Klimo for The Stayton Cliburn Recital Series and holiday tea. Klimo, the 2ndplace winner of the 10th International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Utrecht, The Netherlands, played selections by Liszt, Beethoven, Bach and Chopin for special guests of The Stayton before finishing with an encore of Christmas jazz selections from “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. 

The performance was offered as part of the community’s Masterpiece Living® program, which promotes successful aging by providing residents with opportunities to enhance their spiritual, intellectual, social and physical wellness. At The Stayton, nestled in the heart of culturally rich Fort Worth, this includes exposure to astounding local artists and noteworthy speakers, according to Scott Polzin, executive director of The Stayton.

“Fort Worth attracts incredible musical talent from around the world like Peter Klimo, an accomplished chamber musician and veteran of the international stage,” said Polzin. “Working with The Cliburn, we’ve been able to tap into a wealth of performers to present The Stayton Cliburn Recital Series, allowing members of our community and guests to experience remarkable performances like this one, which was perfect for the holidays.” 

After performing Liszt’s Concerto No. 1 in E flat major with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in the finals of last year’s International Franz Liszt Piano Competition, Klimo played to a packed Spiegelzaal in the Concertgebuow Amsterdam. He is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at TCU with Dr. Tamás Ungár. A Hungarian-American, Klimo has been studying piano since the age of nine. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music, followed by a master’s degree from the Yale School of Music.  

The community has previously hosted Cliburn artists and young artists from the First Cliburn International Junior Competition and Festival, as well as performers from the Fort Worth Opera, in its effort to create opportunities for residents to remain engaged socially and with the arts.

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The Stayton at Museum Way retirement community hosted the inaugural “Behind the Curtain: Synopses, Selections, and Secrets from the Fort Worth Opera Festival 2016” featuring selections from Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. The new collaboration between Fort Worth Opera and The Stayton will include a series of three educational programs as an extension of the community’s Masterpiece Living® philosophy. Masterpiece Living promotes successful aging by providing residents with opportunities to enhance their spiritual, intellectual, social and physical wellness, including exposure to astounding artists and noteworthy speakers.

Three Fort Worth Opera resident artists performed, with piano accompaniment, selections from The Barber of Seville, which has been described as one of the greatest masterpieces of comedy within music. Darren K. Woods, general director of Fort Worth Opera, provided the informational “Opera 101” commentary about the opera, including the story, character descriptions and history behind the piece, with additional fun and interesting facts.

“Bringing Fort Worth Opera to our community helps foster a love of opera as musical entertainment that we can all enjoy,” said Scott Polzin, executive director of The Stayton. “The experience was made even more special by the intimacy of the performance and the enlightening educational component.  We’re looking forward to hosting these amazing artists again early in 2016.”

Additional programs by Fort Worth Opera will take place in February, with a Buried Alive/Embedded focus, and in March, with a JFK focus. The Stayton will also host a tea following each performance for both the performers and those in attendance.

The Stayton at Museum Way offers exclusive events like “Behind the Curtain: Synopses, Selections, and Secrets from the Fort Worth Opera Festival 2016” to encourage continual learning. This Masterpiece Living philosophy includes hosting stimulating events that create opportunities for residents to remain engaged socially and with the arts.

PHOTOS BY BRUCE MAXWELL