July 13, 2023
For Peter Junker, retiring to Kendal Crosslands Communities is a family tradition. His grandmother was one of the founding residents at Kendal at Longwood, and even convinced a number of her bridesmaids to join her in moving to the new community! Peter grew up visiting his grandmother at Kendal, and feels like he’s known about it his entire life. His mother and aunt also retired to Crosslands and Kendal at Longwood respectively, so it seemed natural that when the time came, Peter would retire here as well.
Making Connections
Peter’s breadth of experience and his unique way of approaching life– looking for connections, and exploring how to bring people together to see the ways we are all interconnected and interdependent– is infectious. He has spent time in the military and Merchant Marine, time as an architect, and in business– and now, he is spending some of his time sharing his thoughts and vision with others through various writing projects.
Like his family before him, Kendal at Longwood has given Peter an opportunity to be part of a larger community that is likewise thoughtful and dedicated to making meaningful contributions, and to make the world a better place. Peter is working with other residents to explore possible adaptive uses of the barn on Kendal at Longwood’s campus. As Peter talks about the possibilities for the barn, he can already envision the outcome. There is no doubt the energy and expertise Peter brings to the community could bring lasting, positive change.
Family Traditions
Peter’s home is filled with family heirlooms and memories, including a mirror that his Grandmother had when she was here at Kendal, paintings by relatives, and books across a wide breadth of interests. They range from military prayer books to a copy of Barbar in the original French– and even his newly adopted cat Gracie. As he makes a pot of tea for us to share- sourced specifically from a local tea shop with attention to the freshness component, Peter starts talking about his interest in meeting the owner of a local coffee shop to discuss roasting of beans and how they can become even better- as he takes time to extract the ultimate flavor from them.
Kendal Crosslands Communities has a tradition that is very rare– a community that has become part of how the Junker family, and others, have chosen to age. While many families struggle with how to accommodate the changes and often increasing health issues that accompany aging, the Junker family has chosen Kendal Crosslands, where each member, in their turn, can maintain their independence while receiving the care they need if and when it is needed.
Community Evolution, Core Values
Peter also exemplifies another important aspect of life at Kendal-Crosslands Communities-participating and lending your skill set to help the community evolve. Through the Resident’s Association, various committees and participation on the Board, every resident is a vital part of the life of the community. And while the community has certainly changed and evolved from when Peter’s grandmother first came with her friends, the core value of transforming the experience of aging stays alive with every resident. Peter will clearly make a lasting impact on fellow residents and the community, and everyone will benefit from his talents and insights. That is really at the heart of what makes Kendal-Crosslands a remarkable community.
Find Out More About Kendal-Crosslands
Kendal-Crosslands Communities is special, where generations in the same family, like the Junker family, have chosen to retire to the same community. While the Community has changed and evolved since the first residents moved in 50 years ago, our core values of transforming the experience of aging for our residents remains strong. To find out more, click the link below to download our digital brochure!