By Juliet Rotondo
Carol Klein still has a drawing of a “thumbs up” made for her by a student, even though she retired as professor at Westchester Community College’s Chemistry Department many years ago. In a portrait of her on display this month at the Rye Free Reading Room, she’s holding the drawing for all to see.
May is Older Americans Month, and the Osborn Senior Living Community celebrated by displaying The Wisdom Gallery at the library. Organized by the Osborn to pay tribute to the older adults of Rye, The Wisdom Gallery features larger-than-life photographs of Osborn residents alongside pieces of wisdom they share with future generations. A QR code displayed next to the gallery’s entrance invites users to read more about the featured residents — their backgrounds, hobbies, and words of advice.
“I thought they did a phenomenal job. It looks good, it looks professional,” Klein said.
She was one of 11 residents featured in The Wisdom Gallery, the goal of which is to let viewers know that the residents of Rye’s senior citizen community are vital and contributing to society. Take Klein, who now volunteers with the Osborn’s information technology team and a local animal shelter. Her piece of wisdom for future generations? “Have an open mind, listen well, and don’t take yourself too seriously.”
Klein’s portrait captured her smiling toward someone off-camera while holding the “thumbs-up” drawing. The photographer for the gallery, a professional who had been to the Osborn before, requested that each resident bring something meaningful to their photoshoot.
“Every year, I would bring it into my classes,” Klein said. “One year, one of my students said if you turn the drawing upside down, it’s a thumbs down. So I said, I don’t want to think of it that way. That’s the ‘don’t take yourself too seriously’ part. But it’s true — if you turn it upside down it’s a disapproval of me and my teaching!”
The Wisdom Gallery featured residents with a variety of backgrounds, including teachers like Klein and artists, musicians, psychologists, and journalists. While those residents led impressive lives before they moved to the Osborn, the gallery also emphasizes how they have continued to develop their passions since.
Resident Alice Model — a musician and retired reading specialist — used to work at Larchmont Mamaroneck Cable Television on a program called “Meet Our Neighbors.” When she moved to the Osborn, Model realized she could continue “Meet Our Neighbors” by interviewing current residents. Fifteen-plus years and about 100 interviews later, Mrs. Model said “Meet Our Neighbors” is the residents’ “way of getting to know each other. Everybody has an interesting story and everybody’s different.”
The Wisdom Gallery served a similar purpose: it’s not just a series of portraits but a celebration of the residents’ stories and accomplishments, and who they are as people.
“Older people have a lot to offer,” Klein said. “This is Older Americans Month. And I think the Osborn wanted to take the occasion to say that we are here, we have many older Americans and they have interesting things to say. We are not just waiting around. We’re doing.”
The gallery, which opened on May 1, was on display at the Rye Free Reading Room until the end of May. It was scheduled to be moved to the Osborn for the rest of the year.
