Sr. Mavi Coakley
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In 1994, Sister Margaret “Mavi” Coakley, then 73, thought she’d like to
work with a social service organization in New York City that assists
elderly people who have few resources. But she doubted her
qualifications.
Six years later, Sister Mavi is the recipient of a “Not the
Retiring Type” award given by New York City’s Department for the Aging
to senior citizens who make exceptional contributions to the city’s
population.
According to Dominican Sister Lillian McNamara,
director of Encore Senior Services for the past 25 years, Sister Mavi,
in fact, brought an impressive resume with her when she applied. She
had served as a teacher, school administrator and counselor and as
director of a communications center in Washington D.C. She had directed
education programs for women living in underdeveloped countries and had
helped to organize an international conference to promote ecumenical
dialogue.
Although she had never worked directly with a
senior population – Sister Mavi’s concern when she applied – her
background and references showed her to be a person “of incredible
commitment, talent, stamina and experience,” Sister McNamara said.
Since
taking on the role of an Escort Coordinator for Encore, accompanying
seniors to medical appointments and other places they need to go, she’s
proven that “her energy is relentless,” Sister McNamara wrote in a
letter recommending Sister Mavi for the award. She’s helped develop a
corps of volunteers who visit former Encore clients in nursing homes,
organized exercise programs and served as Encore’s photographer.
Even
beyond her other qualifications, she has “that special quality” the
organization looks for: an attitude, or manner, “that will …
demonstrate to our seniors, even without words, just what they mean to
us,” Sister McNamara wrote.
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