Aging, Cities and Us

My grandpa is an 82 year old widower.  He lives alone in a quiet community in the hills outside of Redlands and is still a full time practicing lawyer.  On weekends, he commutes 74 miles to San Clemente where he sees old friends, runs errands, and enjoys the ease of life that a compact, ocean side community offers.  It’s not that Redlands doesn’t have these amenities.  It’s that San Clemente offers a certain type of community that my grandpa prefers on the weekends.  In Redlands, where his job is, his home is isolated, quiet and his primary acquaintances are his cats.

Recently, my grandpa had surgery and, although the surgery went well, the recovery has left him tired and slow, which has led him to realize that where he lives really matters.  As my grandpa and our family face the fact “Grandpa really is getting older,” it’s made the question of how younger generations and how our cities will grapple with aging baby boomers all the pertinent.

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Meet Our Hosts: Paul Connolly

My involvement with RTSF started when I volunteered as a marketing hit man for the Executive Director, Karen Nemsick.  Karen gave me a fat yellow folder of letters RTSF had received from homeowners. Letters crudely written in pencil or pen held by unsteady, aged hands.  Letters that came from the soul.  Letters of heartfelt thanks from selfless San Franciscans who gave, gave, gave their entire lives and were truly humbled to have RTSF volunteers return the favor.  The people who wrote those letters are the people who helped build San Francisco.  San Francisco cannot forget them.  RTSF never will.  That is why I am a part of RTSF.

Meet Our Hosts: The Dynamic Duo

Meet the dynamic Construction Captain duo of Cibele Ortiz and Tudlik Moerk.  Cibele has always been an active volunteer with other organizations, but while going to school for Architecture, she decided to find a volunteer opportunity that would utilize her new found skills.  Tudlik’s beginning at Rebuilding Together San Francisco is less complex, “She dragged me in on the first project.”

The two continue to volunteer for RTSF because, “It’s fun” and, “The people we help are super cute.”  The other benefits include being a part of good, challenging projects and Cibele mentions the Construction Management experience she has gained is great for building up her resume.

Tudlik suggests, “If you’re unsure, if you’re on the fence about the whole thing, go do a project once.”  Cibele adds, “You kinda…  fall in love with it.”  Meet both at our September 22nd, Changing Neighborhoods, Changing Lives fundraiser.

Save the Date

Our Changing Neighborhoods, Changing Lives fundraiser is rapidly approaching – please save the date!

Where: SOMArts Cultural Center (934 Brannan St., San Francisco, CA 94103)

When:  Thursday, September 22nd 6:00-9:00pm

What: Join us at the Changing Neighborhoods, Changing Lives fundraiser for Rebuilding Together San Francisco and support our work to rebuilding our San Francisco community! Exciting events include:

For more information contact Karen Nemsick (415) 905-1611 ext. 202