Rich In Friendship

Madonna Dries Christensen

In March, 1973, Brother William Geenen, CSC, visited a colleague’s father at Sarasota (Florida) Memorial Hospital. Although the elderly man was in intensive care, Brother Geenen was impressed with his positive outlook. “He was more concerned about his caregivers, especially his wife, than about himself. Still, I sensed loneliness in the man and wished I had more time to spend with him, but it was time to return home to Ohio.”

          Heading north by automobile, Brother Geenen found himself in the right-turn-only lane, when he wanted to go straight ahead. He turned and pulled into a vacant lot to check his road map. There, seemingly out of nowhere, an elderly man appeared at the car window and began talking. Brother Geenen says, “He told me about his wife's death, and his own illnesses. He seemed lonely and depressed, but there was nothing I could do right then. So I left him, as I had the man in the hospital.”

          Brother Geenen says he is not outwardly emotional, nor does he wear his spirituality on his sleeve, but that things do touch him. He couldn't forget about the two men. It struck him that in Sarasota, a retirement community often called Paradise, there must be many elderly people who are isolated and have no one to help them cope with the challenges of aging. "It weighed on me heavily and I asked myself who was going to do something about this problem. The answer came that possibly it was me."

          Brother Geenen envisioned activity centers where aging adults would find companionship, as well as services that would enable them to live independently for as long as possible. This was the beginning of what would be his legacy to Sarasota and, ultimately, to communities across the country. He moved to Sarasota that same year, with a clear vision of his mission. “To respond to the loneliness and isolation of many older persons, to bring people together, to enable people to help one another, to share time, talents and resources.”

          With no experience in gerontology, but with ample faith in God and in his fellowman, Brother Geenen found a room in an old house to use as a senior center, and his first volunteer, Molleen Pust. He says, “I gave her my checkbook and told her to buy what she needed. She balanced it and said, ‘Is it correct that you have only seventy-nine dollars?’”

          And so, Senior Friendship Centers (plural because Brother Geenen knew there would be more than one) was founded on seventy-nine dollars, a host of volunteers, and a simple slogan: People Helping People. Today, providing services in five southwest Florida counties, the non-profit organization is considered one of the finest programs in the country. It has become the model for similar programs nationwide and has been recognized by the American Medical Association. Its paid employees are bolstered by thousands of volunteers, including dozens of retirees in the medical field.

          Dubbed the Energizer Bunny, Brother Geenen is described as unassuming, compassionate, private, and humble but powerful. Kathleen Toale, a past board member, said, “I’ve never seen anyone like Brother Geenen who can low-key present his case and have people open their pocketbooks. When he speaks to people who have means, they give.”

          Still, he takes little credit for the success of what began thirty-five years ago. He says it's about people helping people. That may be true, but it took someone to recognize the need and to set a dream in motion. Because of Brother Geenen's serendipitous meeting with two elderly men who seemingly needed attention, senior adults in Southwest Florida enjoy an enhanced way of life.

          One might wonder: Who was that man who appeared at Brother Geenen's car window and why did he strike up a conversation with a stranger? If there are angels among us, perhaps one emerged in earthly form; his mission, to find someone to implement God's plan to assist this country’s ever-growing older population.

          So he chose Brother William Geenen.


[Brother Geenen passed away in 2011. Doorways salutes him for his huge contribution to this community and others around the world.]