90-Year-Old Throws First Pitch at Reno Aces Game
What started as another day at the ballpark turned into a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Reno resident Marvin Dockter, the recipient of an Ageless Dream from Summit Estates Senior Living and Memory Care in Reno, where he lives.
Wearing a personalized Reno Aces jersey – presented to him by Archie, the minor-league baseball team’s mascot – Dockter, 90-years-young, was called up to take the mound and throw the ceremonial first pitch at the home game against the Fresno Grizzlies on April 22, 2018. It was an unexpected honor for the former Little League Baseball and American Legion Baseball coach. The Aces winning the game, 9-4, was a bonus.
Team members at Summit Estates planned the day at The Great Nevada Field through its Ageless Dreams program, which allows team members to identify residents’ wishes and make them come true. Dockter’s love of baseball and fond memories of coaching, attending and watching baseball games, fueled his wish to attend a baseball game.
“Marvin used to attend baseball games all the time,” said Teri Gooch, Life Enrichment Director at Summit Estates. “When his wife became ill, he put all of his focus on caring for her. We knew how much he loved baseball and we wanted to do something for him; we wanted to fulfill a small dream.”
“Understanding our residents’ desires, wishes, and what makes them happy is the heart of what we do,” said Amanda Jenkins, Summit Estates’ administrator. “The wish may be simple, like going to a ballgame, but it adds joy and excitement to their life journey. Such acts of kindness are part of who we are and one way we live out our mission to care, serve and improve the lives of our residents.”
Summit Estates Senior Living and Memory Care is one of six Mission Senior Living communities that makes residents’ dreams come true through its Ageless Dream program. Other Ageless Dreams fulfilled include a day at the rodeo, Dream Flights in a fully restored open-cockpit Stearman biplane, attending a basketball game, and recreating a day in the life of a pharmacist for a retired pharmacist.
About Summit Estates Senior Living
Summit Estates Senior Living, located at 222 East Patriot Blvd., Reno, Nev., is operated by Mission Senior Living (MSL), a senior living and memory care organization with locations in Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona. MSL’s mission, Caring People, Serving People, Improving Lives, is fulfilled by a compassionate team of professionals who provide care, services and resident-centered programming and activities to enrich the lives of residents and their families. For more information about Summit Estates, call (775) 434-1880 or visit http://www.summitestatessl.net/. For more information about Mission Senior Living, visit http://www.missionseniorliving.net or call (775) 468-6114.
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