About the only thing not on the social calendar at Ohio Living Breckenridge Village is home maintenance

By Patricia Nugent

Situated on 53 rolling acres of scenic parkland, the campus at Ohio Living Breckenridge Village (OLBV) offers a myriad living options—ranch homes, brownstones, apartments, rehabilitation and assisted living.

“When residents move here, they are looking to get more enjoyment out of their days, to rise above the hassle of maintaining a home and live their lives to the fullest,” says Director of Business Development Lynn Coletto. “We cater to that with a robust host of engaging programming, activities, excursions and amenities that allow the opportunity for physical, mental and spiritual growth.”

Lynn explains that spring is a busy time, with many new residents moving to the campus. “They have the luxury of personalizing their apartment or home before they move in,” she adds. “For those who pay an entrance fee, we essentially gut the space when someone moves out, so new residents can choose their color palette , such as paint, carpeting and luxury vinyl tile. We can also upgrade people’s appliances and cabinetry for a fee. The construction process takes a few months, but in the end it’s worth it for residents to feel as if the home is uniquely theirs.”

Meet Pat and Ron James
Pat and Ron James are so new to OLBV, they still have boxes to unpack in their lovely and spacious two-bedroom ranch home.

The delightful duo has lived in many homes over the years, from Washington D.C. to Chicago and Cleveland. Both lawyers by profession, they’ve led colorful careers.

Ron worked in the west wing of the White House for Donald Rumsfeld and several past presidents dating back to Nixon. Here in Cleveland, he was a partner at the firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, one of five African Americans in the country at that time to make partner. Pat served as a trial attorney and worked for the National Labor Relations Board.

“At our most recent home in Huron, there was so much exterior work to deal with, 100-year-old trees falling down and extensive yardwork,” says Ron. “It got to be too much. Now that we’ve moved in, we ask ourselves, why didn’t we do this 10 years ago?”

Now, 84 and 87 respectively, Pat and Ron show no signs of slowing down.

“We’re actively involved with the neighbors on our cul-de-sac,” says Pat. “This is such a social community. We already knew people who had moved here and loved it, so it was our first choice. Plus, we’ve already made more great friends. Since we both drive, the location of our home is convenient to everything from restaurants to shopping.”

Ron is a cyclist and looks forward to heading out on the rolling hills of the campus with the springtime weather.

“There’s so much to do here,” says Pat. “From lectures and movies to musicians who come to entertain. There’s a women’s group that’s having wonderful presentations, the subject of the one I’m going to tomorrow is on Jane Adams.”

Chef Oversees Top-Notch Culinary Program
As a true ambassador of his industry, Chef Ryan Wagner, Director of Culinary & Nutritional Services at OLBV, has over the past 18 years cared for the fine meals of more than 600 residents, from independent living to rehab, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing.

Along the way, he’s grown his impeccable staff by making connections with the community. For example, a relationship with Deepwood Industries has allowed his program to interface with an eager group of developmentally disabled staff.

He also teaches a culinary class called Pathways to Careers geared toward the students at the Auburn Career Center.

“We find developmentally disabled students become hard-working, dedicated and long-term employees,” he says. “My class covers everything from customer service skills to hands-on culinary training.”

Chef Ryan also believes in rewarding the 50-plus high school students who work at OLBV through a scholarship program.

“For each hour someone works, we reward them a dollar,” he says. “For example, past students have earned scholarships of $500 to $2,000. We’re happy that many students end up staying here for their career.”

Chef Ryan has spent most of his own career at OLBV. After graduating from the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts, the Mentor native worked in the restaurant industry. When his twin boys were born, he sought a career with more regular hours.

“What I like best about my job is the people, both my staff and the residents,” he says. “Nothing takes care of people better than showing them you care through food. And I feel like the residents here appreciate how much we do that.”

Chef Ryan is humble and supportive, giving kudos to his excellent culinary team.

“They creatively find ways to deliver meals with the freshest ingredients and cater to people’s favorites while keeping the choices as healthy as possible,” he adds.

When not at the helm of the culinary program, you’ll find Chef Ryan spending time outdoors with his wife and 19-year-old boys.

“We enjoy camping,” he says. “And when it comes to cooking at home, my favorite meal would be a smoked brisket. My wife gave me this incredible smoker and I use it whenever I get the chance.”

Ohio Living Breckenridge Village is located at 36851 Ridge Road in Willoughby. Options range from active retirement living in two- and three-bedroom ranch homes, brownstones and apartments, to assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, and long-term care facilities. With the Life Care Fund, residents are never asked to leave if their funds run out. Call 440-942-4342 or visit OhioLiving.org for more information. Accommodations within the village are pet-friendly.