Six decades ago, it looked like the sun was setting on the Sunset Club before it had time to rise.
Don Sinn, the first director of Concord’s parks and recreation department more than 60 years ago, was determined to create a leisure club for seniors, so he sent out an invitation to all interested parties to meet at White Park to get the ball rolling.
Two people showed up.
He tried again a few days later and managed to increase participation – to three.
Little did he know that more than half a century later the group would celebrate its 60th anniversary in a brand-new community center with an extravaganza attended by more than 50 seniors.
“It’s awesome to have that history of the city working with the Sunset Club for 60 years,” David Gill, director of Parks and Recreation, said. “It’s important that relationship continue to be strong.”
It’s strong enough that the club itself is now old enough to be considered a senior citizen. What Sinn started – and later dubbed the Sunset Club with help from Walter May and Edith Messer, a pair of prominent Concordians – remains an entertaining outlet for seniors looking to take part in activities and meet new people. The group meets on the third Wednesday of every month, often hosting guest speakers, and takes two trips a year. Previous trips have taken the club to Hampton Beach, Mount Washington and Mount Sunapee.
Terry Noonan’s mother, two sisters and sister-in-law were all members, and she has been part of the club since 1962.
“It’s kind of all in the family,” Noonan said.
More than 70 seniors are members of the club, including Eileen White, who at 101 is the oldest living member. Fifty-two members attended the May 15 60th anniversary celebration, and between 40 and 50 people attend each of the monthly meetings, said president Judy Brickett.
“Not everyone comes all the time, but when they do come out, it gives you something to look forward to, a way to get out in the community,” Brickett said.
That remains perhaps the club’s most important service to seniors – an opportunity to get out and meet people. The activities are often educational, including presentations on wills and power of attorney or scam prevention, but it’s as much a chance to socialize as it is anything else.
Marilyn Rossi is a past president of the club who moved to Concord from Massachusetts and spent 30 years working in the kitchens of the Concord school district. You don’t stay active – and perhaps establish a new world record for french bread pizzas viewed in one’s lifetime – for that long without a thirst for action, so Rossi wasn’t about to retire and settle into her couch to catch up on soap operas.
“I’m the type of person where I like to meet people and do things. I don’t want to just sit home and watch the boob tube,” Rossi said. “Once the kids were grown up, I wanted to get out and do something.”
Membership isn’t complicated – dues are $10 per year – and the club is involved in activities throughout the year. Members collect and donate toys to the city during Christmastime, stuff Easter eggs every spring and contribute to a number of other charities in and around Concord.
The 60th anniversary celebration nearly brought the club full circle, as Gill and some of the members tracked Sinn down and invited the group’s founder to the event. At 93 and living in California, he ultimately had to pass, but he sent an email letter reflecting on his time in Concord and spent some time on the phone with Gill.
“I talked to him for probably 45 minutes,” Gill said. “It was a walk down memory lane for him.”
Gill is excited for future seniors to have similar opportunities, and the new space and thriving membership certainly portends a sunset that isn’t fading over the hills anytime soon. In fact, the members are emboldened to remind Gill just how they’d like things in the future.
“The good thing about working with seniors is when you are doing something right, they let you know, and when you are doing something wrong, they let you know,” he said wryly. “They give you suggestions on how to improve things. But they do it with a smile . . . sometimes.”
Those interested in joining the club can attend a meeting (there are no meetings in July and August) or can call Judy Brickett at 225-7704.
