Activist for seniors leaves Sisters

Howard Den Hartog's saga will be taking place in a new location as he and his wife Esther pull out of town to move to Pasadena, California.

But parts of his story in Sisters will continue to be told. Den Hartog has spent the past eight years volunteering with many local groups such as Kiwanis, the SMART reading program at Sisters Elementary School, the Ecumenical Ministries at Sisters Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration and the Community Action Team of Sisters.

But his involvement with the seniors of Sisters may be remembered the most.

"He's the force behind the development of the senior council," Mary Ellen Kollodge said at the recent Central Oregon Council on Aging (COCOA) senior barbecue.

Kollodge is vice president of the Sisters senior council and will take the presidential reins from Den Hartog until elections take place in December. Kollodge and former and new board members were to present Den Hartog with a plaque to thank him for his hard work at a senior lunch on Tuesday, August 25.

"We're sorry to see him go," said Steven Guzauskis, former Sisters site coordinator for COCOA.

Guzauskis said Den Hartog could always be relied upon and as a result the senior programs and activities in Sisters have grown.

"Although it is great for seniors in Sisters, he has done his levelheaded best to make it even better," Guzauskis said.

Kollodge said the former high school teacher singlehandedly raised funds for a 2007 feasibility study to see if the community was interested in a senior/community center. Den Hartog said he was able to raise $14,000 from several organizations, including the City of Sisters, Deschutes County, Kiwanis Club and the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, among others.

The study, which was conducted by Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, showed that the community didn't have an interest at that time for a center.

"It was a challenge. Our main emphasis when we got organized was to raise money for a senior center in Sisters," said Den Hartog. "All of the rest of the communities (in Central Oregon) have a senior center."

That didn't stop Den Hartog from keeping the nonprofit senior council together. The group elected officers, established $12 yearly dues and continues to share and develop ideas about speakers and activities for seniors.

One such idea was to host a play day at the Ray's Food Place community room. Seniors can meet with friends to play board games or cards or just chat on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Seniors also have a walking group on Fridays and play bingo after lunch on Tuesdays.

Dues are used to pay for decorations for the Tuesday luncheons, birthday cards for seniors, speakers and activities.

The council, which has four officers and three board members, meets the first Tuesday of the month at 11 a.m. at Sisters Community Church, which is the site for the weekly senior meals. Meetings are open to any senior.

Den Hartog's work with the council and his other volunteer interests has given him the chance to make good friends with his peers and with businesspeople in town.

"I'll miss the small town atmosphere," he said. "I was born in a rural town in Iowa. I'll miss the personal friends I've made."

Oftentimes, Den Hartog brought business owners his homemade cookies to show his appreciation. He said he enjoys cooking and baking and has manned the grill for several years at the annual senior barbecue. He missed this year's event, but did stop by to say hello to friends and have a picture taken before he and his wife of 51 years left to visit a daughter in Washington.

The Hartogs will be relocating to a retirement facility not far from another daughter. They will be able to have meals made for them in the dining room and be involved in numerous activities.

"Another chapter is going to take place," Howard said.