As Yetta Waldman, the longtime executive director of the Senior Citizens of Westbury Center, retired last week, she was visibly filled with emotion.

Waldman, who came to the helm of the center 23 years ago, had the difficult task of leaving a place in which she had built more than two decades of memories. But she also left feeling satisfied with the many programs developed to improve the quality of life for local senior citizens, and confident that the center would be in good hands.

"There is a real fellowship here," Waldman said during an interview in her office last Tuesday, Aug. 21, recalling friendships shared and programs developed. "It's a very special place."

She noted that because she has worked for so long in the field of human service, her work has been much more than just a job.

"The whole membership becomes part of your life. I know some people 30-odd years," she said. "Because we haven't got any barriers here. The door is always open."

Waldman's last day as director of the program, which operates at the Westbury Community Center (360 Post Avenue), was Thursday, Aug. 23. Jean Silverman, who served as Waldman's assistant director, has taken over the position of director. Maureen Droge, who has served as the center's secretary, moves up to the position of assistant director. To honor Waldman's years of dedicated service, the Senior Citizens of Westbury will hold a retirement celebration for her at the Westbury Manor on Sept. 12 at noon. In her last days at the center, members also made several presentations to her in appreciation of her friendship and service.

In her retirement, Yetta plans to spend time with her family, which includes two young grandchildren, as well as gardening, and traveling. She and her husband Ezra, who are married 47 years and have lived in Salisbury 36 years, are moving to Albany this fall. In their new home, the couple will be near their daughter Fran, son-in-law Jay, and grandchildren, Sam and Emma. The couple also has a son, Mitchell and daughter-in-law, Lucy.

"The whole world's my oyster, and I want to take advantage of it," said Waldman.

As the outgoing director prepared for her new life in retirement, she paused to admire members fully engaged in the center's many activities. "It's been a lot of years, and a lot of things that we did together are very memorable - and I'm very proud of them," she said. Some members were sewing pillows to donate to breast cancer patients, while others were taking a class in Tai Chi, one of the latest trends in low-impact physical fitness.

It is only appropriate that the center would offer such cutting edge programs. It got its start as a pioneer in the aging field in 1956, when it was one of the first senior centers established in Nassau County, as a recreation-educational program meeting weekly. Today, the Senior Citizens of Westbury Center is a multi-purpose, 5-day-a-week program serving more than 500 older adults from the Villages of Westbury and Old Westbury, and the Westbury School District. "We have people who are so vital, are healthy, and have something to do, someplace to come," commented Waldman. "It's really been a life-line."

Waldman's work as director of the Westbury Senior Center included every aspect of operations - including administration, supervision, personnel, public relations, program development and fund raising. Waldman, who has been in the aging field since 1969, has previously worked as director of the Levittown Gold Age Club, and assistant director of the Self Help Forest Hills Senior Center. She has also spent her professional career advocating for the older adult through lobbying for legislation, community education, and the development of new programs. To this end, she has held leadership positions in the New York State Conference for the Aging and the Long Island Directors Association. She has also been a member of the New York Assembly Commission on Aging and the Town of North Hempstead Senior Citizens Commission. Honors received for her tireless efforts include Westbury Senior Center's C. Walter Swanson Award, Kiwanis Distinguished Service Award and the New York State Conference for the Aging Henrietta Rabe Award.

Waldman takes particular pride in the establishment of the adult education program instituted under her leadership at the Senior Citizens of Westbury Center. The program, known as ACES (Adult Cultural & Educational Studies) offers courses to retirees as young as 55 years old, while the minimum age required for general center membership is 60. "That has been one of our most successful programs to date," said Waldman. Participants can take classes in humanities, history, poetry, literature, current events, calligraphy, languages, music, computers and defensive driving, Tai Chi, bowling, dancing and swimming.

Other center programs include transportation, meals, and recreational trips, as well as health promotion services, such as screenings for flu and pneumonia,, mammograms and hearing tests.

The organization is a private, non-profit corporation with a board of directors made up of community volunteers, senior center elected leaders and representatives from sponsoring agencies. It is funded by the Incorporated Villages of Westbury and Old Westbury, Town of North Hempstead, State of New York, Westbury School District, and Nassau County Department of Senior Citizen Affairs, under the Older Americans Act through the New York State Office for the Aging. It is also supported by center fund raising, including an annual holiday bazaar and bake sale, featuring members' own homemade goodies and handmade items.

Bidding a fond farewell to the center's members, Waldman included the following goodbye message in her last edition of the senior center's newsletter.

I've been struggling with this final message to you. Finding the right words to sum up 23 extraordinary years is hard.

I will miss you!

I will miss your cheerful "good morning" and our catch-up visits. The membership meetings that were challenging at times, but enjoyable; working with you on special projects and experiencing the pride and satisfaction for a job well-done; sharing your joy after an interesting class, great physical workout or special trip; having your support during my personal difficult times; and receiving words of appreciation for my efforts in bringing good things to the Center. You and my wonderful staff have helped to create a senior center that is a source of great personal pride.

I look forward to retirement, my new home, time with my children and grandchildren and the wealth of choices that are open to me now that I will have time. You've set a good example for me on how to enjoy retirement!

Congratulations to Jean and Maureen in their new positions. I know that together they will move the Center to new heights!

Heartfelt thanks and love.

Yetta