Carole Calladine's Countdown

Carole Calladine 

When this article appears, Carole Calladine will be getting ready to say her goodbyes to the wonderful staff and seniors at the Rocky River Senior Center. Carole was hired by Mayor William Knoble in January 2004 to be the new director, upon the retirement of the center’s original director, Joyce Waltz-Umerley.

Following in the fine tradition of offering welcoming and innovative programming, Carole began her 10-year tenure. She taught The Artist Way, Altered Books, and Soul Collage. As a social worker, she did home visits and shared community resources with seniors and their families. Carole, Kathy Gibel and Ann McCauley started BridgeWorks to help mature workers find jobs. This program had an 85% success rate. The thrill of senior after senior finding a job kept this group going for nine and a half years. Congratulations to those who wanted and found work.

“Serving my home community with a dedicated staff and volunteers was pure pleasure,” said Calladine. “I like to think that we make a difference in the lives of seniors through learning something new, being entertained, getting fit, exchanging smiles, and sharing Mayor Bobst’s favorite deli lunch offering—an egg salad sandwich.”

Calladine also said she would miss greeting everyone, every day. “Each day was always different and an adventure. I loved my time at the center, but now it is time to turn the center over to a new director, Deborah Bock—currently at Bay Village. Deborah, a licensed social worker, understands the importance of community and the importance of seniors to the fabric of the City of Rocky River.”

A reception will be held for Carole on Friday, July 18, at 2:00 p.m. at the Rocky River Senior Center. Everyone is welcome.