Even when a building is welcoming and beautiful, intentionally decorated with local touches from the community—in this case, Holland, Michigan—it's truly the people in the building that make it a community.
Quincy Place Senior Living was blessed to have Mr. Robert Lee Thompson as a Founding Member. In fact, he was the very FIRST resident to move in! Since its opening in October 2023, the Quincy Place team has watched him become a community connector, knowing the names and faces of most of the residents and staff. He even paused during this interview to celebrate the musicality of a gentleman playing Broadway tunes on the piano to his wife!
Each resident who chooses Quincy Place has their own life journey; Mr. Thompson's path is grounded in a passion for learning. He shared that the spark that ignited his love of learning was started by his dad, who was an avid reader his whole life. That spark grew brighter during his high school years at Woodward High School, now Woodward Career Technical High School in Cincinnati, where he also played 2nd trumpet.
For four years, he traveled the world with the United States Navy, including nine foreign countries, and two dozen cities, and took part in the Ceremony at the Equator – those who have never crossed in the Navy are considered Pollywogs and, upon initiation into Neptune's Court receive a Shellback certificate.
With his return to the States following an honorable discharge, he spent the next several decades working first at an AFL-CIO plant in Mariemont, OH – now the Kellogg's plant. Then, for 30 years with the UAW, dedicated to building the Jeep Grand Cherokee in Michigan.
This ferocious reader did not pause his passion for learning while working full time. Mr. Thompson attended business law and accounting classes at Highland Park Community College. In 1974, he earned a Certificate from The Labor School at Wayne State University – now called Labor@Wayne.
In 2001, his curiosity and love of learning led him to take a political science class at Oakland Community College. At the age of 69, he graduated from Washtenaw Community College with an Associate Degree in General Studies.
For Quincy Place Senior Living, he occasionally does a deep dive into a topic and presents a PowerPoint Presentation to his neighbors! He is currently reading multiple books, is savvy on his Mac and smartphone, is writing a book based on his life experiences, and wants to earn a PhD in philosophy and religion.
The passion for education has continued with his children and grandchildren, he cannot keep track of all of the bachelor's degrees and master's degrees! Like his father before him, he instilled in the next generations (who he calls 'our hopes') the tradition of education.
