Shirley G., 75, Rockport, MA

Shirley Groff, a resident of Rockport, Massachusetts, recently had her wish to visit several Boston museums granted, thanks our Massachusetts chapter. Groff, 75, is a Navy veteran and calls herself a lifelong learner. She believes that learning and trying to understand new concepts is the key to longevity. Groff wishes to visit four museums in Boston: the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, MIT Museum and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum as she feels they are the epitome of culture, innovation and history and will be an enlightening experience for her. Because she uses a cane and doesn’t have transportation, Groff is not able to visit these museums on her own. In addition to her Naval service, she was a very active volunteer with the Navy Club participating in funeral honor guards, parades, placing flags on graves and giving presentations. Groff recently passed the general exam to become a ham radio operator and hopes to become involved volunteering with a disaster relief organization. She  visited the first museum on her list, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum on Saturday, December 16, 2023. Groff and a friend were driven by Massachusetts Chapter Director, Catherine Sabatini to spend the day there. She will visit the remaining museums in late December and early 2024.