Inspiring Couple Living Well in Retirement
Dick and sheila crotts are no strangers to giving back. Now both retired from their long, successful careers, they spend time helping patients at beverly hospital and college students at a few local colleges.
Both Dick and Sheila worked tirelessly throughout their careers. Dick, a US Navy vet and a trained Thai linguist, spent 30 years in the Technology Department at Fidelity Investments. He moved through many positions until retiring as a Principle Database Administrator in 2017. Sheila was a Danvers High School Math teacher who retired with a Masters in Education. Neither being satisfied with “staying home,” or a “slow-go retirement,” they adopted new positions that would fulfill their desire to help and give back.
In the recent past, Dick volunteered at the historic House of the Seven Gables in Salem, working 20 hours/week during the Halloween season. But in January 2018, he discovered a new passion, working at Beverly Hospital as a “Patient Ambassador.” Dick’s main job is to go from floor-to-floor, check-in with patients, and give them someone to talk to. The idea is to make their day and the hospital experience better. They talk about books, current events, the Celtics, what’s going on in their life…a variety of different subjects. As Dick says,” At the end of the day, I feel I have impacted many, and many have impacted me. More than once I have helped someone down to rise up and have a better day. It's very tough for many patients. They are ill, uncomfortable, depressed and often do not have the opportunity to open up about their feelings and needs. I help them with that.”
Since her retirement from Danvers High, Sheila has taught math at three local colleges, North Shore Community College, Salem State, and Merrimack. Her desire to help the youth of today is strong, whether it’s helping them develop strong math study habits or memorizing the Pythagorean Theorem. Sheila’s goal is to work with these students for many more years and continue “Making Math Cool.” I think that belongs on a t-shirt!
Dick and Sheila Crotts met in 1975 and have been married since 1978, just celebrating 40 years of marriage! They have 3 children and 4 grandchildren and reside in Danvers, MA. In their spare time, the Crotts really enjoy travel and spending time with family and friends. Hawaii (3 times), Grand Canyon (3 times), Jackson Hole, Sedona, and Disney World and Disneyland with the accompaniment of the kids, siblings, and grandkids are some of their most memorable trips.
Dick and Sheila are an inspiring couple committed to “living well” in retirement. Their model of family, love, and dedication to each other is impressive. We are honored to be able to work with them and enjoy being a small part of their continued success.
