For many years, Meindert and Evelyn Bosch welcomed friends and family into their home for morning coffee and conversation. When they later called Clermont Park home, the Health Suites entrance patio became another cherished place to gather.
Their daughter, Luci Draayer, remembers spending time there with her parents. Inspired by those memories, Luci, her husband, Tom, and their family made a generous gift to purchase new furniture for the patio. Clermont Park team member Ralston Fuhriman helped envision what the space needed and added fall mums to welcome visitors.
On September 18, 2026, the Clermont Park team gathered on the patio for coffee, donuts, and a blessing. Luci and Tom could not join us, so Stephanie Manley, Director of Philanthropy at Christian Living Communities, shared the family story behind their gift. A team member also spoke fondly of caring for Evelyn and the joy she brought to so many, especially her beloved Meindert.
Chaplain Cheryl Meakins invited us to see the patio in a new way. In her blessing, she described it as “a place of transition” for people arriving at the Health Suites, returning home after rehabilitation or leaving Clermont Park for a hospital. It is a passageway, she said, but also “an invitation to linger.”
Those words capture the hope behind the family’s gift. A comfortable chair can offer someone a moment to catch their breath. A welcoming place to sit can make room for a conversation, a shared memory or a quiet moment together.
The Bosch’s ties to Clermont Park run deep. Meindert was instrumental in the founding of Clermont Park 54 years ago, when he served as the CEO of the Bethesda Hospital which sold the five acres Clermont Park sits on to Christian Living Communities. In a way, this gesture of comfort to others is exactly the legacy the Bosch’s put in place so many years ago.
Cheryl blessed the patio as a place of joy, peace, rest, and welcome, and as a place that could gently hold sorrow. Her words recognized the many experiences residents, families, and team members bring with them when they pass through the Health Suites entrance.
Christine Beson, Clermont Park’s Executive Director, shared, “It’s a blessing to the community to have a fresh space where residents, family, and friends can gather. It’s as place to build connections today, tomorrow, and for years to come. We are grateful for the generosity that made this possible.”
We are deeply grateful to the Bosch and Draayer families for carrying a cherished family tradition forward. Their generosity has created a place where others can pause, connect and make memories of their own.
