Meet the Residents | The Clare | Chicago, IL

David Maher

Before moving to The Clare a year ago, David Maher and his wife, Carlotta lived in a high-rise condo in Chicago’s River North area, a mere mile and a half away. When asked what motivated the Mahers to move to a retirement community, David replied, “Even though we were, and still are, in good health, it became clear that at some point that wouldn’t last forever and we’d need extra help, so onsite health care services and Lifecare were fundamental in our determination to move to The Clare.”

David and his wife looked at several retirement communities and decided that The Clare was by far the best choice. “The location, the décor and amenities, the dining options, and the friendly staff and residents were all important factors in our judgment to move to The Clare.”

Downsizing to an apartment home half the size of their former condo wasn’t the challenge the Maher’s thought it would be. “We kept what was sentimentally important to us and decided to furnish our new residence from scratch. It worked out very well.”

A graduate of Harvard Law School, David is General Counsel Emeritus and still works half time as Senior VP at the Public Interest Registry. As the founding chairman of the Public Interest Registry, David was deeply involved in the evolution of the Internet, including establishing many of the concepts that govern the technical coordination of the Internet, including domain names.

What else has David found appealing about The Clare? Even though he used to live right across the street from the East Bank Club, David shared the fact that he never used to exercise. “Now that I live at The Clare, the Wellness Center is only an elevator ride away so I work out every day.”

After all was said and done, David Maher summarized his lifestyle at The Clare in one powerful sentence: “It’s a pleasure to live here.”

Dorothy & Larry Pirovano

Dorothy and Larry Pirovano love the city lifestyle and independence is very important to them. Naturally, The Clare’s location in the heart of the Near North Side made the draw to live here irresistible.

Chicago’s finest shops, restaurants, and entertainment are within reach at the Rush and Pearson street address, where Dorothy describes a “vibrant” social atmosphere. “We have not watched one daytime television show since we moved in here,” she jokes.

Three years ago, when she and Larry moved to The Clare, Dorothy was still the CEO of a Chicago public relations agency (many Clare residents, in fact, still operate their own businesses or volunteer at local organizations). Dorothy retired in 2014, and today participates in a range of volunteer and service organizations. She sits on The Clare’s Marketing Committee and leads its Newcomer’s Club.

The Club pairs eager new residents with a current ones to help them get acclimated. Every month, Dorothy watches residents make new friends and find out where they belong or where they might contribute to the Clare community. She said there are people who have lived at the Clare for several years that still come to club meetings to socialize.

The Pirovanos also have 15 grandchildren between the ages of 11 and 28, and when they visit enjoy the warm and friendly atmosphere of The Clare as well as shopping, the nearby Oak Street Beach, and museums. “Our grandchildren come to visit and they love it here,” she says. 
Echoing a common sentiment, the couple raves about the food at The Clare. Says Dorothy: “It is exceptionally good. They cook better than I do.”

Alongside Dorothy’s busy life at The Clare she still has time to nurture a small herb garden on the balcony, a testament to a promise she made to herself upon retirement: to fill her life with things that made her happy. “I wake up in the morning singing,” she says. “You have to get up every morning with a smile on your face.”

Sally Kinnamon

Sally Kinnamon and her late husband Ron were among the first to recognize The Clare’s potential and get in on the ground floor of the continuing care retirement community. In 2009, as soon as The Clare opened its doors at Rush and Pearson streets, they left their Lincoln Park home to become one of the first residents at the prominent Gold Coast address, one of the tallest retirement communities in the world.

“My biggest interest is people,” Sally says. Her husband of 57 years passed away last year, and the community has given her a social outlet to keep her mind and time occupied. “I love being with interesting people and learning from them.”

The community is composed of countless vibrant personalities with fascinating stories waiting to be shared, she says. She enjoys attending weekly themed social events to touch base with old friends and meet new faces. A career nurse practitioner, Sally also volunteers her time in various organization such as the YMCA, Northwestern Hospital, and the United Church of Christ.

And then there are the activities – both inside The Clare and out.

“There are a million things to do here, and you step out the door and all of Chicago is at your fingertips,” she says. She enjoys going to museums and concerts in the city, and takes advantage of The Clare’s free scheduled transportation services anywhere within a three-mile radius.

Sally also speaks highly of The Clare’s staff and says they are very helpful in supporting her goals to stay active. “The staff is at our beck and call. They really care about us,” she says. “There is no place I’d rather live than right here.”

Joy Hammer & Jim Morton

Concert picnics in Millennium Park, exercise classes, lectures, babysitting grandchildren, travel, movies and parties. And amid the flurry of activity in Joy Hammer’s downtown Chicago lifestyle, she still finds time to long-distance manage the family grain farm back in Kansas.

That’s a slice of the active life she leads at The Clare, the Gold Coast tower she’s called home for the past four years.

Living here “is like being at a resort all the time,” she says. “I could take all day to tell you about all there is to do here – they have so many that you have to pick and choose,” she says, noting the educational lectures, social activities, concerts, and, once a month, a gourmet dinner on the 53rd floor with sweeping city views. “And as a former registered dietician, I must comment on the delicious, healthy food we enjoy in The Clare’s three restaurants.”

In addition, Joy also has the comfort of continuing care should unforeseen needs that may arise. “I moved here knowing that it would be a place I could stay the rest of my life and get the care that might be required,” Joy says, noting the difficulty she had taking care of her own parents in their later years. “And I didn’t want my daughters [in Chicago] to have to do that. They have their own lives and are very busy with family and jobs. So The Clare answers the questions of what will happen when I need help.”

Joy grew up in the suburb of Elmhurst and was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force, where she met her husband, Stan. They spent 37 years on the farm-ranch in Kansas, and after he passed away in 2007, she moved to Chicago to be closer to her daughters, and later, to The Clare. Her partner, Jim Morton, is also a Clare resident. He and Stan were best friends from their Air Force days, and after Jim’s wife of 54 years passed away, Jim moved from Michigan to Chicago to be with Joy. “I was happy to follow,” Jim says.

Jim takes full advantage of The Clare’s well-equipped fitness center. “I work out every weekday,” he says. Joy usually does a class with a personal trainer.

Morton served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force, where he was a hospital administrator. He commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and climbed the ranks to retire as a Full Colonel. After retiring from the military he was CEO of a civilian hospital for 11 years.

“We have found so much in common with the people that live here – there are so many professional people, retired businessmen and women,” Morton says.

“I have convinced him that Chicago is the most wonderful city in the world,” Joy adds with a laugh. And with all they have going on at The Clare and in the Windy City, “I think he believes it now.”

Bob Spieler

Why did Bob Spieler move to The Clare?

“I got tired of my own cooking, how’s that for an answer?” the spry 87-year-old responds with a chuckle. The truth, though, is that the Chicago native was searching for a community in the area that offered life care, providing access to not only a vibrant senior living lifestyle, but a continuum of care as his healthcare needs change over time. “I looked at the options for life care communities in Chicago and decided that The Clare was for me.”

And is it ever. “I should have moved here a year ago,” Bob says. He regularly takes in movies, educational activities, and staff meetings that provide residents with insights into the happenings throughout their shared 53-story home in the heart of one of America’s most culturally diverse cities. “We just ended a great educational series that involved U.S. history and our economic evolution,” he says.

His interest in education is apparent in his recent recognition of 25 years of volunteer service by the Field Museum, where he educates the public about Native American history. He’ll also be honored this fall by the Museum of Science and Industry for 25 years of service there – a volunteer role that parallels well with his industrial engineering background.

To get to his museum duties, he takes advantage of The Clare’s concierge transportation services. He sold his car after he moved to the Gold Coast address.

The Clare “is a community where the people are very warm and everyone from the residents to the staff are interested in getting to know you,” Bob says. “And as opposed to senior living facilities that are spread out, in The Clare, “you hop on and elevator and get to the floor you need to be. It’s a very convenient way of life here.”

Jim Rocks

Jim Rocks was apartment hunting a few years ago when a friend asked, “Why bother? Just go to a retirement community.”

It was a light bulb moment. For Rocks, now 77, such a move made personal and financial sense.

A Chicagoan since 1972 and Near North resident for many of those years, Rocks lives a full, highly independent lifestyle; he and his late wife of 30 years, Judy, had no children, and his closest family is states away. “I get to live that independent life I want at The Clare, plus the possibility of care down the road if it’s necessary,” says Rocks, who moved into the 42nd floor in June 2015. “It’s nice to have that comfort.”

Before he retired 11 years ago, Rocks was a university professor and dean and spent many of those years on the campus of Loyola University, which maintains a strong relationship to the Clare community through programming and activities.

Rocks laughs when he notes, surprisingly, that he’s even busier these days than he was when he was working. And that’s even with The Clare’s staff handling all the things he doesn’t want to do himself: housekeeping, cooking, and home maintenance.

“I’m doing things I couldn’t do when I was working,” Rocks says. “In fact, I’ve been running ragged lately trying to get things done. And with The Clare, you have even more choices of things to do.”

Rocks attends the community’s regular lecture series and educational activities. He exercises four days a week in the fitness center. And he takes full advantage of living in the center of one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, regularly catching performances at the Chicago Symphony, Lyric Opera, and Goodman Theatre.

That’s when he’s even in Chicago. Rocks is a frequent traveler, sometimes out of town up to two weeks a month as he explores the world. He’s a regular in Europe, and has seen some of Asia, Africa, and the South and Central Americas.

“I live my life, which means going out and being with friends and pursuing these activities,” he says. “I’m still living my life that I lived before I came to The Clare, and more.”

Rocks says it was a good decision to come to The Clare, where he can continue to live independently and have the peace of mind knowing help is nearby. “That’s a very comforting feature to me, and for a lot of people who live here,” he says. “I’m protecting myself against the possibility of the future.”

Nancy Lee Spilove

They call her “The Fantastic Lady.” That’s because whenever anyone at The Clare asks her how she feels, she always says, “Fantastic!” Spend a minute with Nancy and you’ll understand why. Her effervescent personality and positive attitude are utterly contagious. “How can you not feel fantastic living at The Clare,” Spilove said. “I’m happy as a clam.”

Before moving to The Clare, Nancy resided in Florida. After raising three children she decided she wanted to help those in life less fortunate than herself. At the age of fifty-one she enrolled in a community college that offered culinary arts classes. Spilove was the first woman in the Broward County, Florida chapter of the American Culinary Federation to become an Executive Certified Chef.

Spilove taught a few years but felt the need to fulfill a higher calling. She wanted to use her skills to create a meal center for the disadvantaged and homeless. Her dream became a reality and for years Nancy prepared meals daily for over 450 people. When the center closed, she decided to take a break. “I was 62 and getting tired of lifting 100-pound bags of potatoes!” Her break didn’t last long. Six months later when visiting a recycling center that employed the mentally and physically challenged, she asked the employer if the employees were served lunch. “No,” said the employer, “but we do have a pretty nice kitchen out back.” She started cooking again. Then, at age 65, she decided she wanted to be footloose and fancy free.

Shortly thereafter Spilove became a widow. Her daughter suggested she come visit her in Chicago to look at condos and retirement communities so they could be closer to each other. Nancy looked at a few places, flew back to Florida and soon returned to Chicago. She called The Clare who arranged a get-together with residents of The Clare. “They were lovely people; so warm and welcoming.” It was then and there that Nancy decided The Clare was where she wanted to be. “I’m so glad I made that decision. So is my daughter, who doesn’t have to worry about me anymore. It’s not healthy to be alone. You have to socialize, stay active and have fun in life.”

“When people I know tell me they’re not ready for The Clare I fire back, ‘Not ready? For what? Not ready to give up cleaning, home maintenance and all the other responsibilities that prevent you from getting the most out of life? Not ready to have an incredible staff at your beck and call – a staff that would jump through hoops to please you? Not ready to eat incredible food prepared by a chef who’s a miracle worker? Not ready to be surrounded by terrific people who are bright and outgoing? No, I don’t buy that “not ready” story.’”

“Come visit The Clare before you say you’re not ready. Come see my gorgeous apartment with fantastic views, join in any of The Clare’s events and activities, eat the fantastic food, meet the people who live here. Believe me. Once you’ve visited you’ll know you’re ready.”

Elizabeth & Bill Conley

When Elizabeth and Bill Conley told their son Jeffrey that they were considering moving to a retirement community, he told them that that they were far too young. Then Elizabeth mentioned the name of the place: The Clare.

“He travels a lot for work to Chicago and said, ‘Just a minute, I know that place. That isn’t just a retirement home – that’s a social place,’ ” Elizabeth recalls her son saying. Yes, her son said, he would adamantly approve them moving there.

Just one catch: they lived in Hunt Valley, Maryland, on the far outskirts of Baltimore. And had been, for 35 years. “We were happy there and we had a beautiful neighborhood and lots of friends,” Elizabeth says. But the neighborhood was getting younger, and they were looking for something new. After Elizabeth and Bill made one visit to The Clare with their daughter, who lives in Chicago, the couple signed a lease just three months later.

“It’s wonderful here. If you’re going to live in a city, this is the city,” she says. “And if you’re going to live in Chicago, this is the address.”

To be sure, there was a period of adjustment – moving away from lifelong friends and country walks wasn’t easy – but they have met new people and are pampered by staff at every turn. They get out often, choosing to workout at a gym downtown and regularly dining out in the city. They take their golden retriever, Maddie, on walks beside Lake Michigan, and in dog parks in the area. They’re getting back into tennis. Bill, who began his career in the spice industry and sold his ingredients company before moving to Chicago, weekly plays the 9-hole Sydney Marovitz Golf Course on Lake Michigan.

To say the Conleys stay busy is an understatement. There are regular picnics at Millennium Park for concerts, and too many social events at The Clare to count. “There are so many enrichment opportunities here – a lot to keep us stimulated,” she says. “My head is spinning just thinking about it.”

Marie-Luce Parker

Born in a small village in southwestern France, Marie-Luce could never have imagined the adventurous and fulfilling life ahead of her. After earning her B.A. in English at the University of Toulouse, Parker was awarded a Fulbright European Scholarship to study at Cornell University. It was at Cornell that she earned an M.A. in American Literature and met the man who would become her husband — a New York City native, whom she described as “exotic.”

When Marie-Luce’s work visa expired, she and her husband left New York and honeymooned in Gibraltar, Naples, Nice and Cannes. “We drove along the Côte d’Azur, a beautiful introduction to arriving back to France as a married couple.”

In France, Parker took a teaching job while her husband worked on his PhD dissertation in Comparative Literature. When her husband was offered a teaching job back in the States, they jumped at the chance. Parker enrolled in school and earned her PhD in French at the University of Kansas. She taught there for 20 years, followed by another 22 years of teaching at Washburn University where she chaired The Department of Modern Languages.

“I was living in Lawrence, Kansas and had not yet really planned on moving. My husband had passed away and I was just beginning to think that Chicago would be a better place to live since both my children live here.”

Parker was visiting Chicago when her daughter accidentally discovered The Clare after giving a lecture at the Loyola Law School. Marie-Luce called The Clare to arrange a meeting. “The Clare offered me a weekend stay in one of their guest suites. I immediately fell in love with the place. The location, the apartments and especially the people I met. I knew right away it was the right place for me.”

Parker moved to The Clare Thanksgiving weekend, 2016 but hasn’t had a chance to spend much time there. An ardent traveler, she already had her itinerary in place, including a trip to Cuba, a winter trip to France and plans to return there for the summer through early fall.

“Silly me! In France I lost my balance while carrying a heavy flower pot and broke my left femur head. I’ve recovered well but wish I’d been in Chicago when it happened. That way I would have had all the rehab I needed right there at The Clare. Having healthcare in the same place where you live was definitely on my mind when I decided on The Clare. I just didn’t know I would need it so soon!

“Even though I have spent only a month living at The Clare and haven’t had time to explore all of the activities offered, I love my apartment. The food is great, I enjoy doing water aerobics in the pool and in my one short month at The Clare I’ve already made several friends.

“I also want to add how pleased I was with the incredible amount of the help I got from so many of the staff while moving in and getting settled. Everyone could not have been nicer and ready to help. For this I am extremely thankful.”

John Clum

John Clum moved to The Clare a month ago and is already convinced that he and his husband made the right decision. “We were living in New York City and also had residences in Atlanta and London. Our first choice was New York City but there aren’t any CCRCs there. We don’t have family except for each other and we wanted to make sure that if we had any healthcare issues down the road we’d be taken care of.”

“My husband, Walter, is very involved with The Newberry Library and often traveled to Chicago. He learned about the Life Care Plan at The Clare during one of his trips.” John and his husband looked at other CCRCs and realized that The Clare was on a level far above anything else they had seen. “Nothing compared to The Clare, so when an apartment became available, we jumped at it.” They opted for a spacious one-bedroom apartment that faces southeast. “We love the views. The panoramas are very dramatic at night.”

Before moving to The Clare, John mentioned that he used to do a lot of cooking. Not anymore. “The food is fabulous, and like many residents say with a wink and a smile, the only thing I keep in my refrigerator now is wine.” In addition to the wonderful chef and wait staff, John finds the attentiveness of the entire staff at The Clare to be fantastic. “Everybody who works here is truly dedicated to what they’re doing. That’s an unusual quality to find in most places these days.”

Clum shared that he finds The Clare’s neighborhood a major draw. His lifetime involvement with the arts and The Clare’s culture-rich location dovetailed ideally with his work and interests. “It’s wonderful having the symphony, opera and Pritzker Pavilion so close.” Still active as a writer, director and lecturer, John is a Professor Emeritus of Theater Studies and English at Duke University and has twice won Duke’s Distinguished Teaching Award. He’s authored many books including Still Acting Gay: Male Homosexuality in Modern Drama, Something for the Boys: Musical Theater and Gay Culture and “He’s All Man”: Learning Masculinity, Gayness, and Love from American Movies. John has edited two major anthologies of contemporary drama, directed over 75 professional and university theatrical and operatic productions, and his own plays have been produced in theaters across America. He received his B.A., M.A. and PhD from Princeton University.

When asked if there was anything else he wanted to add about The Clare, Clum answered without hesitation, “The residents who live here are terrific. They’re an amazing group of people.”