Page 62 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 46 Winter 2024

Wallingford Senior Center Resources:

The History of the Senior Center

and Committee on Aging, Inc.

by Rajan Doering a variety of quality programs and services to the older adults of
In 1970, a committee was appointed under the Community Wallingford through the coming decades.
Development Action Plan to survey the needs of the Town of In 2002, William Viola became the present Executive Director
Wallingford and propose programs to meet them. The study resulted of the Center. In 2006, following several years of growth and
in a recommendation that programs be undertaken to provide expansion of services, the center received a five year accreditation
services for young people and older citizens and on February 5, by the National Institute of Senior Centers. Additional five year
1971, the original Committee on Aging was appointed by the Town accreditations were awarded in 2012 and 2018. During this era,
Council. It consisted of: Muriel Lemay, VNA Director, as Chair, Rev. the center has experienced significant growth in membership plus
Father Stanley Abugel, Rev. Mr. Leonard Flisher, Caroline Kilcayne, high levels of satisfaction and is a significant source of pride for the
Margaret Lang, John Masselli, Hazel Sargent, and Stephen entire town.
Walford. Programs for seniors were developed and administered
by successors of this committee until September, 1987, when Wallingford Senior Center – Directors
the present Committee on Aging took over the responsibility of 1972 Mrs. Margaret Long (Volunteer)
administering programs for seniors under contract to the Town of 1973 Mrs. Margaret Bordeleau
Wallingford. The Board of Directors consists of fifteen members, six 1977 Dianne Dwyer Saunders
of whom are appointed by the Town Council. 1987 Sandra Rogerson Poppalardo
One of the first projects of the new committee was a “drop-
in center for seniors” at the First Baptist Church. The seniors 1994 Virginia Phillips
organized themselves as the Wallingford Senior Citizens, with Cecile 2002 William Viola
Satton as the first president of the group. From the very beginning,
the seniors took a great interest in their new center and over time
raised thousands of dollars for a great variety of projects. Without
their help, the Senior Center would not have succeeded.
The original name of the group, Wallingford Senior Citizens,
was later changed to Wallingford Associated Seniors (W.A.S.).
Margaret Bordeleau was the first paid director of the Senior Citizens
Center which moved to the newly renovated railroad station in
March, 1973. The second director was Dianne Saunders, hired
in January, 1978. Under her leadership and that of Mayor Rocco
Vumbaco, the former electric generating station on Washington
Street was renovated to become the Senior Center facility.
In August of 1987, Sandra Rogerson succeeded Dianne
Saunders as the Executive Director of the newly incorporated
Committee on Aging, Inc. Under her leadership, an intensive long
range study of future program needs for the center was carried
out which resulted in a committee, appointed by the Town Council
in 1993, to study the need for a new building to house the Senior
Center and its programs.
Virginia Phillips became Executive Director in 1994 and funds
were allocated by the Town of Wallingford to have an architect
evaluate five possible sites for a new Senior Center. Once the
site was selected, the firm of Lazarus and Sargeant designed the
current beautiful facility that was built and opened for use in June,
2001. Generously funded by the Town of Wallingford thanks to the
support of both the Mayor and the Town Council, and with Henry
McCully serving as Project Manager, the Senior Center Membership,
the Committee on Aging and both the Expansion and Building
Committees realized their dream of facilitating a modern and
functional yet aesthetically pleasing Senior Center which will provide
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