The first residents of Grandview Terrace celebrate the community’s 20th anniversary
By Shanna Hogan
Twenty years ago Douglas and Corrine Arthur saw an advertisement in the local paper about the opening of a new retirement community in Sun City West. The ad touted Sun Health’s Grandview Terrace as luxurious, independent living for seniors.
“I said ‘Wow that sounds like you’re living in a resort,’” says Corrine, 86. “You have everything right there.”
Soon after the Arthurs—who have been married more than 60 years—put a deposit down, becoming one of the first residents of Grandview Terrace. In June, Grandview celebrated its 20th anniversary with some of the original residents. While people don’t typically think of living in a retirement community for two decades, the residents of Grandview Terrace say their longevity is testament to the community’s quality of life, the management and the people.
During the last 20 years at Grandview Terrace, Douglas Arthur, 90, and his wife, 86, have remained active and healthy.
“I golfed five days a week and she line-danced five days a week,” Douglas says.
But last year when they both had major surgery, they also realized another benefit to living at Grandview—the medical support.
“If you were in a house and you fall you’d have to call an ambulance. Where here, you have all this at your convenience,” Corrine says. “That’s probably one of the best features of Grandview Terrace.”
Former school teacher and principal, Edith Ruhlman, 97, and her husband moved to Sun City West in 1988 and saw the construction of the community.
“We watched this being built and thought, “That’s really nice, but we weren’t ready yet,’” she says. “Then my husband died, and the spa sprang a leak and the toilet didn’t work. I said, ‘The heck with this. I’m out of here.’”
She says she was attracted to the idea of living at a place where all her needs were met.
“I came over on a Sunday afternoon. I signed up just like that and I haven’t regretted a moment of it,” she says. “I’m very happy here. And I wouldn’t change anything.”
While living in Grandview Terrace, she’s played tennis, golf, bridge, mahjong and taken numerous exercise classes. One of her favorite aspects is the quality food.
“What attracted me most of all about Grandview Terrace was the dining rooms. I love the five beautiful dining rooms,” she says. “It just felt like dining in a nice restaurant.”
Adele Schrag, a retired business professor, moved to Sun City West in 1985 and into Grandview Terrace in 1997. She credits the people at Grandview Terrace for enhancing her quality of life.
“I have a lot of friends here,” she says. “They are part of my life.”
Grandview is extensively redesigning and renovating the dining venues, fitness areas and hallways, as well as sprucing up the common spaces.
“We’re really waiting for the transformation,” Adele says.
At 96, she says the convenience of having an on-site gym and exercise classes has improved her quality of life.
“I really attribute my longevity to the exercise I did at Grandview Terrace,” Adele adds. “And I’m still doing it.”
