Dee Sellner provides unique perspective as Terwilliger Plaza's President Emerita and Member
Dee Sellner
Terwilliger Plaza Member
As the former President and CEO of Terwilliger Plaza, you had an insider perspective in making your decision to move in as a resident. Can you tell us about that transition?
I served in the position from 1998 until I retired in 2016. When I first started at Terwilliger Plaza, I hadn’t thought about myself moving in. My goal was to create a community, a place where I would want my parents to live. That was my focus. It was a great experience, and I am proud of what we were able to accomplish. I was honored by the Terwilliger community with the title of President Emerita upon my retirement. During my time we purchased many adjacent properties allowing the campus to expand, completed a renovation of The Tower and the construction of the Terrace and Heights – which included the new pool. The administration and board also adopted its first strategic plan. I recall we opened every planning session with the quote by Benjamin Franklin, “if you fail to plan, then plan to fail.”
Can you tell me about your journey to Terwilliger Plaza?
I was born and raised in Kansas and went on to receive my nursing degree and Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration. When my husband, who had a PhD in anatomy and physiology, got a job as the dean of the graduate programs at Shippensburg University, we relocated to Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, where I worked at Planned Parenthood while also pursuing my Master’s in Public Administration at the university in the evening.
A requirement of the program was to do an internship and I did mine in a continuing care retirement community. This was 1989, and the government had just passed a new set of regulations protecting nursing home residents. My job was to teach the nurses these new rules. This internship was the first time I had ever been around the senior population. And I really liked it. I went on to secure my license in nursing home administration. Then, in 1993 we came to Portland when my husband was appointed Provost for the Western States Chiropractic College. Soon after, I started at Terwilliger Plaza managing the nursing home facility, and then became the President and CEO.
What brought you to the decision to live at Terwilliger Plaza?
When my husband died in 2016, I found myself living in a very large house. It had been a hard and emotional ten years caring for my husband, while also working. I knew that when I retired that Terwilliger would be a good place to live. I liked the non-profit status and the governance structure. There was no question in my mind that I wanted to live downtown and enjoy life free of commitments. No more utilities to pay, packages missing at the front door, no more waiting for the repair or cable people, no yard work, no roof issues, or worrying about my home when going out of town. At Terwilliger it would all be taken care of.
I did look at other communities, just to be sure. When I walked in though, I didn’t feel the same way as when I walked into Terwilliger Plaza. People here are very welcoming. The overall atmosphere is so inviting. You might find people casually gathering and talking, or sitting in the library, reading the paper, perhaps listening to the piano player in the afternoon. While I knew a lot of people before I moved in, now that I am no longer the CEO, I can engage in a different capacity. Just be friends with people and share the same ideas, joys, and activities. I feel like I fit right in.
Tell me more about the community.
You don’t really have to look for friends. They are right there depending on your interests and things you have in common. They are educated, well-traveled, with lots of experience in their lives and careers offering a whole array of talents. We celebrate our achievements and what we want to engage in our retired lives. There are so many shared interests. One of my neighbors is a retired physician, more than one nurse, more than one teacher, and a philosopher. There are a lot of professional people in just about every field. I’ve learned so much by talking to Members about their own history. There is so much freedom to express yourself. People want to know about you, and you want to know about therm.
You mentioned that you have written a play, “Will the Real Lesta Hoel Please Stand Up?"
Yes. We have a group here called the Plaza Players, who perform a lot of plays written by Members. Last spring, I co-wrote the play, “Will the Real Lesta Hoel Please Stand Up?” It is in the style of the old television show, To Tell the Truth, with three contestants and four panel members. The panel members ask questions specifically about Terwilliger Plaza and then, Lesta answers.
I wrote the play because I wanted the Members to know more about Lesta Hoel and all that she accomplished for our community. To me she is an icon, a mover, and a shaker from a long-time ago. A single math teacher from Grant High School who created a legacy. If it hadn’t been for Lesta we would not have this place, we call home. We premiered the play this past May, and are planning for a second showing, soon.