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Article written by Karen Lyddane

Best described as a “travelogue,” Jim and Joanna Sullivans’ journey through life started in New England. They find it amazing that Joanna, from Providence, RI, and Jim, from Boston, MA, ventured across the waters to Germany, where they would meet and join hands. Joanna, at age 22, already showed her adventuring spirit. She was just out of school and left her teaching job in Prince George’s County to go overseas. Her six close friends had gone in different directions and she surprised everyone by packing her suitcases for her new home. Joanna’s family just couldn’t understand why she would do such a thing, after all, she went on her own, alone! Meanwhile, Jim was stationed in Mainz. They decided to socialize in the same group of other single people. The turning point came when Joanna found that John F. Kennedy was coming over. She wanted so much to see him (she’d worked for him as a volunteer when he was a Senator), and Jim had a car…thus their courtship began. After waiting for Jim to come home to Rhode Island, they married during a 12” snowfall, on December 28th.

Their first seven years inspired Jim and Joanna’s globetrotting life. They moved every year, sometimes twice in one year. They lived in New Jersey, Oklahoma, Korea, Rhode Island and Georgia. Moving so much meant minimal possessions-they downsized before they upsized! Jim’s military career was the driving force. Like most military couples, they had no problem balancing career and family. They did what they had to do and didn’t think twice-this was everyone’s mindset. Jim and Joanna feel that their children benefited from learning in many schools. Their four children, Jim III, Patrick, Brendan, and Kerri, are all married. Each has two children of their own, born within four years of each other. Six of eight grandchildren are in college, studying a variety of subjects-they are the number one interest of this busy couple.

Jim counts living in Japan during high school years as formative. Another formative time was the year in which he graduated, was accepted for college, left his family, and went to Indiana. In another significant year, he went to 16 straight Red Sox games. His first “visit” to his alma mater Notre Dame was when he stepped off the train, duffel bag on his back, on his way to meet his new classmates.

Jim rises early and goes to church on most days. He returns to join the Men’s Coffee Club, where they “solve the worlds’ problems, and create more.” He enjoys dinner with his neighbors, but also alone with his wife. He swims three times a week and has become great friends with Cyrus Kanzi, the Pool Instructor. Jim follows team sports; college baseball is his favorite.
Joanna is an avid reader with her choice of genre being fiction and actively participates in a book club. The woodsy paths at her new community often see her walking shoes. The saltwater pool is another source of her exercise. As a child, Joanna played many card games and still does! She’s discovered “Hand and Foot” which is now her favorite. Joanna is very sociable and appreciates her new friendships.

What they like a lot in their new community are the evening concerts. Joanna hadn’t heard bluegrass before she attended a concert and now taps her toe to American Roots music. After discovering their proximity to George Mason University, they are enhancing their lives with all the cultural and educational offerings. They are happy to see familiar performers at GMU, who are often scheduled in their community living room.

The main reason for Jim and Joanna’s move into The Woodlands was to live a lifestyle that freed them up for spending time with their children and grandchildren. Jim and Joanna marvel that their children have been in their professions for 25 years or so, and that they had some part in their success. Wonderful life, family, success in many directions, desire to live life to its fullest-these make up a big part of their reasoning for moving into an independent lifestyle in a community. They moved because they wanted to be free, to live, and believe that The Woodlands was the perfect answer to their considerations.

Article written by Karen Lyddane. Photo given by Lynn Magrum.

Lynn Magrum lived where she was born, in Buffalo, New York, until she was 23. Youth was filled by her large Italian family that expected her to help others. This translated into finding just the right career, and she found it. Nursing school was where she belonged. Oncology and Hospice strongly held Lynn’s heart, where they reside today. In Oncology she could make a difference in her patient’s journey, by managing their physical and mental stresses. After writing her own memoirs, she taught a memoir writing class at Life with Cancer, sharing them with her patients. She taught cancer survivors how to write their own.

A creative touch to motherhood was in naming her daughter. Lynn and Charlie combined the two names of Alissa’s grandmothers, Alice and Teresa, and her daughter became “Alissa.” The name is heard often today, spelled differently, but was not common at all back then.

Achieving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees was challenging, to say the least! Her children were just two and 4 when she determinedly worked through challenges for success. Her husband, Charlie, would come home from work, they’d have a short conversation about their children, then off she would go off to class at George Mason University from 7-10 p.m.  until Eric and Alissa were old enough to go to GMU’s childcare center. So, her degree was a long process-she went back for her Nurse Practitioner degree when Eric and Alissa were in college.  Her career of 59 years was in nursing, with 29 years as a Nurse Practitioner. She worked for a time at Rosswell Park Cancer Institute.

Later in life, Lynn found herself living alone in her 3,000 square foot house. She had a different lifestyle, and didn’t need the responsibilities of it and the large yard. Charlie, her husband, was declining in his health, which forced the decision to move him where he could have increased support as needed.<

Lynn during her nursing career worked at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Schar Cancer Center, Capital Caring Hospice and palliative care and in a private oncology practice.

In 2024, Lynn made another decision-to move into The Woodlands. This freed her up to pursue her goals-she feels that her experience and education are not ready to sit on the shelf!

Lynn has had adventures in hang-gliding and parasailing. Alissa talked her into becoming a triathlete. Lynn did a ½ marathon first, then a triathlon of swimming, biking, and running. Today, Lynn enjoys golfing, walking, leading hikes at Wintergreen and being in Nature. Lynn is in two book clubs, a prayer group, plays Mahjong, and sets one day aside every week to volunteer at Mother of Mercy clinic in Manassas, Virginia. She helps people in need of medical services who are uninsured.

Lynn credits her biggest accomplishment in life to teaching Eric and Alessa the importance of giving to others. Goals are to be Charlie’s advocate and maintain his best quality of life.  An equally important goal is to not let people forget her grandson, Zachary, who died at seven years of Downs Syndrome. She and her family and friends are helping students with Downs Syndrome achieve their higher education dreams, through “Ruby’s Rainbows” scholarship foundation.  In supporting this organization, Lynn supports her own heart! She has a faith that supports every day of her life, and trusts that she is given the wisdom to make the right decisions.

From Lynn: “Don’t wait to do what brings you joy and fulfillment.” “Live life to the fullest!”

In Vietnam, Sophia Bainum first opened her eyes. Years later, aided by her brother-in-law (who worked for the Embassy in Laos), her family went to Thailand so they could eventually live in America. They received refugee status and came to America with green card in hand. Washington, D.C., greeted the family next. They stayed in a house because of a connection to the Embassy. Sophia was sponsored by a Colonel, who found work for her. She learned English by immersion, as there wasn’t time to go to school, as she worked from about 7:30 a.m. to midnight to support her family. Sophia said: “My English does not show my heart.”

One of Sophia’s early jobs was working in food service at Arlington Hospital. Her future husband, Doug Bainum, worked there also, in maintenance. He worked on boilers. Repairing a broken sink in her home was the beginning of a love story that lasted many years. She laughs at the memory of how it took three days to repair that sink! She told her mother about him with the result of asking him to dinner with her family. They faced challenges with her cultural traditionalism and her fear of his family not accepting her. Spending many moments with each other’s family was enjoyable to both. This was the perfect solution! Today, you can hear Sophia in the hallway calling to Robert Bainum, “Her father.”

Marrying Doug was the highlight of her life. Their love opened the doors for many opportunities. After his death, she gave up her single-family home and moved into The Woodlands. Five years later in her new life, she says that it “Is perfect right now.” She has no complaints about anything. Living an independent lifestyle gives her time and energy to see her family often. Sophia loves to wake up every day in her beautiful community- “Why live anywhere else?” She doesn’t have to worry about anything…she just enjoys life!

Friends, errands, and reading her Bible on her phone or computer, are all favorite daily parts of her life. Sophia loves to travel with her church. She really likes to watch YouTube.

Sophia prays that she stays peaceful. She really likes her many Woodlands friends. What one word sums up her independent lifestyle? “Great!”

I was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, just days before WWII ended in Europe. My father, a gunnery instructor, having completed the prerequisite missions in North Africa, was stationed in El Paso. My parents returned to New England for my birth. A few months later, mother and child returned to the southwest only to return to New England after VJ day.

My younger brother was born a short time later; we were often mistaken for twins.

Two years later, my father re-enlisted in the newly formed Air Force, thus launching my career as an Air Force brat. I spent my early years at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington. At age ten, Dad was transferred to Japan. Mom and three boys, my youngest brother was born in 1950, followed.

My time in Japan introduced me to a different culture that most children my age did not experience. This experience helped mold me into my future self.

Returning to the states, I competed in junior high school in Washington, DC. In 1959, Dad was sent on an unaccompanied tour. To be closer to family, Mom and three boys moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. There, I attended high school where I was a “middling” student.

In 1963, I enlisted in the Army, the high point being a tour in Germany. I went to Vietnam during my second enlistment as an avionics repairman with a Huey gunship company.  I finished this enlistment with a second tour in Germany. As duties permitted, I traveled extensively. In 1969, I took a European discharge, traveling to Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and finally Hong Kong. Returning home, I decided to go back to school.

I enrolled in the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating Magna Cum Laude with BS and MS degrees in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. Along the way, I met my Polish Princess and claimed her as my bride.

I secured a position with Analytic Services, Inc. in 1975, in Northern Virginia, where I designed studies to evaluate new DOD medical information systems. As a side project, I was tasked to develop a simulation model to evaluate aircraft configurations to move cargo to the Middle East. Maximum tons of cargo, minimal number of aircraft.

During this time, we had two boys, born in 1976 and 1977.

In 1978, I went to work for the government, the Navy specifically. I was with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command for 24 years. In the early 80s, I worked at NAVFAC’s Public Works Center, Guam. Our kids were young; they enjoyed the beaches. We had the opportunity to visit Japan, Korea, and the Philippines, an experience they talk about today. My wife enjoyed traveling.

Returning to NAVFAC’s DC headquarters, I spent the next 10 years working on various programs, the most notable being the automation of Public Works Departments. In 1993, the Navy was faced with implementing the Base Closure program, BRAC. I spent the next 10 years developing and managing NAVFAC’s BRAC Caretaker Program. I retired in 2004.

To stay busy, I revived a hobby I engaged in years earlier while in Germany, photography. Under the business title of Don’s Photos, I schlepped work to various art shows. I sold several pieces, but never enough to make it more than a hobby. During this time, I joined the Fairfax Art League and soon found myself managing their Old Town Art Gallery.

My wife and I were members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at George Mason University. For six years, I was co-moderator of What’s in the News, a weekly session where participants discussed the day’s news.

In 2019, my wife was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away the following April. To fill the void, I began writing short adventure novels. These are published on the Amazon Kindle platform.

In 2023, I had a minor health issue. My sons thought it was time I moved to a retirement community; I concurred, so here I am at The Woodlands. One of my best decisions!

The life story of John and Alyssa Feroldi illustrates love given a second chance, in strength joined by faith and logic.

Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, Alyssa quickly put on traveling shoes, as her father’s Navy career sent the family all over the world. The exciting city, Brooklyn, New York, was John’s birthplace and home of his youth.

In earlier years, Alyssa successfully fought the effects of Diabetes 1, with the life-giving double transplant she had at the University of Wisconsin at age 40. At about the same time, John’s wife died, leaving him with very young children.

John and Alyssa have a mutual friend, Kris. In 2002, she got them together on the phone and set up a blind date. They remember her saying: “John, come to the phone to talk to your future wife.” Kris and John had daughters in the same school. Donna Crean (who would eventually become a resident at The Woodlands) was teaching, and she remembers them well. They figure that Donna has known them for more than 30 years now. This began a life together, with Alyssa learning the challenges and joys of raising “bonus children,” and supporting her husband. John and Alyssa simultaneously credit marrying each other as the highlight of their life.

This remarkable couple loves to spend time walking together in nature, entertaining, and meeting new friends. While John loves pickleball and golf, Alyssa revels in savoring each day. They miss their friends they’ve known from many years living in a neighborhood, but regularly invite them to The Woodlands for meals in the Private Dining Room. They’ve kept longstanding friendships and doubled their friends by moving to The Woodlands.

John is a rare example of a single person receiving a patent.  Normally, patents reflect teamwork. He sold not one, but two patents to Verizon, with whom he was employed. Both came about from sitting in traffic, reading the various bumper stickers before and around him. His first patent was a display device, which can be used by authorities to relay messages as in Amber Alerts or for advertising. The second patent was a controlling system for the display.

Why the move to The Woodlands?  They grew increasingly tired of “being owned by their house,” for it had five bedrooms and two acres that demanded constant attention. They received invitations by The Woodlands to attend events, and so they did! They found that great enjoyment came of visiting instead of fighting traffic. Their advice? “Move in while you can – you won’t give up anything except tedious responsibilities.” The idea that things are set in place for their future is a great relief. They are so much happier now, and their friends are joining them in attending activities that give joy without the challenges of metropolitan transit.