Bruce Fiedler Retires from Elder Housing Complex After 26 Years

Long-time administrator Bruce Fiedler has announced his retirement this summer after 26 years of service, according to a press release.

The board of directors, which oversees the Pleasanton Gardens senior housing complex, has entered into a one-year management contract with , which is based in Pleasanton.

ABHOW, in consultation with the directors, has hired Ron Dirks as the new site administrator, according to the release.

After Fiedler informed the board of his plan to retire earlier this year, directors sought proposals from management companies to operate the 40-unit elder housing complex on Kottinger Avenue.

It was the first very affordable housing for senior citizens and grew out of a partnership of four churches—, , First Baptist and .

The ABHOW team was introduced to the residents earlier this month and Dirks was welcomed on board on June 20, according to the release.

“We are so grateful to Bruce for his 26 years of service to the residents of Pleasanton Gardens," said Pleasanton Gardens board president Tim Hunt in the statement.

"He maintained an extraordinary community—one that is a model for small complexes across the country."

Fiedler said that he had been approached by larger organizations during his tenure, but that he preferred to stay at Pleasanton Gardens where he knew all the residents and could see the results of his work.

In addition to the day-to-day administration, Fielder also handled most maintenance and provided his cell phone number to all residents in case he was needed.

Pleasanton Gardens was one of the last small complexes operated as a stand-alone facility and routinely has received the highest ratings from Housing and Urban Development.

“The board agreed, once Bruce announced his retirement, that the era of a single administrator managing the complex had passed," Hunt said.

"We sought the best management company as our partner—both to handle day-to-day operations and to help guide the directors through a process to determine how to position Pleasanton Gardens to continue its mission of providing very affordable elder housing for decades to come.

“We are excited to work with ABHOW and develop both a vision and the practical plan to achieve it,” Hunt said.

As one other non-profit, faith-based organization headquartered in Pleasanton, ABHOW has an understanding of Pleasanton Gardens' goals, said Ancel Romero, ABHOW senior vice-president.

Dirks has spent the past seven years managing property for non-profit companies. He spent almost 20 years as a pastor before moving into the private sector as an informational technology manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a masters of divinity and is currently finishing a masters of history at Cal State East Bay.

Dirks said, “It is my sincere belief that my previous experiences have brought to this very place. I already feel welcomed and at home at Pleasanton Gardens. While I never will be able to fill Bruce's shoes, I hope to provide the same warm care and support to both the residents and the greater community of Pleasanton."

Before coming to Pleasanton Gardens, Fielder worked as a youth and disabled services coordinator, a classroom teacher and school administrator. During his tenure, he served on both the city Human Services Commission and the Housing Commission as well as the task force that worked for eight years to plan and develop the city’s Senior Citizens Center.

Fielder also served on a variety of committees related to the needs of senior citizens.

He has been a leading advocate of creating smoke-free housing complexes and speaks nationally on that issue, according to the release.