Saratoga News

Planning to retire: Olga MacFarlane

Olga MacFarlane to turn over torch

Mary Richards will step up as new director

By Sarah Lombardo

A changing of the guard is taking place over in the Saratoga Senior Center, as Olga MacFarlane prepares to leave her post as executive director of the Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council, and new director Mary Richards plans to step in.

MacFarlane, who has been the SASCC's only executive director for the past 16 years, announced her retirement in April. Her last day at the SASCC will be June 30.

"I've been upset that I'm leaving, but I know it's the right thing to do, and I'm going to do it," she said.

MacFarlane said she wants to spend more time with her husband, Emery, who is already retired. "I've been working full-time, and sometimes 45 to 60 hours a week is more than I feel I should do. It's time to do some things together."

The Wellesley College and Boston University graduate moved to California in 1958 when Emery went for his doctorate at Stanford University. She was first hired as a coordinator of senior activities on a contractual basis in 1982. When the SASCC decided that it would be beneficial for the nonprofit group to hire an executive director, they gave MacFarlane the nod.

And since then, most seniors and city staffers say, MacFarlane has built the SASCC.

"She has done a great job," Richards said. "She has brought that from the ground up to what it is."

And in straightforward MacFarlane fashion, the East Coast native agrees.

"Yes, that's true," she said. "When we started, we had 200 dues-paying members and no programs or activities. Now, we have a full schedule of programs and more than 1,000 members--and a completely untapped segment of potential members in the area."

And it is that potential that Richards said she is ready to tap into. But first, she said, she must learn the ropes from MacFarlane.

"She has so much in her brain, so much information, it's incredible, so I do wish sometimes that I could just get a disk and download all that information," Richards said.

But Richards, who was hired a year ago to be the director of the senior care center, said she looks forward to using her experience in Saratoga and building on MacFarlane's work with the SASCC.

"A great foundation has been laid by Olga, and I'm excited about picking up where Olga left off," she said. "I'm glad I've had the time with her here that I have."

Richards may still have much to learn about her new role, but MacFarlane said she has learned quite a bit being its executive director--and not just how to manage a nonprofit group.

"I've learned a lot about how to enjoy getting older," she said.

[ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ]