"His shoes are going to be tough to fill."  "No one can do the job she did."

How often have you heard comments like this when a person with longevity in a position leaves for another job or retires?  Well, that's what people have been saying in Peabody about Denis Coleman as he nears the end of his tenure as Director of the Council on Aging, also known as the Torigian Community Life Center -and for good reason!

For twenty-five years, Denis Coleman has been the energetic leader of one the most active and visionary senior centers in Massachusetts. Together with the late Mayor Peter Torigian, Council on Aging President Reverend Andrew Demotses, and senior activists Roger Trask, Wilbur Petersen, Leona Kaplan and others, Denis designed and built a senior center that has become the model that other communities emulate.

Denis' real and lasting contribution to Peabody's elder community is more than the creation of a physical building. It is the genuine respect and dignity with which he treats all seniors. He has imbued these hallmark characteristics in each and every staff person and volunteer who works at the Torigian Community Life Center whether in the dining programs, transportation service, community outreach, or social activities. This month, Denis is retiring after a quarter century of stewardship.

Looking for a new volunteer opportunity for the New Year? North Shore Elder Services needs you to become a Nursing Home Ombudsman.

Volunteers in the NSES Ombudsman program visit area nursing homes regularly to ensure that an elder's voice is heard and proper care is being given to all. Our volunteers find this to be a very rewarding and challenging program -perfect for the retiree who wants to stay active.