“I am so thankful to be living at The Village,” shares resident of The Village at Penn State, John. “My experience here has been outstanding, and I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome in my search for a retirement community.”

John is originally from central New Jersey. Before retiring from his satisfying career in December of 2019, he worked as a chemical engineer for nearly 40 years. “Most of my work was in the automotive industry with the development of environmental catalysts to reduce pollution. Most recently, I worked in diesel emission control in heavy duty trucks. It was very rewarding,” he recalls.

While John was still working, he began searching for retirement communities all across the country. “New Jersey was not my ideal location for retirement. So, I began looking for other options. My in-laws had lived in a retirement community and they had a good experience,” he notes. “Because I have a PhD in Chemical Engineering, I was especially interested in a university-based community,” he adds.

When John began researching retirement in Pennsylvania his interests were heightened. “Pennsylvania seemed like a retirement-friendly state. When I came across The Village I discovered their connection with Penn State University which has an excellent reputation,” he affirms.

Upon inquiring more information, John visited The Village and was thoroughly impressed with the community. “One of the things that really impressed me on my first tour was the number of activities they offered. There are so many options and of course there’s the added cultural and sports opportunities with the University, which was very exciting to me,” John emphasizes.

Beginning John’s journey to a beautiful retirement…

John moved to The Village in April of 2020 and has been immensely pleased with his decision. “My apartment overlooks Palmer Park and the grounds here are very private which I enjoy since I go on a lot of walks outside,” John describes.

Palmer Park is a first-of its kind, fully landscaped, outdoor recreational area featuring a professionally contoured golf putting course, beautiful gardens adjacent to long walkways and a bistro with al-fresco dining, as well as a multi-purpose green for all kinds of outdoor activities. Whether residents are enjoying a game of bocce ball, dining outside with beautiful views, or partaking in a friendly putting competition, there are plentiful opportunities for outdoor entertainment and fun, which John thoroughly enjoys.

When he’s not enjoying Palmer Park, John says he’s likely meeting
new friends or discovering new activities.

“There is also a very nice lecture series in partnership with the University. It’s a mix of science and other areas of study, and I’ve really enjoyed that,” he adds.

As John expands his horizons and develops new friendships, he is also pleased with The Village’s dedication to outstanding service. “The team of professionals here are amazing. They’re very nice and helpful. The maintenance team especially, with all of the snow we’ve had this past winter the walkways were always free of ice so residents could safely go on walks, and they even clean off the cars,” he says enthusiastically. With so many benefits to enjoy, John’s family is also happy that he’s made The Village his new home.

“I have nieces who live in Massachusetts and we communicate regularly. My wife has passed, as well as my in-laws and parents. So I was the one making the decision to move to a retirement community. My nieces are happy that I’m here and it’s been wonderful getting to meet so many new people,” John affirms. Making new friends and discovering all that The Village has to offer, John looks forward to thoroughly enjoying a fulfilling retirement within this beautiful community.