The waiting game is a common denominator of determining when to make the next move. The Grays followed a family rule: Don’t wait.
It all started about 30 years ago when Rich Gray’s parents moved to Judson Manor upon the suggestion that they might consider a next-step home. They had visited friends there, and as Barbara Gray shares, her in-laws said, “If someday we need it, we will probably move there.” Describing them as wise and thoughtful, not to mention incredibly practical, her father-in-law decided: “We have to make the decision before we have to make the decision.” So, they did.
Within a year of moving in, Barbara’s mother-in-law suffered a major stroke, however her father-in-law continued thriving at Judson Manor for the following 10 years until 1998. He made friends, and felt community. “Then, when it came time for us to make a decision to move from our home in Shaker Heights, where we had lived for 58 years, we knew Judson, and like everyone else, we put off the decision for a while,” Barbara relates. The couple reflected on Rich’s late father’s modus operandi.
“We needed to make the decision before we had to make the decision,” she says. They followed suit.
Home Turf
The Grays were quite familiar with South Franklin Circle and enjoyed visiting with friends at Judson Park. “But it had been a while since we went to Judson Manor,” Barbara says, noting a visit and an opportune availability: an apartment home that would be ready and newly renovated in eight months. Perfect timing. This gave the Grays an opportunity to manage a move with the help of Judson and children and get involved in the remodeling process. “We could refine our plan for when and how we wanted to move and put our house on the market,” she says.
The historic details and building’s legacy drew them to Judson Manor, formerly Wade Park Manor. “And of course, we loved the high ceiling and space and large windows, the location near Severance Hal so we could walk to see the symphony, art museum, and other cultural opportunities here in University Circle,” Barbara says.
Situated in the northeast quadrant of Judson Manor, the Grays take in full views of the city, and their home ushers in a flood of natural light. The third bedroom is a convenient office for Rich, and the couple often agree to show their apartment to guests considering the Manor. “We are very glad to talk about how much we love living here at Judson!” says Barbara.
And there are so many connections. Rich worked for years at Cleveland’s Republic Steel before moving to an organization affiliated with Case Western Reserve University, with which Judson has a strong partnership. He helped developed entrepreneurial programs for the Weatherhead School of Management. “He had civic and business backgrounds and was very interested in helping maintain business vitality in Cleveland,” Barbara says.
The couple raised five children in Shaker Heights. Barbara was elected to two terms (8 years) on the Shaker Heights Board of Education, as well as having other volunteer commitments in the community. “The most important thing about living here at Judson is the people,” Barbara says with definity.
Engaging Connections
The Grays attend musical events and programs, and Barbara is a regular at stretching classes and in the gym. “We enjoy walking the area because there are so many interesting places at our doorstep,” she says. The couple has gotten to know other Judson Manor residents and says this is certainly the highlight. “The staff is helpful, supportive and pleasant, and makes a great effort to know our names, and that is always welcoming,” she adds.
During a time of saying goodbye to friends, creating new connections has created a sense of vitality.
“Now, we have a new group of interesting people who we feel very compatible with and enjoy sharing dinner and attending programs together,” Barbara says. “That is an aspect of moving here we hadn’t necessarily anticipated, and it’s so important.”
Reiterating the key message, she encourages, “Make the decision sooner rather than later so you can take advantage of all that Judson has to offer.”
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