Erwin and Fuller named to board of New Horizons at Choate

New Horizons at Choate welcomed two new trustees at its annual board meeting, held October 21 at the Warren Avenue independent and assisted living community. Fred Erwin of Woburn and R. Terrance “Terry” Fuller of Winchester will officially begin their three-year terms on January 1, 2016.

The meeting began with introductions, during which trustees and staff good-naturedly attempted to one-up each other regarding their connections to Woburn. All agreed that Erwin “won” when he declared that he not only was a lifelong Woburn resident but also was born in the New Horizons building, which formerly was Choate Memorial Hospital.

After retiring from a three-decade career as principal at Open Bible Academy in Burlington, Erwin spent five years as a member of the marketing team at New Horizon’s sister community in Marlborough. Currently, he works part-time for Securitas USA and volunteers his time leading a Christian worship service at New Horizons, a secular community that welcomes people of all faiths.

Fuller made his career in public secondary education, and upon retirement went on to University of Massachusetts Boston as an adjunct instructor in the graduate education program. He has been active in Winchester Tennis Association and Winchester Swim and Tennis Club, and currently serves as chair of Winchester Council on Aging.

“With their professional experience and significant volunteer involvements, Fred and Terry will be excellent additions to our board,” said Executive Director Christine Coakley, a Woburn native who has been with the not-for-profit senior community for more than 21 years. “We are grateful for their commitment to our organization.”

Coakley thanked outgoing trustees Scott Seaver of Woburn and Jane Murray and Christy Regan of Winchester for their three years of service.

According to Coakley, the high point of the meeting was the board’s unanimous vote, for the 21st year in a row, to waive any increase to the monthly service fees paid by current New Horizons residents. As a result, all residents who moved to the community within the last 21 years will continue paying the same monthly fee as they did when they moved in.

The monthly service fee at New Horizons includes housing costs, three meals per day, social events, weekly light housekeeping, utilities, apartment maintenance, groundskeeping, snow removal, and scheduled group transportation to local shopping and special events.

“We’re delighted to be in a position, year after year, to offer this unique benefit to our residents,” said Coakley. “Such stability in rates is unheard of in this industry, and it provides peace of mind to the people who live here, who may be on fixed incomes, and their families.”

New Horizons’ apartments are primarily open to residents of Woburn, Winchester, and Medford. In addition to independent and assisted living, dementia care is provided on site by Hearthstone Alzheimer Care, an independently owned and operated organization. More information about New Horizons is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

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PHOTO: Current and incoming trustees gathered for a photo with Cummings organization representatives. (front row, l to r) Joseph Tarby, Scott Seaver, Christy Regan, Reverend Mary Bettencourt, Lawrence Guiseppe, Cummings Foundation executive director Joel Swets, (back row, l to r) Cummings Foundation founders Bill and Joyce Cummings, Lynne Rahmeier, Fred Erwin, Jane Murray, Terry Fuller, Cummings Foundation associate executive director Joyce Vyriotes, Cummings Properties president and CEO Dennis Clarke.