Thinking about her time at the Boothbay Region YMCA and the Boothbay peninsula, Jeanne Sullivan states that “physically I’m 75 years old, and this is my heartbeat, here at the YMCA.” Jeanne and her husband Sully coincidentally live in the previous Y’s Camp Lodge, which is located on Back Narrows Road. The home was purchased in 1984 by Sully, which has been turned into a beautiful family home (which still has the original stage in the living room), and there are four condos located directly behind it.

Jeanne and Sully joined the Y in 2004 after having been introduced to it by good family friends Beth and David Dudley. Jeanne believes that her motivation to wake up each day and come to the Y was inspired by David. Her reasoning behind this is that if David could get up and come to the Y, so could she. Sadly, David passed away in July of 2020, which was impactful to Jeanne. She said that she will be “forever grateful to both Beth and David for introducing [her] to one of the best YMCAs in the state, if not the nation.”

When Jeanne first joined the Y, the community instantly embraced her and she immediately felt welcomed and that it felt like home. When asked what types of activities she participates in at the Y, she said “Water aerobics! All three instructors are knowledgeable and put 100% of their energy into the workouts they create. Every day is comfortable, happy, and safe, with lots of laughter during class. It’s a great way to start the day, even during a pandemic. The YMCA brings a real sense of camaraderie to those involved.”

Jeanne has always loved the Y. She said that “Andy and the staff have done an amazing job keeping our Y open during the pandemic. Their dedication has brought a smile to our hearts, and without the Y here on the peninsula, the community would not be as healthy as it is.”

When asking friends and our Y staff how they would describe Jeanne; firecracker, gregarious, caring, bubbly and has a twinkle in her eye were some of the first things that came to mind. Her smile lights up the room, and her laughter is contagious.

We want to thank Jeanne for being a part of our Y family!