Embracing the Golden Years: Five Residents’ Journeys at Sarasota Bay Club

By Kaileia Suvannamaccha | Header Photo by Nancy Guth | August 2024

Nestled along the scenic shores of Sarasota Bay, Sarasota Bay Club (SBC) exemplifies luxury, comfort, and community for its residents. Renowned for its exceptional services and amenities, quality dining, all-inclusive business model, fully customizable units, and a prime location that offers both tranquility and proximity to downtown Sarasota, SBC provides the ideal setting for retirees to thrive. 

What truly sets Sarasota Bay Club apart are the remarkable individuals who call it home. From accomplished authors to dedicated philanthropists to seasoned pilots, the residents of SBC bring their diverse backgrounds and lifelong passions together and create a vibrant and inspiring community.

Endless Inspiration

SBC resident Linda Albert is a devoted lifelong learner, passionate about subjects such as theater, poetry, psychology, and spirituality, to name a few. She has enjoyed an eclectic and intellectual career and has worn many creative hats over the years, from multi-certified communication consultant to real estate broker to theater director to award-winning published author. 

Born and raised in Detroit, she graduated from the University of Michigan. She and her late husband, Jim, married in Grand Rapids, where they raised four children together before moving to Florida in 2004. Jim passed away from Parkinson’s disease in 2010. 

Linda, now 87, moved into Sarasota Bay Club just five years ago with her beloved second partner of almost eight years, Stuart. He sadly passed away unexpectedly just a year after their move. Comforted by the timeliness of their practical decision, Linda advises those considering moving into a retirement community not to wait until they feel old enough. “Move by your own choice. Decorate your home the way you want to. Put down roots, settle in, and make friends,” she says. 

Known for facilitating the beloved poetry group at Sarasota Bay Club, Linda brings resident poets and poetry lovers together every other Thursday to share their poems in a supportive environment. To those hesitant about moving or integrating into a community setting, she offers wise words: “It’s not a bad thing if you are feeling uncomfortable or nervous. It means you are opening yourself up to a new adventure.” 

For Linda, Sarasota Bay Club has become a sanctuary where “good food is always the norm,” as well as prompt maintenance services. “Having catering facilities available for private parties and celebrations is another benefit of living here,” she says. When she isn’t reading or writing poetry, she is making new friends, participating in a variety of community activities, or working out with a personal trainer in SBC’s well-equipped gym.

In 2023, Linda’s award-winning book, “Charting the Lost Continent, Poetry and Other Discoveries” was adapted into a play in partnership with the Sarasota Jewish Theatre, showcasing her enduring creative spirit. She directed a production featuring the poetry of sister resident, Lucia Blinn, which took place at SBC in early July, and has been invited to do a reading and book signing on Thursday, November 7 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm at the Senior Friendship Center.  

Celebrating A New Chapter

Norma and Al Cohen, proud supporters of non-profit organization Children First, moved to Sarasota Bay Club shortly after celebrating Al’s 90th birthday. Having waited for years, they finally received a call from the Director of Sales and Marketing, Mimi Nowak, with exciting news: two new units were available for them to tour. 

Initially uncertain about moving into a retirement community, Norma and Al were convinced by their daughter, an expert in elder care placement, who wisely reminded them, “You’re alright until you’re not.” Reflecting on their decision, Norma shares, “We didn’t know we were ready. We just decided we were. And it was a wonderful decision. The people here are warm, friendly, and caring. They know you.”

The Cohen’s children also live in the downtown area, making Sarasota Bay Club the perfect location for family visits. Al, a seasoned businessman, is impressed with SBC’s all-inclusive business model paired with the exemplary quality of its staff. 

When not managing money or consulting, Al indulges his passion for classical music by teaching at Sarasota Bay Club, The Ringling Museum, and Sarasota Orchestra. “There’s always something to do here. From live music to lectures, there’s an activity for everyone,” he says, noting his recent lecture at SBC’s monthly Current Events, a popular activity where residents are invited to give an open presentation on a subject of their choice followed by an open discussion. 

Norma enjoys the poetry group, attending opera and theater events, and working out with a trainer twice a week. “It was the right decision for us at the right time. We’re both healthy.” 

“It’s an easier, more comfortable and convenient life,” Al adds. “It’s like being on a cruise ship. There’s a safety net here. There’s a nurse and EMT on duty 24/7.”

The Cohens, having convinced several friends to move to Sarasota Bay Club, consider themselves “unpaid sales agents!”

Soaring To New Heights

Linda and Tom McDonald waited three years for their penthouse in the North Tower, overlooking the serene waters of Sarasota Bay Club. “We love it here,” Linda says. “We have some sort of entertainment every day. The staff is incredible, and the residents have accomplished a lot. There are people of all stages of life here. They are educated and live such special lives.”

Tom, a 100-ton boat captain and merchant marine officer, has captained boats at Disney World, LeBarge Tropical Cruises, and Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. Additionally, he was a bus driver for SCAT and a Boeing 777 and 747-400 simulator instructor in Seattle, training pilots from all over the world.

Linda, a published author of three books and star of 60 years in Broadway musicals, values the freedom to design their living space however they wish. She participates in the poetry group and continues to write books and give public speaking events on how to cope with grief and stress. Having started a company 30 years ago, she has written numerous national programs for the insurance industry.

As pilots, Linda and Tom have flown and sailed all over the world. Tom, with an impressive 34,500 flight hours across 202 models of airplanes, still enjoys flying occasionally from Sarasota-Bradenton Airport. He and Linda are only two of 17 other pilots they have met who also reside at Sarasota Bay Club.

“They have valet, transportation, and a beauty salon. Everything is here for people who can’t go out,” says Linda. “As a mother of six, grandmother of 12, and great grandmother of 14, Tom and I have taken the burden of decision making off of our families’ shoulders as to where we should end up if we need help later on in life.”

“Regardless of whether you need help, go five years too early rather than five years too late,” advises Tom. “For us, it’s the best place to retire in Sarasota.”

At Sarasota Bay Club, Linda Albert, The Cohens, and The McDonalds have found not just a place to live, but a vibrant community where they can continue to thrive and pursue their passions. Each of their stories reflects the spirit of a life well-lived, embraced by the supportive and enriching environment of SBC.

For more information, visit www.sarasotabayclub.net or reach out to Mimi Nowak, Director of Sales and Marketing at 941-552-3284.