27 minute read
VOWS
VICTORIA SATENIG PAPALIAN & WILLIAM LEOPOLD ROSS
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by alison nichols gray
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1 Victoria and William 2 Cake by Lilac Pâtisserie 3 The newlyweds with their fur baby Moseley 4 Jimmy Lee, Alper and Sedef Tekin, Adam Williams 5 Flowers by The Hidden Garden, vision by Bella Vita Events 6 The bride’s dad, Richard Papalian, and William celebrating with Champagne 7 A packed dance floor 8 Victoria with her mom, Dawn Papalian Sometimes mixing business with pleasure can be a good thing. Victoria and William met while working at IBM in New York City. The two were placed on a project together for a few weeks, but when the project wrapped, they switched gears and began dating. Four years later they got engaged over Fourth of July weekend in Sun Valley, Idaho. As they reached the summit of their hike, William proposed.
Jeffrey Frenster, the bride’s father cousin, officiated at the ceremony at the Ojai Valley Inn in California where the reception followed. A highlight of the evening for the couple was standing on the stage with the band at the end of the night and looking out at all of the friends and family who had gathered to celebrate their union.
The bride, daughter of Richard and Dawn Papalian of Greenwich, graduated from Windward School, Barnard College and Columbia University. Victoria is currently studying at Harvard Business School.
The groom, son of Ian Ross and Catherine Pitfield of Pasadena, graduated from St. Francis High School, Tufts University and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. William is the CEO of Federato in Boston.
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CAROLINE FRANCESCA LAZAR & ANTHONY RUDY SEGNA
Caroline and Anthony worked two blocks from each other in Midtown Manhattan and lived nine blocks from each other on the Upper West Side, yet it took the power of the internet (Hinge) to bring them together.
The pair went on their first date during the pandemic in the summer of 2020 and were engaged within a few months. (When you know, you know!) Anthony proposed in a private barn at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, New York, followed by a gathering of both of their families at Caroline’s sister’s home in Greenwich.
Father Ciprian Bejan officiated at the ceremony at Saint Mary Church on Greenwich Avenue. A reception followed at Burning Tree Country Club. Some special highlights for the couple include their first dance to “Sweet Thing” by Van Morrison, the moving speeches given by the bride’s father Andrew Lazar, best man Robert Shaw and maid of honor Olivia Lazar. The high-energy Big Woozy Band had every guest on the dance floor.
The bride, daughter of Andrew and Christine Lazar of Greenwich, graduated from Greenwich High School and Connecticut College. Caroline is a comedy writer for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in Manhattan. (Fun fact: The bride was a 2011 greenwich magazine “Teen to Watch.”)
The groom, son of Dr. Rudy Segna and Mrs. Aracelly Segna of New Jersey, graduated from Don Bosco Preparatory High School, Columbia University and the University of Notre Dame. Anthony is a vice president of Wealth Management Legal at Morgan Stanley in Manhattan.
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1 Jonathan, Andrew and Christine Lazar with the bride’s niece Evangeline Jacobs, Anthony and Caroline, the bride’s grandparents Carol and John Febles, Samuelle and Jesse Jacobs, Olivia Lazar 2 Steve Bielecki, Jonathan Bochicchio, Alexander Lee, Christopher Tazzi, Robert Shaw, Anthony, Andrew Segna, Jonathan Lazar, Joe Schuessler, Daniel Korenstein 3 Saint Mary Church 4 Maddie Febles, Olivia Lazar, Caroline, Alison Rice, Alexa Segna, Leah Mendelson 5 A timeless shot 6 Anthony held high by his best man Robert Shaw and Michael Lock 7 The Segnas
by mary kate hogan photography by durston saylor flowers by green of greenwich second Nature
This ultimate dream home embodies design ingenuity, inspires a natural connection and—simply put—wows visitors
Set on a peninsula, Rich and Jill Granoff’s new home has 270-degree water views. At the edge of the back lawn, a Joseph McDonnell sculpture looks like a natural element against the seagrass backdrop. Outdoor seating and chaises from Kettal in Spain create a sleek and comfortable living area on the patio.
Perched about fifty feet from the north shore of Greenwich Cove, a nest rests on top of a wooden piling, the sun gleaming on the water below it. “The ospreys are back!” Rich Granoff says on a wind-whipped afternoon in early spring, pointing to the birds’ jumble-of-sticks abode while giving a tour of his new modern glass-and-steel house. “We’re learning a lot about nature while living here,” he says, explaining that ospreys mate for life.
The birds in question fly all the way to South America every fall, leaving on the autumnal equinox for this remarkable migration and then returning to the same nest on the spring equinox to spend the warmer months here on the tidal waters of Connecticut.
For the Granoffs, a highly successful architect and his equally successful wife, Jill, who’s managing partner and CEO of brands for Eurazeo, the design for their dream house was focused on enjoying the beauty of the natural habitat and vistas of Long Island Sound. In fact, their house, called Osprey Point, sits on a peninsula in Old Greenwich with 270-degree water views, the Throgs Neck Bridge in sight on a clear day. “We both grew up on the beach and we’ve always wanted to live on the water,” says Jill. She and Rich were high school sweethearts in Long Island before they married and settled in Greenwich at a house in mid-country where they raised their two boys.
When the couple was finally ready to build the waterfront home they had long talked about, these avid travelers considered the Hamptons, Hudson River towns, even Turks and Caicos. The Granoffs have visited coastlines and islands around the globe, from South Africa to The Maldives, possessing a world’s-your-oyster sense of adventure. Before they settled on building in town, friends took Rich and Jill out kayaking one summer afternoon on Greenwich Cove and, Rich says, “We both had an A-ha moment.” They realized, “Why do we need to build a waterfront home someplace else?” says Jill. “Why not build it right here in Greenwich?”
Like the loyal ospreys, they stayed in town where they’ve had roots for decades, building a business and close friendships. Today it’s clear that they picked precisely the right location, as they are loving the
this page: At the home’s entrance, a Joseph McDonnell sculpture and Markus Linnenbrink painting welcome guests and introduce the artful interiors. opposite page: A floating staircase winds around a glass elevator, which moves opposite a thirty-five-foot glass wall decked in a curtain of metal beads designed to let in light but also afford privacy. A Hugo McCloud painting adds drama to the stairwell.
this page: The home’s warm, modern style plays out in comfort with French and Italian furniture: sofas by Roche Bobois, B&B Italia chairs and a Poliform coffee table. Great-room living is at the heart of this house with an open kitchen, dining and living area for casual entertaining and family time. opposite page: The wine wall stores 1,000-plus bottles, including special Barolos from a recent trip to Italy’s Piemonte region.
sunsets and the “OG vibe.” Rich says with a laugh, “We turn the corner to Binney Park, and my blood pressure goes down.”
DESIGNING A DREAM So much planning goes into the design of a modern house—even more so when the house in question needs to be constructed on the water’s edge, in a flood plain, using green design, making the most of 270degree views, with an obscene amount of glass, yet able to display a collection of museum-quality art. Rich, who has grown his architectural firm to thirty employees, is accustomed to meeting his clients’ demands and playing psychologist to assess what couples really want in a house. But in this case, he and his wife were the clients, the couple with the wish list.
They worked together to make it a win-win. She got the gorgeous office and dream closet. “Want to see the reason we built this house?“ Rich says, joking with Jill as he opens the door to her impeccable closet with a window overlooking the Cove—a closet befitting a top fashion executive. He got his gym and wine wall.
Even with their very busy professional, social and
above: While much of the decorating is left to Mother Nature, the fireplace with Turkish marble surround is a focal point in the great room.
family lives, Rich and Jill did all of the interior design work themselves. “The selection, the color palette, the materials—and a lot of it was done during Covid,” Jill says, scrolling on her iPhone to show a photo of them standing by a giant slab of Brazilian stone.
It’s a very international house. The kitchen is German, the flooring is Canadian, most of the furniture is Italian and French, the siding is Austrian, the glass is all from Poland and the design process began during a family trip to Iceland. Their offer on the property had just been accepted, and their elder son, Jake, who’s also an architect, got involved. “I was on a plane thinking about the project and doing some sketching. Jake said, ‘let’s work on this together,’” says Rich. “He did the initial CAD [computer-aided design] work and 3D modeling of what was in my head.”
While in Iceland, the whole family was inspired by the simplicity of the modernist architecture, windows everywhere to let in maximum light and capitalize on views of the landscape and the buildings clad in materials designed to survive the harsh climate. Rich knew that his own house needed to be tough enough to endure the elements of wind and water, too. Back at home, he decided the house should be raised twice as high as required for the flood plain. This opened up a covered patio underneath and views to the water from the moment you drive up.
He chose to side the house in a material called Oko Skin, a cement-like cladding made to last for decades; the railings are stainless steel and the decking is porcelain tile for a virtually maintenance-free house. Glass was the most challenging material to source, as he had spec’d windows so oversized they were “bordering on the unheard of,” Rich says. Throughout the home there is minimal trim, which means everything must be very precise. Rich is quick to credit his friend and construction manager Greg Silver, who was in charge of the day-to-day site work. “We built the house together,” he says, and Greg helped to ensure that high level of craftsmanship.
Rich has long advocated for green design—he’s driven a Tesla for ten years and had solar on his previous house for fifteen—and Osprey Point’s design follows his penchant for sustainability. About
above: Bulthap cabinetry creates a seamless, subtle look in the kitchen. Adjacent to the kitchen there’s a built-in reading nook—a favorite spot for Jill.
half of the home’s electricity comes from the 12kW photovoltaic solar system on the roof. Two Tesla Powerwalls store electricity generated by the rooftop solar, and EV chargers keep the cars running strong. Radiant heating throughout the house is also greener than a conventional system. Forty-three electric shades on the oversized windows go up and down automatically with the sun.
These shades, as well as the lighting, heating, music and more, can be controlled from an iPhone, thanks to smart-house technology. “You can change scenes, press party mode or late-night mode and the lights all dim,” Rich says. In the primary bedroom, which like the rest of the house is walled by windows, there was no room for a TV. So Rich planned for a projection screen that comes down from the ceiling when they want to watch. “He thinks of everything,” says Jill.
MODERN LIVING As much as Rich is enthused by the technical aspects of the house, he and Jill light up even more when talking about the aesthetics of the place, the incredible light coming from the windows, the warm palette, their art and how much the open-living plan suits their dayto-day lives. Just about every square inch of the house is custom in a space that’s primed for family time and entertaining.
The visually appealing yet functional design becomes apparent the moment you walk in the door, greeted by a colorful painting by Markus Linnenbrink, a sculpture by Jim Dine and a glass elevator set between stairs, a feature inspired by French hotels but installed also for practicality. “There are three reasons for the elevator,” Rich explains. “Luggage after trips—we travel a lot, Jill’s mom … and wine,” he says, laughing. A self-proclaimed “wine guy,” he and Jill have traveled to many vineyards and collected special vintages over the years. One flight up those rift-cut-oak “floating” stairs, a custom refrigerated, humidity-controlled wine wall houses nearly 1,000 bottles. Walking past the wine wall, you enter the great room, the open-concept hub of the home.
That great room’s back wall consists of “wrap-around” windows— four sets of twelve-foot sliding glass doors and six-foot windows on the adjacent walls, for the ultimate panoramic views. At
right: Jill’s expansive office with wrap-around windows also contains beautiful built-ins to display the family’s collection of art books. below: Saarinen womb chairs are serene seats for taking calls and taking in the views.
its center, the room is anchored by a chic custom round table Rich designed, made of Brazilian marble with a built-in Lazy Susan in the middle. “It’s perfect for ten people at a wine dinner,” says Rich, who likes to host and cook dinners centered around a particular type of wine. He’ll set out the bottles on the Lazy Susan for guests to enjoy. “I start with the type of wine and match the food. If it’s a California Cab dinner, I might do grilled steaks.” He’s also invited local chefs to come to the house to cook, recently hosting Rui Correia from Douro to prepare the meal for a Portuguese wine dinner.
The kitchen, which occupies one side of the great room, is so seamless, understated and clutter-free that you almost don’t notice for a moment that it’s a kitchen. Cabinetry is mostly hardware-free from German-maker Bulthaup, which Rich describes as “the Rolls Royce of cabinetry”; a waterfall island is topped in Brazilian quartz. Next to the kitchen, there’s a built-in window seat that Jill specially requested, a perch where she can sit and read emails while taking in the view.
And yet, there’s hardly a spot in the house that doesn’t face the water. On the other side of the great room, luxurious Italian sofas and chairs face a large fireplace with a Turkish marble surround, but almost every seat also looks out at the water. “I love how the light pours
above: An inspired space to work out, the home gym houses a Peloton (Rich loves to cycle), museum-quality art and an infrared sauna.
into every room through oversized glass doors and windows to enable us to take full advantage of the incredible views,” says Jill. “I also love the warm modern style of our house. It’s clean yet inviting.”
On Mondays and Fridays Jill works from home, and she does so from a beautiful light-filled office, which can double as a guest bedroom. She enjoys the privacy and serenity of the office, taking calls in the Saarinen Womb chair while watching the tidal waters and bird activity. Like other spaces in the home, it features wraparound windows and built-ins that house their collection of art books.
STATE OF THE ART The Granoffs have been collecting art together for thirty-five years, and the fact that their house doubles as a gallery makes the home more fascinating and personal. “The house is not only maximizing the scenery, but also our love of contemporary art,” says Jill. “Each piece has a story behind it,” says Rich. “Each piece is a part of the family.” In a home with this many windows, there’s not as much wall space for hanging. So, the couple created an art plan (carefully measuring each piece they own) in conjunction with the architectural plans to ensure that each work of art would have a proper home. Rich would have lighting installed to highlight every piece.
Following the plan, art can be found everywhere—a Roy Lichtenstein in the master bathroom, Hans Hoffman in the kitchen and even the gym equipment shares space with a Calder. Their most recent acquisition was a Jasper Johns painting, purchased with help from Lee Weber of Weber Fine Art. They also acquired a large black Hugo McCloud painting to take a prominent space above the stairs as you walk up to the main living floor. Rich explains that they typically buy one or two pieces a year and that the collection has been gathered organically, simply choosing artists and art that they love. They have never sold a single piece.
The second floor landing acts as a mini-photography gallery; they took all of the photography, which was spread out around their previous home, and brought it together, including works by Sebastia Salgado, Ansel Adams and Edward Weston. A hallway displays a curated grouping of family photos, taken by Monica Rich Kosann, some from a tender time when the boys were little. Photography has special meaning for this highly visual family as Jill’s father was a photographer and their younger son, Noah, has taken up photography with a passion. »
above: In the master bath an MTI Alise soaking tub is surrounded by Calacata Arabesqua marble. The room is illuminated by ample natural light and a Louis Poulsen light fixture; art by Roy Lichtenstein completes the space. below: A view of the house from Greenwich Cove
The powder room’s back wall is covered in a glass tile by Oceanside Tile that’s grouted in metallic for a touch of shine. • Jill and Rich in the Great Room at Osprey Point, sitting in front of a painting by Wolf Kahn
FULL NEST Though the Granoffs may technically be empty nesters, there’s no shortage of nesting going on at Osprey Point as the couple is taking full advantage of their new place, hosting friends and family, enjoying their art, kayaking, boating, taking in the serene natural setting. Though they’re always traveling, this summer, they say, they’re thinking maybe let’s stay here.
Is there anything they would change about Osprey Point? Not at all, but they are planning to put in a pool. They love the energy of life on the water, as Rich describes it: “Besides the water, it’s also nature, the birds, the action on the water, boats, swimmers, people and their dogs on paddleboards coming by.” He likes being able to hop into a kayak and go out paddling any time he wants. Having a pool will add just one more dimension to the waterfront activity.
“This is the perfect empty nester house, but also a place where the kids can come back. Grandkids can be here. That’s one of the reasons we want a pool. So the kids and grandkids come here,” Jill says, thinking, like all moms of adult children do, of future grandbabies. “What grandkids?” Rich says, laughing. While they’re waiting, they can watch the ospreys hatch babies right outside their windows.
In the meantime they are planning an engagement party at the house this summer for their son Jake and his fiancée. The indooroutdoor living set up and the location make this an ideal spot to celebrate. After more than a year of living in the house, it still feels like a pinch-me moment. Rich says, “We wake up every day and say, can you believe we live here?” G
Our area senior centers offer a variety of services to encourage active and healthy lifestyles.
by scott thomas
Pivots and upgrades for SENIOR LIVING today
There is always the requirement for companies to pivot quickly, efficiently and intelligently. But in the past two years, few businesses faced more challenges than senior living facilities.
Leaders in the industry had to innovate in a 24/7/365 setting, all while considering life-ordeath consequences for our most vulnerable population. Facilities in our area navigated the pandemic and today continue to innovate in order to offer seniors the very best care possible. Here is a look at some of what is new. »
top: The indoor pool allows for year-round aqua fitness • Residents enjoy an upscale environment. bottom: Elizabeth Dupree, director of sales and marketing • The garden for socializing; the residence has classes in art, technology and fitness, including walking, water aerobics, yoga, meditation and more.
ATRIA STAMFORD & DARIEN
top: Atria Stamford's beautiful garden courtyard • The living room and kitchenette of a two-bedroom apartment at Atria Stamford bottom: The lush courtyard and exterior reveal the classic New England feel at Atria Darien • The cheerful living room at Atria Darien
WHAT’S NEW
New facilities have popped up around the region, and others have made significant investments. One of those is Nathaniel Witherell, a not-for-profit owned and operated by the Town of Greenwich since 1903.
Nathaniel Witherell is in the planning stages of building an on-site hemodialysis unit, which will serve residents in their own homes. “It will save residents from the tediousness and exhaustion of having to travel roundtrip to off-site dialysis,’’ said John Mastronardi, executive director.
Recent remodeling activity that has been completed or planned include freshly painted rooms, new furnishings, wall-mounted smart TVs and design element upgrades.
Stamford welcomed a new facility with the recent opening of Waterstone on High Ridge. The facility offers 146 units with options for assisted living, independent living and memory care. It is located on the former General Electric campus on High Ridge Road, near both the Merritt Parkway and downtown.
Waterstone residents have access to a gym with a personal trainer, an indoor pool, and community-based activities to encourage socializing and friendship.
One important distinction is that Waterstone does not require a buy-in fee. “In our part of the country, it’s not uncommon to see a $1 million entry fee, and people are tying up a significant portion of their nest egg,’’ says Larry Gerber, CEO of EPOCH Senior Living, which runs thirteen facilities in the Northeast (with three under development) and created this facility.
Other facilities have focused on renovations. Atria Stamford saw a total community renovation that now includes
spacious apartments with upgraded kitchenettes, large closets and bathrooms. It offers a twenty-four-hour concierge service to assist residents. It also added a bistro for coffee, sandwiches, salads and pizza. A new theater room shows movies, streams educational seminars and hosts lectures and cultural programs. And a new garden lounge serves as a pub for cocktails later in the day.
“We’ve added a secluded and tranquil outdoor patio with a vegetable garden, colorful flowers, water fountains and a koi pond,’’ says Jason Shott, regional vice president of Atria Senior Living.
“This space is a great place to walk, sit and relax, and it also serves as our weekly dance party place. We expanded our Life Guidance neighborhood [specialized services for those with Alzheimer’s, dementia or other memory impairment], to accommodate those who need additional memory-care support. In doing so, we took into consideration the important features of properly caring and engaging residents who need additional support in their day.”
Atria Darien upgraded its Wi-Fi capability throughout the building and opened a coffee bar within the bistro.
Edgehill, a longtime part of the Stamford and Greenwich communities, went through a $21 million renovation project five years ago. Another refresh is in the works with new independent living apartments, private rooms and expanded memory care services.
Meadow Ridge in Redding is also making big changes. The facility now includes a dedicated memory care neighborhood, pickleball courts, dog park, casual dining bistro, pitching green for golf and updated gym equipment.
“One of the changes in recent years has been creating spaces dedicated to memory care,’’ says Ann Sertl, director of marketing for Meadow Ridge. “We recognized the need to have an area specifically for memory care.” »
WATERSTONE ON HIGH RIDGE
top: A modern farmhouse-designed bedroom in the new development, Waterstone on High Ridge by EPOCH, for ages sixty-two and up • The Great Room encourages socializing, with a cozy fireplace, chess set, plenty of books and comfortable places to read and write, enjoy a quiet conversation or work on a hobby. bottom: The hotel-like entrance
NATHANIEL WITHERELL
top: One-on-one care • Music therapy • bottom: The entrance surrounded by outdoor spaces, seating areas and gardens • The Witherell Café
top: A warm and welcoming living space at Meadow Ridge • The exterior, which shows the balconies and countryside view bottom: Ann Sertl, senior director of community relations • The lovely atrium for comfortable socializing
CHANGES
Nathaniel Witherell has established a care network built on partnerships with other healthcare organizations. Mastronardi says it has partnered with Urgent Care, Home Health Care, Hospital at Home, Skilled Nursing Care at Home, Home Care and Skilled Nursing Care Center.
“This care continuum will help people stay in their own homes longer and give them and their families comprehensive care at every stage of their care needs,’’ Mastronardi says. “This service would help us treat our patients and residents anywhere they call home and reduce barriers to care such as long delays due to scheduling. It would let us see patients when they need us, bringing care directly to them.”
Another significant shift saw the escalation of technological improvements. “We are wired stem to stern for internal and cell phone access,’’ Gerber says. “That wasn’t something we had been thinking about five years ago. Now it’s a must. There has been a huge shift in generational preferences.” tech becoming a reality. You’ll see continual innovations in the care experience overall.”
A sweet illustration of the importance of technology for the senior set: When Margaret Robben’s grandson, NHL player Cam Atkinson, was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Philadelphia Flyers last summer, the Edgehill resident posted a tweet in which she wore Atkinson’s new Flyers jersey. Her famous grandson re-tweeted her.
Technological upgrades can also help improve patient wellness. Digital record-keeping will streamline the process, and residents can even schedule virtual visits with physicians.
“You’ll see advances in telemedicine that allow residents to have doctor visits virtually inside our communities to keep them safer from exposure to external hospital environments,’’ Shott says. “Technology will help improve the care experience, even with concepts like fall detection through wearable
STAYING SAFE
The bottom line at any senior living facility remains to center attention on the quality of care. That is the primary focus and is at the forefront of decisions. “One thing that technology can’t replace is a well-trained and caring team of dedicated workers,’’ Shott says. “We will also keep improving our understanding of dementia care and other conditions that tend to accompany the aging process for many people. That is why engagement activities will continue to develop and advance.”
The pandemic put the senior living communities to a strenuous test, and challenges continue to mount. “The population of older adults continues to grow. One would think that with such growth, new nursing home construction would be skyrocketing across the country. The reality is that exactly the opposite is happening,’’ Mastronardi says. After a steep increase in nursing home construction in the latter part of the twentieth century, the number of skilled nursing facilities in the U.S. has remained static for more than a decade. That figure is projected to contract by 20 percent. Consequently, more people will be compelled to navigate alternatives to the care that was once exclusively provided by skilled nursing facilities.
However, senior facilities will continue to navigate the challenges. “Nathaniel Witherell will provide services that meet the needs of our aging population,’’ Mastronardi says. “That means giving them the services that they want—not only skilled nursing in a traditional setting like a nursing home, but care in their own homes provided by our clinical team.” G
