Henry Koffler
DH
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The Academy Village originated as the dream of Dr. Henry Koffler, a biochemistry scholar and university administrator who now lives in the Village. Throughout his career, he was disturbed by seeing so many individuals "put out to pasture" after retirement. He knew that this practice was not good for the retirees because it limited their ability to fulfill professional and personal creative goals; nor was it good for society as a whole because they could no longer contribute to the common good. In 1978, he began considering the possibility of a living retirement community that would not only meet the physical needs of its members, but also provide the kind of stimulating environment in which residents could lead satisfying, creative, and healthy lives. Furthermore, he anticipated that the residents would provide support for each other as an "extended family" -- supplementing, or in some cases substituting for, the support given by their biological families. More about history
The result is the Academy Village. It is of course a retirement community where people can receive the physical support and care they need in the late stages of their lives, but it is much more. Henry Koffler's dream has indeed come true. People here are active (more about activities), they are involved both in the Village's affairs and in the outside world, they learn, they create, they contribute and, best of all, the extended family is very much here, a network of supporting relationships and institutions whose extent and quality are extremely rare in any retirement setting. More about why we like living here
The complex nature of the Academy Village is reflected in the existence of four different entities that assume the various functions needing to be performed.
(1) The Developer -- This is Doucette Homes, Inc., of Tucson. Doucette manages all real estate sales and builds all Village homes. Website of Developer
(2) The Academy Village Homeowners Association (AVHA)-- This organization receives the monthly homeowner fees and oversees Village operations. It is currently managed by an elected Advisory Board in conjunction with the builder’s representative. Among the services provided by the monthly fees are an extensive wellness program, including a weekly schedule of fitness activities, and a transportation service available Monday through Friday for trips to the store, the doctor, the university, and so forth. The Advisory Board has also established a number of resident committees that sponsor potlucks and catered dinners, arrange social activities and outings to places of interest, supervise the wellness program and organize in-home support for those in need, assist the builder in marketing efforts, and monitor use and care of the space in compliance with Village architectural and landscaping regulations.
(3) The Arizona Senior Academy (ASA) -- It is a non-profit entity whose mission is to provide educational and cultural programs for Academy Village residents and for the broader community as well. It is governed by a board of directors. Dr. Koffler is president of the Academy and he is supported by several member advisory committees. Monthly dues to the Academy pay for the various programs and services offered. More about the ASA
(4) The Academy Village Residents Forum -- The Residents Forum is not a formal organization; it was created and is led by the Advisory Board of the AVHA. Always well-attended, it is an informal meeting held every Sunday afternoon, whose main function is to provide the residents with an opportunity to discuss all issues relating to the governance and the future of the Academy Village, as well as to share information about all aspects of life here. Many new ideas have been spawned in this setting, including the idea for this website.
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Many kinds of people live here, their common bond being their desire to continue using their heads and their hearts in their senior years. We have scientists, astronomers, engineers, writers, philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, teachers, school and college administrators, professors, physicians, lawyers, judges, business leaders, agency administrators, economists, financiers, artists, art historians, theologians, scholars in the humanities, and more. Many of these people have pursued more than one career. Many others have created rich lives for themselves without having a conventional career. Many, when they moved to the Village, started to do the things they had always wanted to do, but never had time for.
There have been rumors that you have to have a Ph.D. in order to live at the Academy Village, or that you have to have an IQ larger than X; one reporter even called us “Einstein Meadows”... None of that is true. All are welcome who think they will enjoy living with people whose interests are focused on using their hearts and minds and on community engagement.
It may cost a little more to live here than it does in an average Tucson retirement community, but we are happy to pay it, considering what we get. We can attend first rate classes, lectures, concerts, and conferences. We have opportunities to make meaningful contributions in the world. Best of all, we can live in a beautiful and nurturing community while we pursue our passions.
The original developer went into receivership in December 2002. This led to a long period of uncertainty during which sales were not possible. As of January 1, 2004, these problems have been solved and the new developer, Doucette Homes, Inc., is putting all its resources into creating a new wave of growth.
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