By Jaimie Julia Winters
For more than half a century, the Henrietta Benstead Senior Center has been much more than a building at 60 Columbia Ave. in Kearny. It has been a second home, a gathering place, and a community where friendships flourish, new passions are forged, and older adults continue to find purpose.
Behind its welcoming doors, members don’t simply attend programs — they help create them.
“We like to give opportunities for our members to learn something new and to help form what we offer here,” said Teddie Jablonski, director of the private Kearny Senior Club, which operates out of the center. Alongside club president Frank Jablonski, she oversees a calendar filled with educational programs, social events, exercise classes, arts activities, concerts, luncheons, bingo, and seasonal parties, and the volunteer opportunities that support those activities.
Although the center sits on land leased from the Town of Kearny, the Kearny Senior Club itself is a private organization run by its members.
That spirit of community ownership stretches back to the center’s earliest days.
A gift that became a legacy
The story begins in 1933, when Horace Benstead and his wife, Jessie, deeded the property to the Township of Kearny to serve as a neighborhood park. Benstead, who had enjoyed considerable success working for the Western Publishing Company — the publisher behind the beloved Little Golden Books — wanted the land preserved for public use.
Years later, however, the park had fallen into disrepair. At the same time, Kearny’s growing senior population had no dedicated gathering place.
A group of concerned residents, including Teddie’s father, proposed building a senior center on the property. Initially disappointed by the condition of the park, Benstead eventually agreed to amend the deed with one request.
“Mr. Benstead said he would have no objection as long as it was named after his mother, Henrietta, who lived down the street,” Frank recalled.
The proposal was placed before Kearny voters, who overwhelmingly approved the project.
What followed became one of the town’s most remarkable examples of grassroots community spirit.
“Every business had a jar on the counter collecting donations,” Teddie said.
Scout troops, women’s organizations, churches, synagogues, civic groups, and countless volunteers joined forces to raise the money needed to build the center without using taxpayer dollars.
“Everything was donated or volunteered,” Teddie said.
“We only paid one contractor,” Frank added with a smile.
When the Henrietta Benstead Senior Center was dedicated in May 1973, it reflected the community that built it. Rather than resembling an institution, the building was designed to feel like a comfortable home, complete with scenic panoramic wallpaper murals designed and made by Paul Montgomery, fireplaces, a full kitchen, and inviting gathering spaces where members could relax together.
After her father passed away, Teddie made it her mission to continue the work he helped begin.
“I wanted to carry on his legacy,” she said.
Adapting through the years
In its early years, the club boasted approximately 1,200 members and even maintained a waiting list.
“It was before people went to retirement communities or Florida to spend their golden years,” Teddie said.
Over the decades, demographics shifted. More older adults remained in the workforce longer. Families relocated. Retirement lifestyles changed.
Membership today stands at approximately 260, with new members joining steadily, about three or four each month. Annual dues remain just , but membership comes with an expectation that extends far beyond paying fees. Residents from other communities are welcome to join.
“We ask everyone to give back,” Teddie explained.
Members volunteer by helping prepare coffee and cake, cleaning the building, serving at events, arranging programs, finding guest speakers, decorating, or lending a hand wherever needed. That philosophy, Teddie and Frank believe, helps members stay engaged while fostering an atmosphere in which everyone has something meaningful to contribute.
More than activities
With three weekly clubs – Monday Club, Thursday Club, and Friday Club (for Spanish-speaking seniors) – the center’s weekly schedule offers something for nearly every interest.
There are exercise classes to keep members active, art classes that encourage creativity, lectures, and interactive “build-your-own” culinary workshops featuring everything from ice cream sundaes and salads to strawberry shortcake.
Musical performances regularly fill the auditorium, while educational presentations introduce members to new ideas and local history.
To celebrate America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, community volunteers dressed as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Paul Revere, and Alexander Hamilton, sharing little-known stories about the nation’s founding.
Fridays feature programming conducted entirely in Spanish, ensuring the center remains welcoming to Kearny’s diverse population.
Each week, Teddie also shares one of her trademark stories.
“Some are true, and some are made up,” she laughed, “but they all have a moral.”
Members can also browse the center’s lending library, attend monthly luncheons, and participate in a caring network that sends cards and checks in on members who become ill.
The building also serves the broader community by hosting cultural events, public gatherings, and organizations such as the Woman’s Club of Arlington’s annual author luncheon.
Friendship that makes the difference
For Frank and Teddie, however, none of those programs is the center’s greatest strength. The true mission is helping people connect. As social isolation becomes an increasing concern for older adults nationwide, the Henrietta Benstead Senior Center offers something that cannot be measured by attendance numbers alone: friendship.
One member, now 90 years old, still volunteers enthusiastically, carrying supplies from the basement, cleaning the kitchen, and helping prepare meals.
“She’s a workhorse,” Teddie said affectionately.
Another member, now 95, is admired for her elegance, curiosity, and endless love of reading.
“She reads three books a week,” Teddie said. “She’s so interesting to talk to. She truly loves people.”
Stories like these illustrate why the center has remained a cornerstone of Kearny life for generations.
“We believe socialization is the most important thing we provide,” Frank said.
By encouraging members to volunteer, participate, and help shape programming, the club gives everyone a reason to stay active, connected, and engaged.
Looking ahead
As the Henrietta Benstead Senior Center continues into its second half-century, Teddie and Frank remain focused on keeping the experience fresh for both longtime members and newcomers.
Their goal is simple.
“To keep it interesting,” Teddie said. “To provide interesting programs for our members.”
Upcoming programs include a Three-Point Santa event in which members are invited to don three things Santa would wear: a beard, rosy cheeks, and a Santa hat. Homemade dessert will be served, and games will be played. Kearny High School Jazz Orchestra and Chorus will also hold a concert there.
Judging by the steady stream of new members walking through the doors each month — and the decades-long friendships that continue to flourish inside — it is a mission that remains as relevant today as when a community came together over 50 years ago to build a home for Kearny’s seniors.