High school seniors give Valentine to senior residents

"Seniors at Irvington High School in Fremont held a Valentine's Day dance for senior residents at Watermark at Almaden in San Jose on Feb. 14. The Valentine's Day Senior Ball brought the two generations together to enjoy music, dancing and live performances. The event was created through a student-led effort to address senior loneliness and grew out of regular volunteer visits between students and residents. Student organizer Josephine Sun said her involvement was inspired by seeing her own grandparents live far away and experience isolation, motivating her to work with local seniors to build meaningful connections."

"Seniors from both age groups danced to live music by Jerry Logan and Loganville. Toward the end of the band's set, students and residents formed a dance circle during what was scheduled to be the final song. The energy in the room was strong enough that the band played an encore. Throughout the afternoon, music filled the auditorium as guests moved between conversations at their tables and dancing alongside one another."

"Among them were Nancy and James Richard "Dick" Lowry, who have been married for 60 years. The couple met in 1965 at the Presidio of San Francisco during the Vietnam era, when Dick was a young Army officer and Nancy worked as a civilian secretary across the hall. What began with coffee breaks and a ride home turned into a first date at the Fairmont Hotel, where they spent the evening dancing."

Students from Irvington High School organized a Valentine's Day Senior Ball at Watermark at Almaden in San Jose to connect high school seniors and older residents through music and dancing. The student-led effort grew from ongoing volunteer visits and aimed to combat senior loneliness, inspired by organizer Josephine Sun's experience with distant, isolated grandparents. Live music by Jerry Logan and Loganville prompted dancing, a dance circle, and an encore. Guests conversed at tables, danced together, and heard resident Pui Tsang share stories about his medical background. The event also offered longtime couples a chance to celebrate Valentine's Day together.

Read at The Mercury News