Greenwich Senior Center Receives $2.5M Gift From Late Resident's Will

GREENWICH, CT — Thanks to the generosity from a lifelong town resident, the Greenwich Senior Center will be enhanced and enriched for years to come.

On Thursday, the Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to accept a $2.5 million gift to the Friends of the Greenwich Senior Center from the estate of Mary Louise Wallace.

Wallace, a retired teacher in the Bethel school system and a Riverside resident, died at the age of 82 in January 2021.

In her will, Wallace requested to leave the bulk of her estate to primarily assist older adults in Greenwich, especially those who are income-constrained and want to remain in town, and to assist older adults to care for their pets.

Greenwich Commission on Aging Chair Steven Katz told the board that after "extensive discussions" with trustees of the estate, it was agreed upon that $2.5 million will be put towards supplementing renovations planned for the Senior Center.

Renovations include the lower level, first floor and entryway of the senior center, which is located at 299 Greenwich Ave.

Naming rights will also be included for a term of 15 years per town guidelines. A plaque denoting "The Mary Louis Wallace Center" will be placed outside of the building by the front door and the reception area.

Additionally, the trustees of the estate agreed to provide the remainder of the money, valued between up to $2 million, to offer "new, evidence-based programming" that would benefit older adults, especially those who are income-constrained and have pets, Katz said.

"These two gifts would be game-changing from a public health perspective for all older adults, and especially those who are income-constrained in the town of Greenwich," Katz said. "It aligns perfectly with the commission on aging's mission to improve the quality of life for older adults in the town of Greenwich through planning and coordination, advocacy, education and senior center programming."

First Selectman Fred Camillo thanked Katz for his work on the matter and praised the generosity of Wallace.

"It means alot to everybody, and certainly we're very grateful to Mary Louise Wallace for her foresight and for really caring about the elderly and those with pets," Camillo said. "I think that hits home with a lot of us."

Selectwoman Lauren Rabin agreed.

"What a gift to have received this," she said.

Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan said she was grateful to the estate for the gift, and that she was "thrilled" for the senior center.

"I look forward to more great programming coming to the senior center," she said.

Rather than waiting for a second read of the item, as is usual practice for the board, the selectmen voted to approve acceptance of the gift.

Katz said it was "time-sensitive" because the funds must be accepted by the town by the end of 2022, as part of the agreement.

The Representative Town Meeting must now grant final approval.