When asked about what they like most about Mallard Landing, most residents reply, “the people.” I’ve interviewed some people who live here — a few for many years, others as new arrivals. They all have interesting stories to tell. Here is one of them.
The farm boy who grew up east of Salisbury graduated from Peabody and Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Then he lived and worked in New York City for ten years, doing a little theater work until he landed a marketing position with Holt Rinehart & Winston, publishers of music textbooks for high schools.
But once a person gets sand in their shoes it’s difficult to stay away from the Eastern Shore, so eventually Roy returned and served for fifteen years as Assistant Director of Marketing and Community Relations at PRMC. our regional 350+bed hospital. He was also in charge of promoting the Chris Thoas Tennis Tournament to raise funds for the Cancer Care Serves at the hospital.
Never one to sit still he later accepted a position at Salisbury University assuming responsibilities for Alumni Relations, their Annual Fund-raising appeal, creating publications and helping to direct Special Events, including SU’s 75th Anniversary celebration in 2000.
Roy moved to Mallard Landing in 2017. Even here he doesn’t relax. He and some other musicians living at Mallard Landing formed a small theater group and, using some talented residents, entertained everyone with such musicals as My Fair Lady, Music Man and other Broadway shows. Calling on his contacts at SU he has introduced a series of lectures from their Lifelong Learning series. One lecture last year was on “What is News and What is Fake News.”
Roy moved to Mallard Landing, as he says, on his own terms, while he was healthy. And since then he has found, as so many others have also discovered, that the social interaction with friendly neighbors helps one to forget one’s own aches and pains. AARP says that people tend to live longer when they are enjoying an active community environment. So, whether he is volunteering as bartender in the Pub, where he sometimes feels like Sam Malone of Cheers; or on the landscaping Committee, helping to restore the peony gardens; or Fire Warden for the three connected condominium buildings, or singing in his church choir, Roy is enjoying life.
"I’ve always said ‘life is better in Salisbury.’ Why? Its residents truly care about the area and get involved to make it a great community. It’s a privilege for me to use my knowledge and experience to help people make the best decisions when it comes to their homes here.” 