The Westview News

Press Release
Employee of the Month
Date
May 21, 2025

      Dolores Wallick achieved the designation of April 2025 Employee of the Month at Westview. In the setting of Country Living at Westview Commons, her responsibilities in Support Services are presented through her reliably kindred spirit. She joined the Westview family in February 2024, and since then has consistently looked to contribute to the customs, culture, and community at Westview Commons. Dolores relishes the 1-on-1 connections she has with residents and always harbors warm salutations for newcomers with whom she is not yet acquainted. In housekeeping she is dutiful and dedicated; in housewarming she is delightful and devoted. The impact that Dolores has can be realized through a quaint exchange between her and the residents at Westview Commons just as profoundly as it can be through her efforts on a major project. Dolores’ presence, professionalism and personality help to establish the home atmosphere at the Dayville, CT independent and assisted living facility.

     Having grown up in the Quinebaug region, Dolores has strong roots in this area and resides in Putnam, CT. Dolores appreciates that she, her sister Connie Latour, and her nieces Jamie Burque and Lori Brisco all live within a reasonable driving distance to visit each other. Earlier in her life, Dolores was an avid aviation technician; beginning with her college education. She started at Quinebaug Valley Community College (now CT State Quinebaug Valley) and wasn’t sure what she wanted to do until she learned about the new Aviation program they developed at that time. Through a unique affiliation with Ellis Tech, she learned to work on all parts of an airplane. Once she and other students reached a level of aptitude, they maintained aircraft that were in service under the tutelage of their instructors who held Inspection Authorization from the FAA. Dolores proudly became the first female graduate from the Harvard H. Ellis Tech Aviation Department and went on to work on airplanes for a decade after that. She credits the many meaningful conversations and experiences she had in early chapters of her life for the bold opportunities that followed.

     Gardening is a passion that Dolores pursues for both the beauty of flowers and the bounty of food. Sequencing the flowers to beautify her garden space, she likes to curate blooming patterns throughout the seasons. Many of the vegetables she grows—lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans—become ingredients in her own cooking. Residents at Westview Commons can reserve space in one of several garden beds built along the walking path surrounding the facility, and Dolores has had many springtime conversations with residents about their own diverse plantings. She looks forward to seeing the garden club thrive; actively recruiting residents to fill any open spots.

     Hiking is a keen pastime of Dolores’ and outbound excursions form many strong entries in her travel journal. In recent years she’s enjoyed regional hikes at Devil’s Hopyard State Park in East Haddam, CT and Mashamoquet Brook State Park in Pomfret, CT. Dolores has climbed Mount Lafayette and Little Haystack Mountain in New Hampshire’s White Mountain Range, and has steadily worked on her “bucket list” of summits to climb. Along with a friend from the United Kingdom, Dolores traveled to Scotland and reached the peak of Ben Nevis. She feels very fortunate to have traveled to many locations and maintains gratitude for her aeronautical connections over the years. History is another passion for Dolores, and she loves to read about significant events and then visit that location to be immersed in where it occurred. She has visited include Russia, Finland, Egypt, France, Italy, Scotland, and Ireland, and numerous destinations across the United States.

     Resultant of all of her experiences, Dolores brings a multifaceted worldview paired with homegrown sensibility to the community of Country Living at Westview Commons. “I am so happy to know that my presence here brings joy to people and that my work makes a positive difference.” Dolores added a favorite adage that propels her: “I treat others the way I wish to be treated—I strive to follow the Golden Rule every day.”

     Executive Vice President of Westview Commons David T. Panteleakos values the myriad contributions that Dolores and the Support Services unit provide the facility. “In addition to her efforts, I truly appreciate the considerate nature that Dolores lends to Support Services. As a cohesive unit they provide an affirming, reliable, and embracing network of everyday helpers for our residents. Moreover: they perform all of their responsibilities while simultaneously sharing smiles, salutations, and stories. I enjoy knowing about the gardening conversations between Delores and Westview Commons’ residents, and I look forward to seeing the growth. Congratulations to Delores!"

Westview Health Care Center is a 103-bed inpatient skilled nursing facility, which includes a distinct and self-contained 28-bed sub-acute short term rehabilitation unit and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapies including: Sports Medicine, Adolescent/Pediatric, Adult, and Aquatic Outpatient Centers, all dedicated to providing outstanding quality health care services. The Dayville, Connecticut facility is consistently ranked among the top nursing facilities in the nation, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as well as U.S. News and World Report, consecutively for the past years.