Resident says Simon C. Fireman is what a senior living community should be

When Marilyn Hancock was a newspaper reporter for the Brockton Enterprise, she had a fast-paced career. At news meetings she pitched stories she wanted to pursue, conducted research, interviewed newsmakers, and wrote under tight deadlines. She was constantly meeting new people and learning new things. No two days were ever the same.

As a retiree and resident of Simon C. Fireman Community in Randolph, the pace of her life isn’t nearly as fast, but her days are full, much as they were when she was rushing to breaking news events or managing story coverage that won press awards.

“I’m a cashier at the little grocery store,” she said. “I’ve been doing that pretty much since I moved in. I’m familiar with how to do it and it’s also an opportunity to meet people.”

Being a cashier is but one of her activities at Fireman. “I take fitness classes, stretching classes, strength classes and Tai Chi. There’s a balancing class I was taking for a while, but my schedule got kind of busy,” she said. “I go to musical performances and take beautiful walks at Powers Farm next door. Even before I moved here, I used to drive to Powers Farm for walks. Now I can go next door. It’s right there. I’m active in the library and the senior center and have lunch in the dining room two or three times a week.”

Hancock is among the residents who moved into the new wing of Simon C. Fireman in 2024. The three-story Passive House-designed wing consists of 45 service-enriched one-bedroom apartments for older adult households with an income at or below 60 percent of area median income.

MHP provided $5.4 million in permanent financing for the expansion. Hebrew Senior Life Development hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the wing’s opening in September 2024, timing it with the 40th anniversary of the opening of the original Fireman Community. The wing is integrated with Fireman’s existing residences, sharing the same lobby and creating two courtyards with walking paths, exercise stations and benches. A multipurpose room, fitness center, library, and lounge are also part of the community.

Hancock has lived in Randolph since 1977. Her children are grown and have their own lives. When she began considering moving into senior living, she knew that the only place that would feel like home was Randolph.

“My ties are here. I wanted to stay in town. And this by far was the best place to move for senior housing.”

She describes her apartment as spacious, attractive, and lovely. And the view? “When I look to the left I have the sundeck. The rest of my view is one of the courtyards, trees, grass, gardens, the apartments across the way. In the distance is Powers Farm.”

Fireman has fulfilled Hancock’s dream of what a retirement community should be in many ways. And no two days are ever the same.