The staff at the Senior Center celebrating Sonja Nathan’s next steps || Monica Sager Heidi and Sonja hug || Monica Sager The room was crowded for Sonja Nathan’s farewell party || Monica Sager Judy Watts celebrates Sonja Nathan || Monica Sager Dana Hoffman shares a poem || Monica Sager Sonja Nathan was gifted a plant || Monica Sager Sabrina talks about Sonja || Monica Sager Sonja thanks the Senior Center || Monica Sager The group celebrated Sonja || Monica Sager Sonja was honored on Thursday || Monica Sager Heidi Whear spoke about Sonja Nathan || Monica Sager
The Senior Center said farewell Thursday to Sonja Nathan, who is leaving Swampscott to become director of services at West Newbury’s Senior Center.
Nathan has served as the Swampscott Senior Center’s program and volunteer manager for the past five years.
“If you guys understand the theory of six degrees of separation,” said Heidi Whear, director of aging services, “I think that Sonja’s superpower is that she’s connected to everybody in the world by three people. She just seems to know everyone and connect with everyone, no matter where you’re from on the globe.”
Nathan organized a range of programs, from trips to movie theaters and historic sites around the North Shore to guest speakers on topics like monarch butterfly migration, the threats of artificial intelligence and to talk about even a professional skating career.
“I’m really grateful for your enthusiasm and your willingness to just support me in all these crazy programs and trips that we’ve done,” Nathan told the group. “There’s been so many fun moments that I can think of that were made possible by all of you.”
Nathan joked that she used to take her children on adventures when they were little but then “they grew up and they went away.” Instead, “you guys came and it was so awesome” to have new trips and events to experience, she said.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Clark University and has spent most of her career developing programs and managing volunteers. Nathan previously worked at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Beverly Hospital, and several area nursing homes.
“The most exciting part about all of this is that we grew together, and I really feel like this full room is a testament to all of your hard work, Sonja,” said Sabirna Clopton, assistant director and outreach social worker. “You’ve helped build this community, all the good feelings. You’re leaving big shoes and so many memories and so much joy that you’ve brought to everybody here.”
Dana Hoffman wrote Nathan a poem.
“We’ll miss your good humor, generosity and cheer,” Hoffman read. “You took our well being to heart, and it was always sincere. The Center will miss you. We feel it to the core, as you go off on a new adventure in an exciting new shore.”
