There are many autobiographies that are long and frankly boring. I intend to take the long part of that equation out of play. I was born and raised in northern Maine near the City of Caribou. As with all fortunate young people, I attended local schools. My parents were successful farmers and community leaders. Those attributes were passed down.

After attending New England College in Henniker, NH it became necessary for me to attend basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. I spent my required six years in the NH National Guard. New Hampshire seemed a wonderful place to live and raise a family. We lived in Contoocook Village, part of the Town of Hopkinton, for 47 years. While in Hopkinton I was fortunate to be appointed to many boards and elected to others. During those years, we also cleared land and created a certified organic blueberry farm. That endeavor was one of the most satisfying. Having your hands in clean living soil is good for the soul.

Victoria and I live in the Village of Pine Hills where we are fortunate to enjoy the many available benefits of living in The Villages. Here we continue to Live the Dream.

Moving to The Villages in August of 2012 was a decision made after a number of visits, the recommendation of a high school friend and the realization that there is no other place that compares.  He and his wife Peggy love the lifestyle, enjoy the many activities and have loved the warm and welcoming attitude of their neighbors in Mission Hills.  Fred and Peggy have 5 Children, 8 Grandchildren, and one Great Grandson.  Fred loves playing golf and Peggy plays Mah Jongg and works hard on Family Genealogy while enjoying the many other opportunities the Villages’ lifestyle provides.   Fred’s working career began with 20 years of service in the United States Navy Submarine Force.  His many assignments ranged from duty on a WWII Diesel Boat to Nuclear Training and assignment to Nuclear Submarines and concluded after assignment to the Submarine Force Commanders Staff as the Force Quality Assurance Officer and SSBN Overhaul Officer Managing Complex Submarine Overhauls.  Following his Naval service, he was recruited by Essex Corporation to manage their efforts in doing Logistics Support Analysis for the Trident Submarine in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  After 10 years with Essex, he went into the Real Estate industry and became the Broker of Record for the Prudential Thompson Wood Real Estate Company in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania until his retirement after 21 years in September of 2011.  He is a Life Member and Holland Club Member of the Submarine Veterans Association and a member of the local Seadragon Base, a Life Member of the Navy League, and a member of the American Legion.  He previously served as the President of his local Homeowners Association in Pennsylvania,  is a Past President of the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors and was a member of “Jake’s Team” which raises funds for Cancer Research at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Fred’s involvement in the VHA is driven by the desire to see “The Villages” concept continuing for the foreseeable future.  We’ve been provided with the premier retirement community in the country and it is and will be our responsibility to maintain and nurture the opportunity we’ve been given to maintaining it.

Russ grew up in Ridgefield New Jersey, a small suburb of New York City.  He graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia with a degree in Mathematics.  After college he set off to Akron Ohio to work for power generation manufacturer Babcock & Wilcox and began his career in Information Systems and Technology.  There he met his wife Marie where they were happily married in 1976 and fortunately remain that way today.  They moved to New Jersey in the early 80’s and he continued his career in Information Systems Management & Strategy at Johnson & Johnson until retirement in 2004.  Some of his primary responsibilities were the development and implementation of global strategies in Executive Information Systems, Supply Chain Management, and Quality and Compliance. They moved to their new hometown The Villages in 2004.  Along with fun and friendships, Russ firmly believes retirement is an opportune time to give back service to the community and he began by becoming a VHA Neighborhood Representative.  From 2007 through 2010 he was Chairperson of VHA Regions 6 & 7, developing and leading an excellent team of representatives delivering the VHA Mission to their neighborhoods.  He then was elected and served on the Villages CDD #6 Board of Supervisors from 2010 through 2014. In 2012, Russ was elected to the Board of the Directors for the Central Florida Health Alliance including The Villages Regional Hospital and Leesburg Regional Medical Center.  In this role, he is part of a leadership team dedicated to providing high quality, patient-centered care in a compassionate environment to The Villages, Leesburg and surrounding communities in Central Florida.  He now chairs the Quality/Safety/Service committee for the Hospital System and is also a member of the Strategic Planning Committees. Russ and Marie have two grown children Tony in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife Sharon and daughter Andrea in Hoboken New Jersey.  They are now enjoying the grand parenting experience with granddaughters Abby and Cassie.  Life is a blessing – Be thankful for every day and live it to its fullest.

Born and raised in Monmouth County, New Jersey.  Served 6 years in the U.S. Navy, 2 years of which in the Reactor Division of a Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine.  New Jersey Institute of Technology, B.S. – Industrial Engineering-cum laude-Tau Beta Pi.  Career in New Jersey, the Nuclear Power Department of Public Service Electric & Gas.  Then 5 years of executive management consulting in the nuclear industry.  Retired to The Villages in 2006, elected that year as Supervisor, CDD-6.  Chair the Project Wide Advisory Committee since its inception.

Walter Martin graduated from college in Dayton, OH and then left and began an unheard of 41 year career with GMAC Insurance division General Motors.  He held many supervisory/managerial positions in claims administration, and the audit and the sales staffs.  He lived in Pittsburg and had transfers/promotions to Chicago, St. Louis, Los Angeles, New York City, Detroit (executive office) and San Antonio, TX.  He retired in 2004 and moved to The Villages. He is married to Janice Perrin Martin of Middletown, OH and they celebrated 49 years of marriage in December of 2013.   They share the same interests in just about everything and his wife is his biggest fan.  They have two daughters (one married and one single) who were born in Pittsburgh and both now reside in California. He learned of the Villages in 1991 long before he was eligible to retire.  When the time came the decision of whether to remain in TX or move to The Villages was easy (even though San Antonio was very attractive for retirement) because he was accustomed to relocating and felt it was time for another move – this time to a beautiful active senior retirement community.  He presently serves on the Board of Supervisors for CCD #5 (Vice Chairman), attends the annual Florida Association of Special Districts conference; is VHA representative for District 5, Ashland; is a past member of Vestry Board at St. George Episcopal Church and serves on the Lay Eucharistic Minister staff; is an instructor for the AARP Driver Safety Program; is a Client Facilitator for the AARP Tax Aide Program; is President of the Polo Booster Club; is a past president of the African American Club; is a past President of the 3C’s Ohio Club; a member of the Villages Croquet Club and have attended the United States Croquet Association school in West Palm Beach.   He is also a regular tap dancer in the Rhythm Boys dance group in the Way, Way, Way, Off-Broadway Players theatre group and has had speaking parts in every production.  He is a member of Villages Theatre Company and had a role in the Trip to Bountiful production and the Squabbles production.  He also plays golf and an occasional game of billiards and enjoys jazz.  He is also a member of the Jazz Lovers Club. In addition to his busy life, they enjoy vacations to unique destinations.

Ray Viall is from Minnesota.  A veteran, he served in Vietnam as a Quality Control agent for the Army’s supply logistical command, assuring supplies were delivered to remote outposts via convoys. When Ray returned to Minnesota, he enjoyed playing baseball regularly with players who were either going to or coming from the pros. He never realized his own dream of being a pro, but was selected to some All-Star teams in the 70’s.

His career included working with OSHA as a Fatality And Safety Investigator, and later as a Safety, Security & Quality Control Manager for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.  Prior to his retirement he worked for Lifetime Fitness Construction traveling throughout the U.S as their Safety, Security and Quality Manager.  

Ray is eager to be of service to The VHA, especially on behalf of the area he represents and where he lives; in the Historic north side of The Villages.  In 2009, he and his wife Denise, finally purchased their own home after visiting his mother-in-law annually since 1988.  The Viall’s have 5 children and 10 grandchildren.