After 45 years working with senior citizens in the Fox Valley, Bette Schoenholtz has retired as executive director of Senior Services Associates Inc.
Schoenholtz helped found the agency as a board member, and saw it grow from a small nonprofit providing adult day care services in Elgin to an 85-person organization offering services to seniors in Kane, Kendall and McHenry counties, a Senior Services news release said. It has offices in Elgin, Aurora, Yorkville, Crystal Lake and McHenry.
Schoenholtz’ final day was Aug.15 but she will continue to work with Micki Miller, who is her successor, the release said. Miller had been the group’s assistant director.
“Bette has graciously offered to help during the transition, and plans to continue working on a few projects close to her heart, a few hours a week,” Adele Larsen, director of marketing and fund development for Senior Services, said in the release.
During her time with the agency, Schoenholtz served on the Illinois Coalition on Mental Health and Aging Board and was its first board president, and for 15 years was a member of the Illinois Department of Mental Health’s Geriatric Advisory Council.
“(She) developed partnerships with local, state and federal government officials, members of the senior provider networks, businesses and other agencies,” Larsen said. “Whenever and wherever she saw a need, she found a way to meet that demand. Bette exemplifies the lifelong satisfaction that service can bring to a dedicated, moral, centered and ethical person.”