Emily Santaw has given a lot to the Bugbee Senior Center, and she’s gotten a lot back.
Santaw is retiring this month after about “30 years of no two days being the same” as an administrative assistant at the White River Junction-based senior center. She started in 1988 after her husband retired from the Air Force and the family returned to Wilder. Santaw was familiar with Bugbee: Her father, the late Chet Dodge, was a patron at the center.
“I knew that it was so important to him,” Santaw said. He traveled on the senior center’s van and helped other seniors get on and off the vehicle.
There was also the appeal of the job’s hours.
“I wanted a job where if I left work, I could leave it there,” Santaw said. “It turned out to be ever so much more.”
Senior centers are incredibly important in communities. In addition to hosting activities and meals, they connect seniors to necessary services. More than that, they provide a space to gather, socialize, complain and reminisce.
“Age doesn’t define you,” Santaw said. She recalled being inspired by the late 90-something Grace Emery, who would come in every day to set the tables for lunch. “We still keep the substance of our personalities.”
She also said she was amazed at the dedication of Bugbee’s volunteers.
“The importance of volunteers can’t be stressed enough,” Santaw said. “We could not keep the doors open if we did not have these wonderful volunteers.”
Santaw originally planned to retire when she turned 62, but when her husband died, “it was so tremendously important to have the structure,” she said.
Bugbee’s patrons, volunteers and staff supported her as she went through the grieving process.
So Santaw pushed her retirement target to age 65. Then, when she turned 65, she extended it to age 70.
“I’ve gotten to know everyone who comes here,” she said.
When newcomers arrive, Santaw watches them form relationships with other attendees. At first, people are a “little wary,” but as time goes on “they’re part of the family.”
But the job does have its share of heartache, especially when attendees are too ill to come to Bugbee and pass away.
Back when Santaw started, the activities that senior citizens are drawn to have changed. Crafts always drew a crowd and Santaw remembers a rubber-stamping trend.
“I think seniors are more busy now,” she said. “A lot of the folks in here have email, do more than play solitaire on the computer.”
Facebook and smartphones have moved in.
“I envy them,” Santaw said with a laugh. “Maybe I’ll take some time to learn about mine.”
Santaw said she plans to take it easy when she retires and is looking forward to spending time in her garden. She also has signed up for a few senior center trips.
But even with retirement in front of her, she’ll still look back on the things she’ll miss from Bugbee
“It’s the family feeling. It really is,” she said. “It feels like home. I’ll miss that. I’ll certainly miss the people.”
Editor’s note: To learn about volunteer opportunities at the Bugbee Senior Center, and the services it provides, call 802-295-9068. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
