Winter is here and planning is underway for our Spring 2021 semester as we dream of sunnier days to come! Classes will again follow our traditional 10-week format beginning Monday, March 1. Forever is planning to host an all-Zoom semester this spring, but as our community becomes vaccinated, we are ready to pivot to in-person classes as soon as we can do so in a safe environment. Like other area non-profits, Forever has counted on the generosity of our students, volunteers, and community friends for financial support this year. We have received an outpouring of support and have been able to continue offering programming and remain strong as we move through this difficult period. Our Board of Directors has determined the necessity of increasing tuition to $55.00 per course beginning Spring 2021. Amazingly, this is the first tuition increase Forever has instituted since 2006. As always, scholarships are available as we strive to meet the needs of all our students regardless of their ability to pay. We anticipate posting our Spring 2021 catalog of classes on our CourseStorm registration portal on January 25. Registrations will be conducted online. As always, please watch our website and Facebook pages for timely information. If you are not receiving our monthly eNewsletter, you may sign up by submitting the form on this page.
The Psychology Department at the University of Notre Dame is seeking research volunteers in their Memory, Aging and Cognition Laboratory. Dates and times for participating are flexible. If you would like to take part or receive further information about our studies, please call or email us at: Email: koenlab@nd.edu or Phone: (574) 634-0264
On January 15, 2020, St. Joseph County was officially accepted into AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. In doing so, the Board of Commissioners committed to working toward improving the quality of life for all residents, regardless of age. The county is now conducting a survey to gather community input on several key service areas: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, work and civic engagement, communication and information, and community and health services. Any county resident over the age of 45 can participate. The responses will assist community leaders identify areas that need improvement and develop a plan to address those areas. Please complete the survey by using the provided link.
We know that many of our students are eagerly awaiting our fall 2020 session! Course Guides will be mailed at the end of July. We will be offering 40 courses this semester however, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Forever Learning Institute courses will be offered in an e-learning only format, with the exception of our walking program at St. Joseph County Parks. Students are encouraged to download Zoom and familiarize themselves to the application prior to the start of classes. If you need assistance with this, please contact director@foreverlearninginstitute.org or call the office to schedule a meeting time and we will help you get started. Once you register for your class, you will receive a Zoom invitation that you can use each week to meet your instructor and fellow students in a virtual classroom setting. A pdf of the Course Guide is available in the tab marked Forever Classes. All courses will be available for online registration beginning August 17.
What is Bendable? Administered by the St. Joseph County Public Library, Bendable is a community-based lifelong learning system. It allows residents of all ages and backgrounds to easily acquire new knowledge and skills through online courses as well as in-person learning opportunities. Bendable promises to forge a “city of lifelong learning,” making South Bend more resilient in the face of a fast-changing economy. To sign up, please go to bendable.com. All you need is a library card to access learning opportunities throughout Michiana.
Silvertones soprano, Gloria Campanale, passed away at age 92 on Wednesday, January 29. Gloria took great joy in singing with the Silvertones and her smile will be greatly missed. Please see her full obituary by clicking on her name above.
Forever Learning was saddened to learn of the passing of former Executive Director and volunteer, Sister Mary Edith. The following notice was posted on the Sisters of the Holy Cross website: https://www.cscsisters.org/in-loving-memory-sister-mary-edith-daley/
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Fr. Bill Neidhart, C.S.C., beloved priest and friend of Forever Learning Institute, teaching here for many years. Fr. Bill passed away on Wednesday, January 22. A 7:30 p.m. Vigil Service is planned for Tuesday, January 28 at Moreau Seminary. His Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, January 29 at 3:30 p.m. at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
Forever Learning is currently seeking instructors for our spring semester specifically in Creative Writing, Keyboarding, Zumba, Meditation/Eastern Spirituality and Meteorology and Climatology. Interested individuals may complete the volunteer instructor application available for download under the Support Us/ Volunteer at Forever tab.
Forever Learning Institute is the honored recipient of the South Bend Alumni Association Distinguished Community Service Award. The annual Hall of Fame award ceremony took place on November 15, 2018. Forever Learning was chosen for the honor in recognition of the important opportunities for service the school has provided to the Michiana community.
Forever Learning's Board of Directors has decided to commit an endowment to the Community Foundation of St Joseph County, creating a fund that will continue to support Forever Learning, as well as other nonprofits throughout the county. The Community Foundation continually invests gifts they receive from individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life for all the county's citizens.
Longtime Forever Learning Institute instructor, William Brady, has passed away. We have reprinted his obituary here. William E. Brady June 8, 1926 - Sept. 10, 2018 SOUTH BEND, IN - William Edgar Brady, 92, of South Bend died peacefully Monday, September 10 in his residence, surrounded by his loving family.
What do Sherlock Holmes and gestalt theory have in common? Quite a bit, according to Michael J. Crowe, Ph.D., Sherlock Holmes devotee and Forever Learning Institute instructor.
We are sad to announce the passing of Anthony 'Tony' Peligrino, 85, an instructor at Forever Learning. Tony taught basic Spanish and is remembered fondly by his many students. Tony was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in South Bend. Anthony Peligrino was born Dec 19, 1932 and passed away on Mar 10, 2018. Memorial Celebration of his life will be on Friday, March 23, 2018 11 am at St. Augustine Church in South San Francisco, California.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mary Sue Freitag, our friend, student and instructor. Mary Sue Freitag went to be with her darling daughter Suzanne. She passed away at the St. Joseph Medical Center on Monday morning February 19, 2018 with her family by her side. She was born to Edward and Eva (Hawkins) Zatarga on November 17th, 1940 at South Bend Memorial Epworth. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Elizabeth Huston and her daughter Suzanne Beth Freitag. On May 14, 1966 Mary Sue married Ronald Freitag at St. Patrick’s Church in South Bend. She was beloved mother to Christopher Anthony and Suzanne Beth. She made it a point to introduce her children to various cultural activities, hoping that they, too, would share in her love of the arts.
The amazing amount of research that we see every day supporting the need for programs such as Forever Learning Institute is staggering. It seems that what we knew intuitively is now attracting the attention of psychologists and sociologists. According to a recent article published in The Caregiver Space, scientists believe that simply conversing with friends and family can stimulate the brain to form new connections. If that's true, image what learning a new skill or debating a philosophical position could do!
Though it didn't make the Course Guide, Jim Turnbo will be returning to Forever Learning this spring with his Aging Gracefully through Balanced Exercise and Nutrition on Mondays. This class will cover ten points to living a long, healthy, and active life. The course is interactive, with both lecture and application periods. As the course finishes, each individual will be armed with the tools to keep them healthy until they take their last breath. As a student, you’ll have a completed workbook for reference to use whenever you want.
Ron Molenda, a former Forever Learning Institute board and longtime member of the Polonaise Club, has published a novel “The Polish Architect: A Family’s Plan that Falls Apart then Succeeds.” The book was published last fall and is available at the Notre Dame Bookstore and through Amazon.com. The historical fiction is set in World War ll and tells the tale of a family separated between the U.S. and Poland for the duration of the war.
With great sadness, we announce the passing of long time Forever Learning Instructor, Jim Fischoff. Jim taught our Sit and Be Fit classes at the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley. James R. Fischoff, 76, passed away unexpectedly at 8:43 am Sunday at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka.
The Universe, will be offered this winter at the Jewish Federation on Mondays 10-11:20 a.m. January 15, 22, 29 and February 5, 12, and 19. Taught by Dr. James Powell, the classes cover The Ancient Universe, Astronomy and Telescopes, The Cosmos, The Galaxies and Stars, The Solar System and Planets, and The Earth. The presentations require little or no prior scientific knowledge. Students may download the Winter Registration Form and note the class title.