Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Mimi, Paul & Charlie!
We hope 2025 has been a good year for you, and that this Holiday Season brings joy, peace, and time with the people you love. We celebrated Christmas 2024 here in Scottsdale. Pam joined us for the week, and we were able to include Mimi in the holiday gatherings at Torbrook, which made the season especially meaningful.
Mimi continues to be well cared for and very comfortable at Torbrook Manor. With just 12 residents, it has a warm feeling, and she enjoys the company of the other residents. I visit her several times a week and take her out for lunch when I can. Torbrook keeps everyone busy with activities, and they hosted a nice birthday celebration for Mimi in April when Pam visited.This Thanksgiving, Torbrook held its annual dinner for residents and families. It’s a wonderfully warm tradition, and we always enjoy being part of it.
We feel blessed and proud of our children—Pam, Tracy, and Paul—each of whom continues to thrive in their work and lives. Tracy is the executive director of Endwell, https://endwellproject.org, which held its annual conference in November with outstanding national press coverage. After 30 years of serving small and mid-sized businesses in the Bay Area, Paul has decided it's time to retire and has spent the year transitioning his clients. On January 1, 2026, he officially joins the retired ranks. Pam continues her successful career as Vice President of Finance at Garrett Leight, a high-end eyewear company, and she is planning a major home remodel in Long Beach next year.
Life at the Vi at Grayhawk continues to be fulfilling. I’ve made many wonderful friends and stay active with social events and with the scholarship foundation, where I serve as Development Chair. One of the true joys of this past year was traveling with a close friend, Karen Brown. In February, we visited her son and grandson on Long Island, giving me an unexpected chance to revisit my own hometown of Manhasset. In May, we enjoyed a memorable 14-day trip through Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium along the Rhine.
In July, Karen, Charlie, and I made our annual road trip to California to see our children—Pam, Paul, Tracy—my sister Barbara and husband Bob, and dear friends along the way: the Jordis, Woodworths, and Bakers. We had a wonderful time visiting, sharing meals, and enjoying wine tastings at several beautiful wine regions.
Very sadly, the day after we returned home, Karen passed away peacefully in her sleep.
Her death was completely unexpected and a tremendous shock to all of us. Karen was a cherished friend—kind, warm, and full of life—and her loss has been deeply felt by her family, her many friends, and by me. We honored her with a service and a celebration of life, and we continue to adjust, remembering her with great affection and gratitude for the time we shared.
We are looking forward to the blessing of being together this Christmas, as Paul, Tracy, and Pam will all be visiting Mimi and me during Christmas week here in Scottsdale.
May this season bring you comfort, joy, and moments that become treasured memories. And may 2026 be filled with good health, happiness, and all that you hope for. Please let us know how you’ve been—we always enjoy hearing from you.
Happy Holidays
Mimi, Paul & Charlie