Farewell and Happy Retirement to Our President & CEO Paul Downey : Serving Seniors

At Serving Seniors, our mission is all about opening doors. Opening doors to invite low income and unhoused older adults in for a meal, services, and friendship at all our sites across the County of San Diego. Opening doors to new partnerships with our supporters and volunteers. And most of all, opening doors to new affordable housing for our seniors who deserve a place of their own.

Paul is opening a new door in his life as he retires on Thursday, May 8 – his 30th anniversary leading our organization.

Paul’s vision and efforts on behalf of Serving Seniors have been nothing less than transformative for the organization and for the thousands of older adults whose lives have changed for the better.

Paul began his association with Serving Seniors like many of you: as a volunteer serving meals, four decades ago. He found a deep appreciation for the organization and especially the people it supported.

When I was hired in 2009 and ever since then, I’ve witnessed Paul’s dedication firsthand. You may have seen him in news interviews or videos with our clients. I promise Paul is the same when the bright lights and cameras aren’t there, with an endless source of compassion, empathy, and fellowship.

Following Paul’s appointment as President and CEO in 1995, and with your help and unwavering support, Serving Seniors has grown into a nationally recognized organization leading the effort in San Diego County to ensure older adults are kept housed and enjoy healthy, purposeful lives regardless of income.

Advocacy leadership at the national, state and local levels - rooted in lessons learned and achieved in San Diego - has been a hallmark of Paul’s tenure, including serving as chair of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, advocacy chair and board member for the American Society on Aging, and chair of the California Commission on Aging.

Paul was invited to participate in two White House Conferences on Aging and has testified hundreds of times before Congress, the California State Legislature, Board of Supervisors and local City Councils. We could not be prouder to see our efforts in San Diego acknowledged across the country.

During Paul’s 30 years with Serving Seniors, our nutrition program has grown to serve 1.5 million meals annually. We’ve seen the creation of the state-of-the-art Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center, a center that has received national and international accolades, and our second Judith L. Seltz Senior Wellness Center in Clairemont.

Through Paul’s determination, Serving Seniors has developed more than 700 units of affordable housing for low-income seniors.

N/A

In lasting recognition and thanks, the board of directors named Serving Seniors’ newly opened housing community in Clairemont the Paul Downey Senior Residence.

“I never imagined seeing my name on a building. I’m overwhelmed by this honor,” Paul told us. “It represents a lifetime of effort to deliver the high-quality affordable housing our older adult neighbors deserve in San Diego.”

It is admittedly bittersweet for us to see Paul walking through the door to his well-deserved retirement. It is also exciting to see the door opening to an exciting future for Serving Seniors, thanks to his visionary leadership paving a path forward. Paul's spirit and legacy will always remain a part of Serving Seniors.

I will officially assume the President and CEO role on Friday, May 9th. I could not do so without Paul’s enthusiastic support. His mentorship and encouragement leave me well prepared with our mission firmly at the heart of leadership. All of us at Serving Seniors look forward to an exciting new future based on our unwavering dedication to championing our mission in helping low-income and homeless seniors live healthy and fulfilling lives.