After more than four decades in clinical social work, including 30 years as CEO of Children’s Aid and Family Services in northern New Jersey, retirement came not as a final chapter, but as the beginning of a new role for Bob Jones. In 2015, he stepped away from professional life to become the full-time caregiver for his wife, Marion, until her passing in 2020.
L
ike it did for many others, the pandemic became a moment of reflection and reset for Bob. “With caregiving behind me and
the rhythms of suburban life outside New York City no longer fitting my needs, I began looking ahead. I wanted to find a community that was both age-friendly and vibrant where I could feel connected again. Lancaster kept rising to the top of national rankings for retirement. Curious, I started to explore.”
He initially searched for a home in Lancaster City but quickly discovered that jumping into homeownership in a new city might not be the best path. Bob recounts, “I reached out to Hilda Shirk and her husband, Wes, two longtime acquaintances and active members of the Lancaster community for their insights. (Hilda is a member of the Landis Communities board.) When a couple of promising properties didn’t pan out, Hilda encouraged me to consider renting first. She recommended Steeple View Lofts (SVL) and Landis Place on King (LPK), two communities I had seen advertised but hadn’t seriously considered. Her advice turned out to be a turning point. I moved into LPK in May 2024, and haven’t looked back.”
Moving to a new city where he knew no one (aside from Hilda and Wes) could have felt daunting, but Bob has always believed in the power of people to shape an experience. He tells an old Chinese story, where Tiny Dragon asks Giant Panda, Which is more important: the destination or the journey? To which Giant Panda replies, Te company. “Tat simple truth has guided
Cultivating
Community, Together
me throughout my life and continues to shape my time here,” Bob notes.
With a background in community building, it felt natural for Bob to quickly become engaged. He began organizing Pop-Up Movie Nights and afternoons centered on educational videos called Te Great Courses, two of his personal interests. Tese activities turned out to be not just fun, but meaningful ways to connect with fellow residents. He has also joined a number of local groups, including the Lancaster Downtowners (a collaborative partner of Landis Communities), as well as the Red Rose Sangha and Lancaster Friends Meeting.
Bob notes, “Starting to lead events at LPK was surprisingly easy. I shared some ideas with the staff, and they were wonderfully supportive in coordinating space and AV needs. Teir encouragement helped bring ideas to life quickly.”
He continues, “Since becoming involved, I’ve seen the social atmosphere grow stronger. Residents often refer to LPK and SVL as “college dorms for older people,” a sentiment that reflects the active, social energy here. From trivia nights and Scrabble afternoons to Sunday gatherings on the sixth- floor terrace, there are countless ways to meet people and feel connected. It’s more than just an apartment building, it’s a community.”
For Bob, volunteering and participating in community life have been valuable ways to ease into a new environment, to meet others, to become part of something larger and to feel a sense of belonging.
Landis.org | FLOURISH | Fall 2025 • 11
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