Since moving into Decatur House in August, Virginia “Ginny” Sullivan has been warmly embraced by her fellow residents, who appreciate her engaging manner and their interesting conversations.
Ginny’s busy daily routine might include a lunch outing with fellow residents, an art class, a fitness session, and a spirited game of gin rummy or Bingo.
But the Roslindale native always clears her schedule for family visits, when her apartment bustles with cheerful chatter and laughter. The Sullivan clan includes three daughters, a son, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Ginny and her late husband, Jerry, were married for 63 years. They had been close friends — and prom dates — since grammar school.
In 1952, the couple may have helped pioneer the current trend of destination weddings by tying the knot in Germany, where Jerry was stationed with the Air Force.
They were wed in picturesque Trier, Germany’s oldest city and home to some of Europe’s most revered architectural treasures. Ginny has loved both the country and its people ever since.
“It’s great to have a special place you can say, ‘Oh, I’ve got to go back there’,” she said. “And with Germany, I certainly did go back – five times!”
Ginny and her husband also enjoyed visiting other European countries, including Switzerland, where she once attempted to ski.
“I made it halfway down, then had to walk the rest of the way,” she recalled, with a little laugh. “But Jerry was pretty good at it.”
So skiing wasn’t her forte, but Ginny found many other activities to occupy her time, including golf, travel, ceramics, family outings, card games and painting.
“I only did a little painting,” she said. “Just enough to enjoy with the girlfriends I hung around with.”
A true New Englander, Ginny is a loyal Red Sox and Patriots fan, just as Decatur House residents have become fans of Ginny.
