Who has not wondered if, given unlimited means, where they would choose to
live?
Some might envision a beach home in Hawaii, complete with a
glistening pool under the palm trees. Others would choose a ranch with a stable
of fine horses. Still others, an exotic hideaway in a foreign country.
My
special “dream home” would be a duplex apartment overlooking Central Park (and
if the powers that be wanted to throw in an aging theater critic or restaurant
reviewer as a sometime companion, so much the better).
I recently spent a
most-engaging afternoon with Mr. Herb Jay, admittedly a multimillionaire who
could have chosen any of the above, but instead is happily ensconced in a
pleasant, but unremarkable apartment at The Hearth at Gardenside, a senior
living community on Alps Road in Branford.
The life story of this twinkling, blue-eyed octogenarian is a legendary
American rags-to-riches tale. Herb grew up in Ridgewood, Brooklyn, and like many
others, was enabled to make the first step out of poverty by attending college
on the GI Bill.
He became extremely successful in the advertising field
and as an executive at NBC. He introduced “The Dean Martin Show” and hired Carol
Burnett and Dick Van Dyke and produced NBC specials featuring luminaries such as
Tony Bennett, Pat Boone, Liza Minnelli, Rosemary Clooney, Arthur Godfrey, Robert
Goulet and Maurice Chevalier.
In fact, there are very few famous
show-business personalities that Herb and his wife did not know and entertain.
In 1971, along with many other successful executives, Herb and his wife moved to
Weston, purchased a 3-acre spread complete with horse barn and guest cottage. He
soon became a trustee of the Maritime Aquarium, did advertising for the Courage
to Speak Foundation and was a director of the Norwalk Chamber of
Commerce.
In addition, he was the director and chairman of the trust
committees of several Norwalk banks, as well as opening and overseeing the Ethan
Allen store in Norwalk.
This idyllic life was interrupted when after
Thanksgiving last year, a routine CAT scan showed blood clots in Herb’s lung and
he ended up in Norwalk Hospital.
Herb and Charlotte’s daughter, Amy, saw
an advertisement for a furnished apartment “special” winter break at Gardenside
and suggested it to her parents.
Herb is completely sold on the senior living community lifestyle and especially on his lifestyle at Gardenside.
He says the staff is excellent and he loves not having to worry about having to hire or manage help or be concerned about turnover.
Accustomed to eating in some of New York’s and Europe’s finest restaurants, he is very pleased with the quality and variety of food at Gardenside and is delighted with the friends he and his wife, a talented artist, have made. Although I work with many senior communities and help future residents with their various decisions regarding a move, not everyone makes the transition as seamlessly as these two have.
Having no financial worries, is of course, a great help, but more than that, Herb Jay is an outstanding example of a positive-thinking personality who obviously delights in life and savors and appreciates every day.
Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at 101 Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.
