The Faces of Smith Village: Future Residents Excited about Upcoming Move
Dr. Joan Ferris 
As a teacher, principal and district superintendent for the Chicago Public Schools, Dr. Joan Ferris worked throughout the city over the years. As a result, she has resided in a central location - a high-rise residential complex overlooking Lake Michigan - for the past 23 years.
She views her move to Smith Village as a welcome change of pace and is looking forward to the abundance of daily conveniences the new community will extend. She also has family and friends in several communities near Smith Village and will enjoy being closer to them.
"Smith Village is going to offer some really nice benefits," Ferris recently said. "I'm certainly looking forward to not having to cook all of the time. And, the community will offer underground parking as well as a variety of social activities. I'm eager for the move."
Maurice Healy 
Maurice Healy has lived in Beverly for 51 years. He is a retired certified public accountant and was a partner at Desmond & Ahern, a longtime local accounting firm. He still has many friends in the area and is looking forward to staying in Beverly as well as the first-class services and amenities he anticipates receiving at Smith Village.
Active in the Beverly community, Healy is a member of St. Barnabas Parish and is also involved with Kiwanis International. In addition, he participates in the Renaissance program at Saint Xavier University, an educational program for seniors offering regular classes on a variety of general interest topics such as history, current events and music.
"I'm quite active in the Beverly community and I'm glad to know that I can remain involved even after I move to Smith Village," says Healy.
Carl & Elaine Spencer 
Riding his bicycle from Navy Pier in 1942, Carl Spencer arrived in the historic Beverly area for his first meal shared with friends at The Barn. Over 60 years later he sat there with his wife, Elaine, surrounded by over 200 friends and family members enjoying their 50th wedding anniversary and a long, fulfilling life continuing to thrive in the neighborhood.
After raising four children in their house on Longwood Drive, Carl and Elaine are ready to enjoy a more care-free retirement. “Every time I am out tending the garden or taking on another project for the house, I think ‘Smith Village is looking better every day.’” Elaine says.
While the couple knew that they wanted to plan for their future and have more time to relax and do the things they enjoy, they were certainly not willing to move out of Beverly to do it. “People are much more active at an older age these days and you need to look ahead” says Elaine “we wanted to stay in the neighborhood--of course because our friends are here, but also because there is so much to do, like the Beverly Arts Center and all our favorite restaurants. And if you do choose to go downtown to a play or something, you can do that too.”
Location was not the only reason the Spencers choose Smith Village. Both Carl and Elaine agree that making the decision to move into the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) was also largely based on their desire to choose where they want to be if they should ever need a higher level of care. The couple says that it was important for them to make this decision for themselves, and not wait until their kids or anyone else had to do it for them. “You never know what is going to happen in the future.” says Carl “and the time to make a decision is when you can make it yourself.”
As well as being extremely active in the Beverly community, Carl and Elaine spend a great deal of their time traveling. They are thrilled that their new apartment in Smith Village will allow them to, as Elaine puts it, “turn the door knob and walk away” instead of spending so much time preparing the house before the trip. “We’re very fortunate to have been able to travel as much as we have and I don’t see any reason to stop…although we may end up having such a good time at Smith Village we might not want to leave!”
In fact, several of their friends from the neighborhood have already reserved their own apartments. “We said to our friends who are also coming to Smith Village that we already know what the biggest argument is going to be: Who gets to have the cocktail party tonight? I just think it is going to be so much fun!” Elaine says with a smile.
The couple is currently taking advantage of the few years while the community is being built to go through their house and decide what things they want to bring with them and where it will go. Of course, with 62,000 miles on it, Carl’s stationary bike is all set for the move! “We decided, why not get in on the ground level. With the fully refundable deposit, we can always change our minds. But let’s face it, I can’t see changing my mind! Smith Village just sounds better every day.”
