By Donna Lane

The Senior Center would not be the vibrant facility it is today without the efforts of a group of volunteers called The Friends of the Council on Aging (COA), a 501 (c) 3 organization. Led by William (Bill) McCoy for 21 years, the Friends donated close to $600,000 during his tenure as president, including two senior buses, funds to help build a much-needed addition, a bocce court and many other items needed for the Center. Three of the original board members retired from the Friends’ Board in December of 2021, but not from their commitment to the Center.

 How did this group of dedicated volunteers come to be and how did they raise so much money?

In 2001, Bill McCoy was approached by Jean Bafrey and asked to form a ‘Friends’ group to support the senior center. 

“To this day, I’m not sure why she asked me, and I didn’t know if I could, but I told her I would try,” McCoy said. 

He successfully recruited Jim Schmidt who served as vice president for 18 years; Schmidt’s wife Barbara, who accepted the position of corresponding secretary; Anne Benson who served as treasurer for 21 years; Evelyn Kuphel, who served as recording secretary; and Millie Farrell who rounded out the group as its press secretary. McCoy served as president until December of 2021.

Early on, Friends held yard sales, a Christmas bazaar, and Friday night dances, which are still being held to this day. They also agreed that they would always pay their fair share and coined the phrase ‘You stay you pay; you don’t you won’t.’ They have always paid for admission to the center’s events, despite the fact that they were also working the events.

McCoy recalled that the first dance was very crowded in the small facility. Then Assistant Fire Chief John Howard approached him and said they needed to find another facility to hold the dances or they would be shut down because the crowd exceeded fire code regulations. 

“We moved the dance to the American Legion and boy, was it a lot of work!” McCoy said. “We had to bring everything up the fire escape to the second floor. The band had to bring up all its instruments, and anything else we needed had to be brought up those stairs. It was a lot of work, but everybody really loved it.”

McCoy believes that, in the beginning, few people believed in the Friends. They went to Town Meeting to request money for the Senior Center and were turned down. Twice! 

“Both times they said there wasn’t enough money in the budget to help support the Senior Center because it had been a bad year,” McCoy recalled. “We offered them $7,000 the second year, but the answer was still no. It wasn’t enough”

On their third try, the persistence of the Friends paid off handsomely.

“They knew we weren’t going away,” McCoy said with a chuckle.  “We offered the Town $250,000 to show our resolve in improving the facility and one of the selectmen took our request to the state.” 

The state agreed to pick up $1.1 million toward the addition; the Town agreed to provide $1.1 million, and the Friends gave the $250,000 they had committed. The addition to the center was started in 2005 and finished in April of 2007. 

One of the many people McCoy credits for the success of the Friends is Jim Schmidt. 

“Jimmy is one of the greatest ambassadors this town ever had,” McCoy said. “People don’t know all of the things he’s done behind the scenes.” 

Schmidt celebrated his 99th birthday in April and is still helping out at the center. McCoy said that Schmidt videotaped all of the activities at the center, including the daily progress of construction during the addition. 

“Jimmy hasn’t missed one thing in that hall,” McCoy said. “He videotaped every dance, exercise class, bingo game, and activity that was ever held.

And the women ... they are the ones who gave their all. The ones who made it all work.” 

During his tenure on the board, McCoy said that 70 percent of the board’s members were always women. At every event, they set up the tables, provided refreshments, and made everything run smoothly. 

“We couldn’t have done half of what we did without them,” McCoy said. 

Asked about some of the largest money-making events, McCoy mentioned a golf tournament that then-selectman Jerry Kelleher organized raising $12,000 for the Friends; a roast of then-Town Manager John Carroll, which netted another $12,000; and the former Westbury Farms Restaurant which would host a yearly chicken dinner for 115 people, donating all of the proceeds to the Friends each year asking nothing in return. He also mentioned Norwood Bank, Dedham Savings Bank, and Ernie Boch, all of whom generously donated to the Friends over the years.

His fondest memory is of a phone call he received from a young girl years ago. 

“Mr. McCoy? Would you do me a favor?” McCoy recounted. “Would you go to your front door and open it up and look down? I left a little jar there with pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters for the senior center so when my mom and dad get old they will have a nice place to go to.” 

As he recounts the story, there is a crack in his voice. 

“To this day, I don’t know who that little girl was, but I will never forget her,” McCoy said.

He is extremely proud of the contributions the Friends have been able to make to the Center but acknowledges that it is the result of many people’s generosity that made them successful. 

“One of the greatest things at the center are the plaques on the wall,” McCoy said. 

Each of these plaques represents a $100 donation given by or in memory of someone to the Friends. These plaques are a reminder of the many people who have made it possible for the Center to support our senior population, providing a wonderful facility to host the many activities and services it performs.

Throughout the interview, McCoy talked in superlatives. He praised COA Director Kerri McCarthy numerous times for her work running the Senior Center. 

“When Kerri McCarthy came to the Center, she made the sun shine and the smiles come back,” he gushed. ... “When she came, it turned into one of the best senior centers around. She has a fantastic knowledge of what people need and want. She kept the senior center open during the entire pandemic. She is a fantastic leader.” 

His respect and admiration for McCarthy and her work for the COA is obvious. 

In her monthly letter to seniors, McCarthy praised the outgoing board members. 

“These retirees put their heart and soul into the center and everyone has benefitted from their desire to help the older adults of Norwood,” McCarthy said. “They may be stepping down from the Friends organization, but they will continue to be at the center supporting all of its programs and events.”

McCoy says he will continue to call Bingo at the Center and run errands whenever needed. He also sings country songs at local nursing homes and would be happy to entertain the seniors whenever asked. Retired treasurer, Anne Benson, still volunteers four hours a week at the Center’s information desk; retired recording secretary, Evelyn Kuphal, will continue to run knitting classes at the Center, and Jim Schmidt will continue to videotape events for posterity.

Our thanks to the retired Friends for all they have done and continue to do for the senior community and we hope the new Friends leadership will continue their legacy of selfless commitment to enrich the lives of Norwood’s senior community.