Cornwall Manor celebrates Founders Day

Cornwall Manor hosted its annual Founders Day event on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. The event recognized friends who play an important role in the retirement community’s founding as well as those who have supported the Cornwall Manor community through its 75 years of ministry to older adults.

The 2024 Founders Day award was presented to Robert and Elaine Beers by Cornwall Manor’s President & CEO, Harry A. McConnell. The award is presented to an individual ‘whose extraordinary commitment to Cornwall Manor has had a significant impact on our ministry.’

Bob and Elaine have been long-time friends of Cornwall Manor going back way before they became residents in August of 2021. They exemplify so many qualities that contribute to making Cornwall Manor the caring community that it is. Bob and Elaine graduated from Lewistown High School, which is where they met. They were married in 1956 and they recently celebrated 68 years of marriage. Bob and Elaine have three children, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

In high school, Elaine was secretary of her class and a member of the National Honor Society. After their wedding, the Beers resided in Myerstown, where Elaine worked for Quaker Alloy, and Whitmoyer Laboratory and was active in Junior Women’s Club and on the Board of the Myerstown Library. One of her meaningful contributions includes collaborating with a dentist to introduce fluoride to the Myerstown public water system. She also received the National Women’s Association Outstanding Women of America Award. She is also quite an accomplished seamstress and made all the children’s clothing when they were young. In addition to sewing, one of Elaine’s passions was learning financial planning and the intricacies of the stock market and investing.

Bob shares that his relationship with Cornwall Manor goes back to the days of Price Collins, Cornwall Manor’s Administrator following The Rev. Dr. Levi Zerr. Bob started as a young draftsman with the architecture firm of Haak and Kauffman in Myerstown in 1956. Bob has made his mark all over Cornwall Manor’s campus.

Bob was known for treating employees like family, encouraging and mentoring the younger partners to participate and volunteer in community and professional societies. Bob has received numerous awards and recognition for his passion and devotion to the architectural profession, including the Harry Rutledge Distinguished Service Award honoring lifetime achievement in architecture. His interest in architecture started in the earl 1950’s as a high school junior. At a career day, he met John Haughwout, a well-known architect who designed with a flare of Frank Lloyd Wright and that sparked Bob’s interest. Bob was the first student to be chosen for his school’s work co-op program. He entered a house design in the Ford Motor Co. Industrial Arts Award Program, earning him a certificate of merit signed by Henry Ford II. In 1973, Bob became a registered architect and partner in the firm then known as Haak, Kaufman, Reese and Beers. In 1982, Bob founded his own firm and added a Lebanon branch office in 1996, with architect Bob Hoffman at the helm. The firm continues to design church, senior living, medical, educational, residential and commercial facilities. Bob was a member of the Lancaster Rotary Club, Urban League, Teen Challenge, Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Penn State Gerontology Center Advisory Board. He also served the Myerstown community as chairman of the zoning hearing board and the planning commission, both of which he was instrument in getting formed.

Together Bob and Elaine traveled extensively and lived in Lititz before making their home here at Cornwall Manor and we are so happy that they did.

When asked why the Beers’ support Cornwall Manor’s ministry, they wrote, “we feel that Cornwall Manor is the BEST retirement community and appreciate the staff and our fellow residents and believe in supporting the mission. We thoroughly enjoy living at Cornwall Manor.”

The featured speakers for the Founders Day event included two former Cornwall Manor President & CEOs, Steven D. Hassinger and Lee A. Stickler, along with current President & CEO, Harry A. McConnell, who shared their Presidential Reflections during their time as Administrators. These three Administrators’ service have spanned more than 40 years of leadership at Cornwall Manor during the community’s 75-year existence.

Hassinger, who was hired in 1978 as the Administrator of Health Care Services and then promoted to Executive Vice President in 1980 and became the fifth President and CEO of Cornwall Manor in 1989, serving until he retired in 2019. Under Steve’s guidance, he worked with the Board of Trustees and Cornwall Manor’s management team to adopt the first strategic plan in 1991, which has resulted in steady growth for Cornwall Manor as well as financial stability. Additionally, he oversaw numerous construction and renovation projects including the Woods expansion project, the Health Center and Freeman Community Center renovations.

Stickler joined Cornwall Manor in 1988 as Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer and served in that role until 2018 when he was promoted to Executive Vice President. In 2019, he became the sixth President & CEO of Cornwall Manor and served in that role until his retirement in 2022. Under his stewardship, Cornwall Manor has compared very favorably to most key industry financial benchmarks for more than 25 years. During his tenure as President, Lee had the challenge of leading the Cornwall Manor community through the COVID pandemic.

McConnell became part of the Cornwall Manor family in 2022 as the seventh President & CEO. Harry brings a multitude of senior living experience from the Montgomery County area, including Normandy Farm Estates and Peter Becker Community. He also was an adjunct Professor for Gwynedd-Mercy College, where he leads courses in Health Care Administration, Healthcare Delivery Systems, Healthcare Financial Management and Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare. In his two years, Harry has focused on developing and building relationships, increasing resident engagement, cultivating a culture of caring and kindness and expanding employee benefits to attract and hire quality team members. He has already overseen the renovation of Laurel Place, which added a pitched roof, upgraded HVAC systems and added balconies and patios to most apartments. As Cornwall Manor looks to reinvest, renovate and build for the future, current projects include replacing the windows in the historic Buckingham Mansion, the groundbreaking and construction of the 20,000 square foot Clubhouse at The Woods and the renovation of Gatehouse Lane duplex home exteriors. Additional future plans under McConnell’s leadership include expanding Cornwall Manor’s strategic plan with rebranding the organization, concentrating on aging in place, supporting our local community, attracting and building a strong Board of Trustees, bringing the Buckingham and Woods Campuses together, telling the Cornwall Manor story and focusing on making Cornwall Manor a place where residents want to celebrate the joy of living.

Several people were inducted into “The Buckingham Society,” which is named for Mrs. Margaret Coleman Freeman Buckingham, who is considered Cornwall Manor’s first philanthropist. Members of the Buckingham Society provide the highest levels of support for Cornwall Manor’s mission. Vicki Deitzler, Cornwall Manor Vice President for Advancement, inducted Kenneth F. Adams*, Richard B. and Ellen H. Arnold, Clarence and Eileen Fox, Carol Whitfield and Annabel C. Wilson*.

“Legacy Circle” donors, who are acknowledged for naming Cornwall Manor in their will or estate plan. New Legacy Circle donors are Ken and Elaine Boltz, Jane Fan and Marlyn Gohn.

Deitzler also recognized “Faithful Friends.” These donors have supported the community’s mission for over 20 years. New “Faithful Friends” who were acknowledged at the luncheon were William Gildea, Rev. Steve and Joan Morton and Patricia L. Walter.

“GEM” donors were also recognized. We are grateful for these supporters who “Give Every Month” (GEM) as every gift makes an impact. New GEM Donors include Gary and Susan Bitner, Russ and Judy Noll, Marilee H. Ostman and Roberta Warshaw.

*indicates our friends who were honored posthumously

Cornwall Manor is extremely grateful to this year’s Founders Day Event Sponsors – Allwein’s Carpet One, Benchmark Construction, Beers and Hoffman Architecture, Jeanne and Edward Arnold, Arthur Funk & Sons Construction, Barley Snyder Attorneys at Law, JKJ Advisors, Mill Creek Capital Advisors, Pyramid Construction Services, RKL Advisors, RLPS Architects, and Weik Capital Management.

Proceeds from the Founders Day event are used to support benevolent care for residents with limited resources – which has been at the heart of Cornwall Manor’s ministry for 75 years. In 2023, Cornwall Manor provided more than $2 million in benevolent care for residents.

Cornwall Manor is a 600-resident, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community that offers diversified and high-quality housing, health care and related services for individuals to achieve a retirement and aging lifestyle they find fulfilling in a secure, caring, and Christian environment.