March, 2011   

Remembering Rosemary Coffin

A Founder of RiverWoods and True Visionary

An Appreciation

Some people make a world of difference in their lives, and in their work, they change lives for the better.  In rare cases, their work continues on beyond their lifetime, and many others benefit from their vision.  Rosemary Coffin was one of those rare individuals

Rosemary was not satisfied with the status quo, and saw needs that were not met, and imagined solutions.  Then she worked to make those solutions become reality.  She founded Seacoast Hospice in 1978, and created the first office in Exeter. She also served on boards as diverse as the Exeter Hospital Corporation and NH Child and Family Services, among many others.

In the 1980s, Rosemary met Maryanna Hatch, and the two of them began to imagine a new way for people to grow older - a community similar to a collegiate setting, where retirement age people could create a vibrant and supportive environment. Rosemary and the other founders persisted in their vision for more than ten years.  In 1994, RiverWoods at Exeter was opened, and in her lifetime, Rosemary saw the community grow from one campus to three, providing a wonderful way of life to hundreds of people.

Rosemary's vision lives on today, and we who work at RiverWoods strive each day to create a wonderful way of life, and provide it for as many people as possible.  We are all better for having known her, and the world has lost a true visionary with her recent passing.

Justine Vogel
President and CEO
RiverWoods

 Click here to read the recent Boston Globe article on Rosemary Coffin.