Senior resident center celebrates fathers

CNJ staff photo: Liliana Castillo John Schmidt, a resident at Senior Citizen Resident Center in Clovis, said Father’s Day has never been a big deal for him. He said his favorite thing about being a father is being a grandfather.

The staff and residents of the Senior Citizen Resident Center consider themselves one big happy family.

So when Father’s Day rolls around, the family makes plans to celebrate the dads in their midst.

Administrator Jennifer Henning said the center is family-based.

“Because we are a family, we recognize our family members. We want to recognize what they’ve contributed to our society as a parent. They deserve more recognition than they get anyway,” Henning said.

The residents of the center were treated to a social with fruit Thursday, with the eight fathers as the guests of honor. Each of the fathers were given a cross-stitched keychain with their initials and a mug declaring them an awesome father. Henning said most of the fathers will go out on Father’s Day with their individual families, so the center celebrates early.

John Schmidt, one of the eight fathers, said Father’s Day has never been a big deal to him.

“I don’t really know why, it’s just never been a big deal,” Schmidt said, laughing and shrugging.

Schmidt and his wife Genevive were married eight years ago and both have two children. Schmidt said his favorite thing about being a father is being a grandfather.

“I like all the busy things about having grandkids,” he said. “We hang out with them as much as we can.”

Alden Henderson, another of the center’s fathers, is also a grandfather. He and his wife Jewel have 12 grandchildren.

“My grandkids love him,” Jewel said.

The Hendersons, who are known to wear matching shirts when they go to dances at Baxter-Curren Senior Center, said they’ll probably spend this Father’s Day staying in.

“We spent all our lives going places, now it’s time to relax,” Jewel said.