Three Highlands community members were recently featured in a Rochester Business Journal article. **
For these residents and so many others, it is a sense of purpose and connectedness that they love about living in Rochester and being a part of The Highlands at Pittsford community.
Resident Nancy Robbins founded Rochester’s Ronald McDonald House in 1990. After spending many nights in hospital room chairs when one of her two daughters fell ill, Nancy had the idea for a place that “provides affordable lodging and emotional support for families who need to be near their hospitalized children.” She continues to lend her time and energy toward the fundraising activities that take place each year for the organization. Last year alone, she and her colleagues raised over a half million dollars.
In addition to her work with the Ronald McDonald House, Nancy serves on our community’s Purpose Committee.
“I’m working on a fashion show, bake sale and luncheon. Just because we’re old and retired certainly doesn’t mean we can’t be useful. Rochester is such a wonderful city for volunteering. I still have lots of energy. Why not use it”
Also featured in the article is resident, Joseph Hammele. Joe and his wife, Pat, lived in Florida for a few years in the ‘70s, but they prefer living in Rochester.
“There is more substance to Rochester, a more stable community,” he says. “Florida seems to be more transient.”
Joe, who is a former President and CEO of Rochester Community Savings Bank, stays fit by walking every day. He is an active member of both the Pittsford Rotary and the Pittsford Food Cupboard. He is able to walk to both from his cottage home here at The Highlands.
Ann Nealon was the first women’s tennis team coach at Rochester Institute of Technology. During her career, she also coached the RIT men’s tennis team, she became the first female tennis pro at Oak Hill Country Club, holding that position from 1978 to 2009, and she was the head tennis coach at Midtown Athletic Club.
In addition to her passion for her work, Ann loves experiencing the four seasons here in Rochester. She and her husband moved to The Highlands in 2013, leaving the home in which they lived for 53 years.
“It was very difficult to move, moving from my big home, making decisions, leaving our home of 53 years. But the minute we saw our furniture here and our things, we felt at home,” Nealon says.
Now that they are here, Ann is thoroughly enjoying herself. She participates in many of our Seven Dimensions of Wellness classes and activities including aerobics, swimming, and the “UR Always Learning” cultural classes taught by University of Rochester faculty and staff.
“I’m doing cultural things I’ve never had time for,” Nealon says.
** Source: Rochester Business Journal, Lori Gable,, May 9, 2014
About PURPOSE, the Occupational Dimension of Wellness: Occupational wellness fulfills our inherent desire to contribute to something and make a positive impact on an organization and/or society. For those who have a skill they love to perform or a talent to share with others, The Highlands is happy to assist in finding ways for residents to do so.