Quick hands and a big heart have made Bob Beasley a man who deserves some recognition at least according to the staff and residents at Ridgewood Lodge. It all started with a chair, a few scratches and an idea. Beasley soon became a solution to a problem.
Since 1991 Anne Culbertson has been packing up her scissors and other essential tools of the trade and travelling up to Ridgewood Lodge to participate in the day of beautification that has made Wednesday a very popular day amongst many grateful residents. “Wednesday is beauty day,” said Culbertson. “It is the day the residents get pampered and they really seem to enjoy it.”
Michele Sutter, secretary of Family and Friends Council at Ridgewood, and chair Sandy Wilson, realized that the beauty chair Culbertson and others use to cut the residents hair in had seen better days and was in fact getting to be in such rough shape that it was constantly pinching and scraping at the occupants necks and legs where the upholstery had cracked and worn out. “I looked into purchasing a new one,” said Sutter, “but a whole new chair is not cheap and that’s when Annie said that there was nothing wrong with the existing chair that it just needed a make-over and I decided to give Bob’s Upholstery business a call.
“Bob didn’t just answer his phone,” Sutter continued. “He came right up and checked out the chair and agreed to do the reupholstering and offered to do it all for free,” said a delighted Sutter. “He came last Wednesday after beauty day was over and picked up the chair and brought it back on Friday all done.”
Beasley has been in the upholstering business for 50 years where he owned his own business in Duncan for many of them. He moved to Princeton three and a half years ago to slow down and said the transition has been a bit challenging. “I have been pretty busy,” he said. “I am not doing nearly as many boats here, but I have done lots of furniture and some classic cars and such.”
“When I called Bob,” Sutter stated, “I was just looking for a quote and we are just so totally grateful that he did this for us for nothing. It was very generous of him and means a lot to the residents to have a nice comfortable chair again. Bob was quick and has been really kind to do this. He is playing an active role in our community and deserves a big thank-you for donating his services to our seniors.”