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“It is the presence of St. Mary’s College and the environmental beauty of St. Mary’s and Calvert counties that attracts retirees to our area,” says Frank van Aalst, a former history professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Van Aalst, now in his seventies, taught history for many years and is a driving force behind the college’s Grace and John Horton Exploration in Learning Program, named after the community leaders who got it off the ground in 2006.
Van Aalst and current college faculty conduct classes in history, politics, poetry, and religion in the nearby retirement communities of Asbury Village and Wildewood Retirement Village.
“We’re not talking about bridge or basket-weaving here,” says Asbury resident Jane Knox, 81, who manages the program. “These are classes that stretch your mind.” In fact, Van Aalst’s classes on China, Afghanistan, and India sometimes include trips to those countries.
St. Mary’s College has a wealth of other activities that enrich the lives of local residents, too, including the fabled River Concert Series, which draws thousands to the shores of the Potomac each Friday evening throughout the summer.
Anthony Guzman, of St. Mary’s Office of Lifelong Learning, says the college embraces a holistic approach to nurturing seniors in both mind and body. He cites as an example the popular “Mature Muscles” and “Very Mature Muscles” strength-training courses taught by sixty-something Susan Nash. “Her classes have become very popular with our 55+ population,” he says.
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Chestertown, a charming colonial setting on the Chester River in Kent County, boasts Washington College (founded in 1782 by George himself) as its centerpiece. A wave of residents in the 55+ demographic has migrated here in recent years, drawn by the college’s reputation as a cultural treasure, as well as the town’s ranking as one of the five best places in America to retire.
“Chestertown offers a lifestyle that appears to be disappearing in America,” says Dick Hawkins, who moved to Kent County from New Jersey in 1997.
He and his wife, Nancy, consider Washington College a major advantage of living in the area, calling it “purposefully inclusive of local residents.” He takes (and occasionally teaches) classes at the college’s Academy of Lifelong Learning (WC-ALL), where courses in history, music, literature, philosophy, the sciences, drama, and the visual arts are popular with area seniors.
When Suzanne and Jim Urda came to Chestertown 20 years ago with the Baltimore Bicycle Club, they bookmarked it as “the perfect place to retire.” Several years later, Jim was recruited to run Heron Point, an upscale waterfront retirement community built in 1991. “We feel privileged to live here,” says Suzanne. “We are active in numerous community clubs, participate in sports, and, best of all, we attend classes for people over 55 at the [WC-ALL].”
Recent retirees Trish and Brooke Harwood moved to downtown Chestertown after residing in Asia for 24 years. “We had lived mostly in cities, so we knew the cultural advantages of a city, but we wanted a more personal and friendly environment,” says Trish, a member of the WC-ALL governing council.
The Harwoods enjoy Chestertown’s special features, including its historic brick buildings, antique shops, bookstores, art galleries, and waterfront Fountain Park—scene of a bustling farmers market and free outdoor summer concerts.
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