VILLAGE MEMBER STORIES
Steve Young, Durham
How long have you lived on the Seacoast?
I grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts and initially settled in Easton, MA with my spouse, Joanne, and our two children. In 1988, I moved to Durham, NH when my long-term employer decided to expand operations into the New Hampshire Seacoast area.
What did you do professionally?
I spent my 49 year career with the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company both in Boston and Dover. During my tenure, I held positions of increasing responsibility primarily in the Group Employee Benefits Division, which included assignments in Sales, Underwriting and Information Technology. I was responsible for the achievement of profit, growth, persistency, and superior customer service on jumbo national accounts where I forged and maintained many longtime relationships. I retired in 2014, or as I prefer to say, I became “intentionally unemployed.”
How do you most like to spend your time now?
Since “retirement” I have been on the board of directors for a company in Rockville, MD that provides educational, risk management, and insurance programs to 56,000 psychologists. During my tenure, assignments have included Vice Chair of the Board, Audit Committee Chair and Nominating Committee Chair.
In my free time, I am an active member of the University of New Hampshire Active Retirement Association (ARA), the White Birch Armory in Dover, and the Major Waldron Sportsmen's Association in Barrington. In addition, some of my other interests have included long distance road biking, cruising and fishing in Nantucket Sound Cape Cod, and golf.
Why did you and Joanne join the Village? How does the Village fit into your long-term plans?
Basically, we are determined to stay in our own home as we age, which fits perfectly with the philosophy behind the Seacoast Village Project. Today we are quite active, and hope it continues, but there will be a time when we may need assistance from the membership. In the meantime, we can help assist those who may need some level of care now.
What aspects of the Village are you most interested in?
To date we have participated in a number of luncheon meet-ups, lunch and learn sessions, short hikes, and some Zoom sessions. I attended a training class to prepare as a volunteer driver for members in need of transportation to medical and hospital appointments and for other reasons.
What would you say to a friend interested in joining the Village?
I would encourage them to go to the Seacoast Village Project website, which is well laid out and easy to navigate. As a follow up, I would encourage them to attend one of the frequently offered Prospective Member Information Sessions. And I would emphasize to them that our members are generally people who want to stay in their homes, avoid the other options, and desire to stay active.
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