Resident Spotlight

Helen Suchara

Helen Suchara never thought she would grow to depend on the Internet as much as she does now. It all began when she retired from Wayne State University. She and other retirees were given the opportunity to participate in free classes to learn to use the Internet and e-mail.

The classes, taught by student assistants, provided an interesting dynamic. “We were retired professors being instructed by 18 and 19 year-olds who were a bit fearful of how their instruction would be taken,” said Helen, “We learned a lot from each other.” In fact, one of those student assistants helped Helen purchase her first computer.

Taking those classes has proven to be quite valuable to Helen. As one of ten children with nieces and nephews across the United States as well as in Canada, she has become the unofficial keeper of family information. She receives requests via e-mail for information as simple as an address to more in-depth information about family history.

In addition to communicating with family, she is able to keep in touch with colleagues and students from her time at Wheelock College in Boston and Columbia University in New York as well as those she worked with at Wayne State University.

Now a resident at Fox Manor, Helen remains a member of several committees at Wayne State University as well as the International Institute of Metro Detroit. Her access to e-mail allows her to remain active with these committees, even when she is unable to attend the meetings.

Helen not only uses the Internet to communicate but also to research. When friends doubted that the tracks Helen saw in the snow outside her door were deer tracks she used the Internet to find out what deer tracks looked like and determined that yes, there were in fact deer wandering across Lourdes’ campus.

“It allows you to be part of the total world,” says Helen.

Helen Suchara, 91, has been a
Fox Manor resident since April, 2009.