Edgewood Residents Create Life Long Learning Program

Pictured are members of the Edgewood ELL Committee  staff and guests at the recent ELL Kick-off Celebration: Left to right-- Nancy Ellis, Margaret Karns, Leon Auerbach, Norma Beit, Bill Campbell, Roberta Braverman, Rachel Penner, Bill Schirmer, Mitchell Harwitz, Gwen Morgan (Social Programs Director at Edgewood,) Kathleen D'Amico (Admissions Director at the Edgewood Meadows Health Center,) Jennifer Baldwin, and seated Dottie Schirmer.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. 
                                   Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” ~ Henry Ford

This fall Edgewood residents are going “Back to School” expanding their minds and interests with a new education program called Edgewood Lifelong Learning (ELL.)

Developed by and for Edgewood residents themselves, the ELL program features short courses, discussion groups, lectures and seminars. The ELL Committee, chaired by Bill Schirmer, is comprised of 11 enthusiastic lifelong, learners who also worked with The Edgewood Residents’ Association, led by Ted Kruse to develop a program that would tap into the true interests of fellow residents and offer something different than other retirement communities. 

One unique element is that Edgewood residents – many of whom are very accomplished in leading fields - will teach some of this semester’s courses.   “What is the UN Good for Today?,” and “Eagle and Dragon: Can the U.S. and China Get Along, in November?,” is being facilitated by Edgewood resident Peggy Karns a professor of Political Science at the University of Dayton for thirty-six years, co-author of several books, and a member of the Council of Foreign Affairs. Bill Campbell a world renowned research biologist and member of the National Academy of Science will host a lecture on “Greatest Medical Advances,” and  “How Diseases Got Wings, “in November. Finally Rachel Penner, who taught at Phillips Academy for 50 years, will Lead “Black Widows and Tarnished Knights: Film Noir Movies from the 1940’s to the 1970’s.” 

Not to miss out, of course, on other great topics & speakers, guest lecturers for the Fall ELL program will include “Which Way Does Your Moral Compass Point,” from Mark Allam a professor of religious and theological studies at Merrimack College through October, and The Feminine Palette: A Look at the Lives and Work of Mary Cassatt and Georgia O’Keeffe,” with four sessions between mid-October and mid-November led by Izzie Abrams, a librarian at the Swampscott Public Library for 16 years.

With the goal of creating stimulating, fun and interesting opportunities for residents to get involved, even the logo for the ELL program was Edgewood resident-created by a husband and wife, life-long artist team Leon and Margie Auerbach – a former advertising executive and widely published illustrator.