A Legacy of Service, Faith and Friendships. We Salute You, Tony.

The Bedford Lions Club had its 60th anniversary in November 2025 and 93-year-old Bowman Place resident, Tony, wouldn’t have missed the celebration. He still remains active on the board and is loyal to his local Lions Club, regularly participating in its monthly meetings.

The Lions Club focuses on giving back to the town that Tony has called home for decades from running the Bedford Community Food Pantry and organizing pancake breakfasts to providing scholarships for the academic overachievers.

Not only is Tony an original charter member of the Bedford Lions Club, but he’s also one of the original ten residents of Bowman Place. He watched the building’s construction and considered all of the benefits of living in a brand-new space with laundry, cleaning and meals taken care of.

“I love that they take care of me here,” said Tony. He also loves the friendships he’s built with other residents.

“When I first moved to Bedford, there actually wasn’t a parish here yet,” said Tony. “As the town grew, the church was eventually established. I attend mass every week at Saint Elizabeth Seton Parish with a couple of friends who drive me there.”

“If I need to go somewhere, there’s someone who can drive me. It’s wonderful.”

In his younger years, Tony was a well-traveled young man. During the Korean War he worked in the post room on an aircraft carrier, delivering letters from loved ones to soldiers far from their families.

Bowman Place has a Veteran Wall that honors the many vets that live in the full-service senior living community. There’s an immense amount of pride for the men and women who honorably served our country.

Tony’s daughter, Melissa, visits often, and on this particular day, he has a package of Girl Scout cookies ready to send home with her for his grandchildren – a small but classic grandpa gesture, making sure they’re well stocked on sweet treats.

“One thing we’ve really appreciated about Bowman is the support system,” she said. “The staff are very approachable, and if we have questions, there’s always someone available, whether it’s the nursing team, the social worker or the leadership staff. They check in regularly to make sure everything is going well.”

After a lifetime of giving back, to his country, his community and his family, Tony has found a place that gives back to him, every single day.