by Rachel Tallant
When COVID stopped our world, the club where Rosemary Deery normally swam closed down. As an avid swimmer, Rosemary was determined to keep moving, so she made the switch to HAC. Switching gyms would not only allow her to continue doing what she loves; it would introduce her to a new facet of fitness: land-based workouts.
Rosemary grew up working at her family’s fish market and seafood restaurant in Sea Isle City, NJ. Her father wanted her to become a teacher so that she could work at the family business during the summers, and that’s what she did. She became a 5th-grade teacher and taught for 35 years!
Over 40 years ago, when Rosemary became pregnant, her doctor recommended light exercise. She taught herself to swim and swam regularly from then on. A true water-bug, Rosemary says, “While raising four children and working full time, swimming became a source of relaxation. It provided an opportunity for me to be alone with myself and think—no distractions. It kept me centered.”
Fast forward to 2020, Rosemary and her husband, Gerry, retired, but as we all know, our world turned upside down during COVID. This is especially true for Rosemary and her family. In 2020, their 32-year-old son, who had had type 1 juvenile diabetes all his life, passed away from complications of the disease while living on his own in Philadelphia. “It’s every parent’s worst fear,” Rosemary said, “to receive a phone call delivering terrible news such as this.” Around the same time, Rosemary’s mother was in assisted living. Rosemary and her husband, Gerry, decided to take her home to live with them for her safety and for their peace of mind. She lived with them for 10 months before passing in 2021.
After the deaths of her mother and son, Gerry convinced Rosemary to take up swimming again. He knew exercising was essential to moving through all their grief. Their original club was closed and difficult to get to, so they decided that she should get a membership at the HAC. Even though she had been swimming all her life and had grown up in a beach community, Rosemary decided to take formal swimming lessons with Coach Jack Siebold. “He was like every other teacher that I’ve come across in this facility; he was patient, and he took me from where I was up to where I wanted to be.” Rosemary learned stroke mechanics with Jack and was especially grateful for the care he took to take videos and instruct her on good form.
During HAC’s annual outdoor pool closure in October 2023, Rosemary wasn’t able to swim. Still, she was eager to keep her body moving. “While swimming is a good aerobic exercise and improves breath control, it really didn’t do anything to improve balance or strengthen bones,” Rosemary says. “With age, cholesterol numbers began to creep up, as did the weight, blood pressure, and balance issues—and I realized I needed more.” She took the pool closing as an opportunity to try something new. After reading through some of the descriptions for the classes upstairs, she decided to try Everyday Strength. “I couldn’t do anything. And I felt so old, I felt so out of shape, I felt so overweight. I didn’t feel good about myself, but I kept going because I knew I needed to go.” She continued attending classes and made friends among the attendees. They recommended she take a Barre class on Tuesdays, where she soon met Renee Paoli. Rosemary became a regular on Tuesdays because she enjoyed Renee’s instruction so much. “My husband knew Tuesdays were my best days.”
“Renee creates an atmosphere that makes me feel not only capable but motivated to give it my all.” Rosemary wrote in a staff WOW. Appreciating Renee’s clear instructions and modifications, Rosemary thrived in Barre, feeling more coordinated and athletic than ever.
But her fitness journey didn’t stop in group fitness classes. Her husband, Gerry, came into the club, unbeknownst to Rosemary, and signed her up for Personal Training with Renee as a Christmas present last year. Now working as a team, Renee and Rosemary have made some serious progress working on the sometimes-daunting fitness floor. “I feel more confident out there.” Rosemary says. Since starting training, she has lost 40 pounds, leaving her only two pounds away from her goal of reaching the weight recorded on her driver’s license at 17 years old!
At 73, Rosemary has four grandchildren and is exceptionally active in their lives. With their teenage grandchildren, she and her husband still ride every roller coaster in the park together. Being able to get up and down from the floor to play with the young grandchildren has been incredibly rewarding as well. “It’s fun to be able to keep up with them.” She even still works summers at her family’s restaurant at the Jersey Shore. “I feel blessed to have the strength and agility needed to stand and waitress long hours.” The college students she works with even say to her, “We don’t know how you do it!”
Daily exercise is an essential part of Rosemary and Gerry’s life. They make it a point to exercise every single day. Rosemary is also happy to report that her cholesterol and blood pressure are within normal ranges. She says, “Through my experience, I have learned that when I set my mind to it, become committed, and work hard, I can meet the challenge of accomplishing my realistic goals. I believe this is true of most people. When in doubt, try it! You might surprise yourself.”
Great journey Rosemary.