Why We Chose Concordia: Lee and Bob Ferrero

Did you know Concordia has multiple senior care locations that offer retirement living in Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and Tampa, Florida? We hear a lot of great things from our residents and their families about our services and we wanted to take the opportunity to share one of those stories with you. Enjoy getting to know Concordia of the South Hills residents Lee and Bob Ferrero!

Born in the Steel City, Bob Ferrero moved to Buffalo, New York in 1960 while working as an engineer for Westinghouse. Little did he know he would cross paths with his future wife, Lee, a stewardess for American Airlines at the time.

“We were set up by mutual friends on a blind date,” Bob said. “The rest is history.”

Lee, Originally from Kentucky, would lose her job with the airline on her wedding day in 1961.

“The airline policy was that stewardesses couldn’t be employed and be married,” Bob said. “The same day we were married was the same day she lost her job. It’s obviously very different now.”

Before her tenure with the airline, Lee worked at the Proctor and Gamble headquarters in Cincinnati. Bob started his career with Westinghouse after graduating from Carnegie Tech in 1953 – working in various roles and locations until he eventually transferred back to Pittsburgh in 1963 – this time moving home with Lee and their first child, Amy. The couple welcomed their youngest child, Bob Jr. a year after the move to Pennsylvania.

“When we moved back to the city we lived on Dillion Drive, less than a quarter mile up the road from Concordia of the South Hills. We always joked that when we moved again it would be just down the hill.”

After Bob’s retirement from Westinghouse, the couple would make the move from their home of nearly 50 years on Dillion Drive to their new apartment at Concordia of the South Hills in 2011.

“My sister moved to the campus in 2010,” Bob said. “Before we moved I had a friend at Concordia who encouraged us to move. He would say, ‘you got to get up here while you’re still young enough to enjoy this place,’ and it’s the truth.”

Since the move to their new home, Both Bob and Lee have been active in the Concordia community. However, the couple’s favorite shared hobby, traveling, began after they were first married.

“We’ve traveled quite a bit,” Bob said. “Most of the trips were in the USA or Europe and with some exciting trips to Egypt, Turkey and the Galapagos Islands.”

When the couple isn’t traveling, some of their favorite hobbies on campus include the music programs, lunch outings, exercise programs and day trips.

“Concordia takes us to Heinz Hall for symphonies and Music 101, to the City Theater for their series of plays, to Carnegie Museums, the Heinz History Center, the Frick, the Cabaret and lunch outings,” Bob said. “They also have lectures on history, current events, music and foreign films that we attend.”

Before moving to the campus, the couple also enjoyed gardening, which is something they still take part in.

“We’ve enjoyed it here very much,” Bob said. “It’s a pleasant place to live. Every apartment has an open space and balcony. We don’t cook a lot so it’s nice to have meal options and a deli. It’s also nice just to spend time with other people in the community.”

While COVID-19 has suspended communal activities and has limited communal dining options over the past several months, the couple still enjoys the modified activities offered on campus. However, they are looking forward to getting back to enjoying their favorite activities soon and also celebrating their granddaughter’s high school graduation.

“We think Concordia has done an amazing job during all of this Coronavirus stuff,” Bob said. “They’re doing everything they can for us. We’ve had our meals delivered to our door, carts come around with ice cream, and on Cinco de Mayo they even came around with a margarita cart. We’ve been totally spoiled.”

To learn more about Concordia’s worry-free retirement living communities at our beautiful facilities in Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and Tampa, Florida, visit our locations map to find a Concordia community near you. You can also call our headquarters at any time to schedule a tour at 724-252-1571, or message us through the contact form on our website.