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Meet Our Members

FHNN Members are special people. They've lived long, productive lives and have many ongoing interests.

We invite you to read their stories and get to know the amazing people of FHNN.

No senior should have to grow old alone.

Meet Amelia & Skip: Together, Always

Amelia and Skip (Leonard) have shared a lifetime of adventures. Skip had a career handling business transactions around the world, while Amelia spent years with the World Bank followed by success as a fashion designer. They traveled everywhere, embracing each new culture and filling every home with her signature elegance. Their love is quiet, steady, and deep—a love that has weathered decades of change.

Preparing for retirement, they downsized from a large home into an apartment in Friendship Heights years ago—a home and neighborhood they grew to cherish. However, increased aging brought new challenges.

Now in their 90s, they began struggling with balance, and falls became frequent and frightening. With no children to help, they were worried how they would manage in the home they loved.

That’s when they reached out to Friendship Heights Neighbors Network and became Full Members, which entitles them to receive services from our volunteers. Several volunteers who live in their building now check in regularly. FHNN provided rides for Amelia to visit Skip at rehab when he needed help with his balance and other problems. Volunteers also drive her to the hair appointment she goes to each week to maintain her elegance and style.

Today, Amelia and Skip still live together in the home they cherish. Skip watches Amelia with quiet love, and Amelia, elegant and chatty as always, throws regular dinner parties.

Thanks to FHNN, they are not only safe—they are thriving.

“We are so grateful for the support of FHNN volunteers. We love our home and want to stay together in it as long as possible.”
—Amelia

Meet Mari: An Artist at 92

Mari proves the adage that it's never too late to learn. At the age of 74, Mari decided to fill her time by teaching herself to make art. Her home is now filled with her beautiful paintings, which burst with color and humor.

Mari has no immediate family in the area, so she joined FHNN as a Full Member. FHNN now helps her stay safe and connected at home. Problems with mobility often keep her indoors, so we send volunteers to her home for social visits and others give her rides to doctors' appointments.

A natural talker, Mari loves the new social connections she has made. She jokingly calls two of her regular male drivers “her boyfriends.” One even brought her chicken soup when she was recovering from an illness. And if you’re lucky, she may invite you to one of her special teas!

“I love you guys! I couldn’t get by without you.”
—Mari

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Meet Bob: A Life of Service & Creativity

Those who meet Bob for the first time immediately take note of his convivial spirit and positive energy. Born the son of an Indiana firefighter, Bob inherited a passion for community service. At just 18 he met his mentor, Senator Birch Bayh (D-Ind.). Bob quickly rose through the ranks of Bayh’s senate office, eventually becoming his political director in 1980, all while earning bachelor's and master’s degrees in legislative affairs from Georgetown University.

After 13 years on Capitol Hill and starting a family, Bob’s entrepreneurial spirit took over. He channeled his characteristic vision and energy into founding one of the nation's earliest political computer service companies, which he successfully led for 17 years. Bob had still more energy for a second act as a writer. After retiring, he penned a biography of his mentor, Birch Bayh: Making a Difference (2019) and followed it up with Unforced Errors: 15 Bad Decisions That Changed American History (2025). His first
novel is due in 2026.

Bob’s commitment to service only deepened when his girlfriend, Kathleen McGuinness, encouraged him to volunteer with FHNN. Kathleen is a long-time FHNN Board member. She thought volunteering would be the perfect outlet for his convivial nature.

Now Bob eagerly drives members to appointments and is making new friends along the way. He joined FHNN as a Social Member in 2023 and enjoys going to FHNN’s social events. With two children, three grandkids, volunteering, and writing, Bob’s post-retirement time is full. And with a rich life, full of achievement, Bob is quick to say, “I’m proud to be a part of FHNN.”

“I believe Friendship Heights is well served by an organization like FHNN. It fosters a sense of community, hosts fun social events, and provides valuable services to those who need them.”
—Bob

Meet BJ: Igniting a New Era of Service at FHNN

In our vital network of neighbors helping neighbors, we are thrilled to introduce you to BJ Carter, FHNN's new Volunteer Lead. BJ's commitment to service is deeply personal, inspired by her mother, whose lifelong dedication to volunteering set an early, powerful example. BJ will now be the focal point for all our new volunteers, helping to recruit, train, and coach them as they bring our mission to life.

BJ brings a wealth of professional experience and a true neighborly heart. A recently retired occupational therapist, she’s a passionate advocate for empowering people to age in place with dignity and independence—a cornerstone of the FHNN mission. This commitment to holistic well-being and growth is also clear in her background as a former certified Tai Chi for Arthritis instructor, a certified chair yoga and laughter yoga instructor, an ACE certified personal trainer, and an AEA certified aquatics instructor.

BJ has seen FHNN’s potential and is already making an incredible difference, injecting fresh energy into our volunteer program and ensuring we continue to grow our capacity to connect and assist neighbors.

“What I've come to understand is that helping others is as meaningful to the Volunteer as it is to the Member.”
—BJ

Meet Iris and Michael: An Active Life

Iris and Michael have been married for 60 years, sharing a life filled with the rewards of career, family, and culture. Michael served as a World Bank economist, traveling the globe. Iris was a public finance expert and manager, working in the labor movement and for a nonprofit focusing on low-income households. They moved to Washington, D.C., in 1969 and raised two sons and a daughter. After retirement, they settled in Friendship Heights in 2017, opting for an apartment over a large, four-story house with many stairs.

They remain exceptionally active. Since retiring at 72, Iris has written and published two novels and remains involved in their synagogue. Michael, who for years played violin in a community orchestra, took up the piano when physical problems intervened. He walks several miles daily with their active 12-year-old Goldendoodle, Mango. The couple enjoys attending the many concerts and plays in the area, traveling—although not as much as they used to—and spending time with their family and young grandsons in D.C.

The Lavs are currently Social Members of FHNN. They volunteer now and then to help out Full Members and enjoy going to the occasional FHNN program. They plan on becoming Full Members should the need arise, and in the meantime, they will continue to be active and engaged in their community and interests.