Esther Brosey, of Manheim, describes the dress she will be wearing to the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom to Hope Hollinger, a freshman at Manheim Central High School, while Hollinger paints her nails on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Brosey will be attending the senior prom with her original prom date from 75 years ago, Mark Winters. Members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club, volunteered their time on Thursday to help set up a prom for residents of Pleasant View Communities.
Mark Winters, left, and Esther Brosey attended prom together as students of what was then Manheim High School. They reconnected later in life, and on April 26, attended another prom together hosted for Pleasant View Communities residents.
Esther Brosey, of Manheim, describes the dress she will be wearing to the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom to Hope Hollinger, a freshman at Manheim Central High School, while Hollinger paints her nails on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Brosey will be attending the senior prom with her original prom date from 75 years ago, Mark Winters. Members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club, volunteered their time on Thursday to help set up a prom for residents of Pleasant View Communities.
AMBER RITSON | Staff Photographer
From left, Payton Shoenfelt and Kailah Buckwalter.
The conga line started right after the band began belting out a Johnny Cash song. Seniors Mark Winters and Esther Brosey joined other dancers as they snaked through the prom venue, passing balloon arches, a punch bowl fountain and the cupcake table. Most of these prom-goers, however, haven’t taken a final exam in decades. They recently attended a senior prom — senior as in “senior citizen” — for residents of Pleasant View Communities in Manheim. Volunteers from the Interact Club from Manheim Central High School helped stage the event.
“I think it’s about honoring old memories and creating space for new ones,” said Jonathan Hollinger, the retirement community’s president and CEO.
“It doesn’t matter how old you get,” Brosey said. “This is exciting.”
She would know. The 92-year-old attended her first prom 75 years ago with the same person — Winters, now also 92. Back then, the campus was called Manheim High School.
Harry Truman was president, gas cost 27 cents a gallon and people paid 3 cents to mail a letter in 1949 when Winters asked Brosey, then Esther Sangrey, to the school’s prom. The pair had shared the same homeroom class for four years of high school and knew each other well.
“I think the fact that our first prom was 75 years ago, and we’re together at prom now is something neat,” Brosey said.
Hazel and Mark Nestleroth would agree. The couple has wonderful memories of their high school prom at Manheim Central in 1962, when they went on a double date with another couple. A new Ford Galaxy cost about $2,650 and a box of Cheerios went for 25 cents.
The Pleasant View residents met in seventh grade, went to prom as sophomores and married shortly after high school. They had five daughters.
“This sounded like a lot of fun,” Hazel Nestleroth said, pointing to a balloon arch that spelled out “Prom 2024” in gold balloons.
Mark and Hazel Nestleroth.
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“Let me tell you about our first date,” Mark Nestleroth said when his wife shushed him and led him away.
Unlike the Nestleroths, Brosey and Winters spent more than 60 years apart. In high school, Brosey was interested in dating Winters but kept her crush a secret.
“We were good friends,” she recalled.
The two would share at least one dance at school functions.
“She was a girl of interest to me,” Winters said, “but I was into sports more than girls.”
The 1949 prom, in fact, was the couple’s first and only date during high school. Brosey recalled wearing a long white dress and proudly showing off the gardenia corsage Winters gave her.
Lily Soulliard, a senior at Manheim Central High School, paints the nails of a resident at Pleasant View Communities in Manheim on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club, like Soulliard, volunteered their time on Thursday to help set up a prom for residents of Pleasant View Communities. Some student volunteers painted residents' nails for free, while other students helped blow up balloons for the event.
Lily Soulliar, left, a senior at Manheim Central High School, paints Joan Kauffan, a resident at Pleasant View Communities, nails in preparation for the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Ahead of the senior prom, members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club volunteered their time to paint residents' nails and set up balloon decorations in preparation of the Pleasant View Communities senior prom on Friday night.
Esther Brosey, of Manheim, watches as Hope Hollinger, a freshman at Manheim Central High School, paints her nails on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club, volunteered their time on Thursday to help set up a prom for residents of Pleasant View Communities. Brosey will be attending the senior prom with her original prom date from 75 years ago, Mark Winters.
Esther Brosey, of Manheim and Pleasant View Communities , shows off a photo of herself and her prom date from 75 years ago, Mark Winters, detailing how she hopes the two can recreate the image when they attend the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom together on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom is planned for Friday, April 26, 2024.
Esther Brosey, of Manheim, describes the dress she will be wearing to the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom to Hope Hollinger, a freshman at Manheim Central High School, while Hollinger paints her nails on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Brosey will be attending the senior prom with her original prom date from 75 years ago, Mark Winters. Members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club, volunteered their time on Thursday to help set up a prom for residents of Pleasant View Communities.
Hope Hollinger, right, a freshman at Manheim Central High School, paints Pleasant View Communities' Esther Brosey’s nails in preparation on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Brosey will be attending the senior prom with her original prom date from 75 years ago, Mark Winters.
Payton Snyder, left, a senior at Manheim Central High School, laughs at a joke a resident of Pleasant View Communities makes while Snyder paints her nails on Thursday, April 25, 2024.Members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club, volunteered their time on Thursday to help set up a prom for residents of Pleasant View Communities. Some student volunteers painted residents' nails for free, while other students helped blow up balloons for the event.
(From left) Cali Inthavongsa, a sophomore, Caleb Bower, a junior, and Payton Shoenfelt, a senior at Manheim Central High School, careful assemble a balloon arch in preparation for the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom in Manheim on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Ahead of the senior prom, members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club volunteered their time to paint residents' nails and set up balloon decorations in preparation of the Pleasant View Communities senior prom on Friday night.
Sydney Peters, a senior at Manheim Central High School, carefully makes a daisy of small balloons in preparation for the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom in Manheim on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Ahead of the senior prom, members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club volunteered their time to paint residents' nails and set up balloon decorations in preparation of the Pleasant View Communities senior prom on Friday night.
Synai Thomas, a sophomore at Manheim Central High School, carefully makes a daisy of small balloons in preparation for the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom in Manheim on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Ahead of the senior prom, members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club volunteered their time to paint residents' nails and set up balloon decorations in preparation of the Pleasant View Communities senior prom on Friday night.
Esther Brosey, right, of Manheim and Pleasant View Communities , tells Sheryl Faus, of Pleasant View Communities, about how she will be attending Friday nights prom with her original prom date from 75 years ago, Mark Winters, on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Lily Soulliard, a senior at Manheim Central High School, paints the nails of a resident at Pleasant View Communities in Manheim on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club, like Soulliard, volunteered their time on Thursday to help set up a prom for residents of Pleasant View Communities. Some student volunteers painted residents' nails for free, while other students helped blow up balloons for the event.
Lily Soulliar, left, a senior at Manheim Central High School, paints Joan Kauffan, a resident at Pleasant View Communities, nails in preparation for the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Ahead of the senior prom, members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club volunteered their time to paint residents' nails and set up balloon decorations in preparation of the Pleasant View Communities senior prom on Friday night.
Esther Brosey, of Manheim, watches as Hope Hollinger, a freshman at Manheim Central High School, paints her nails on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club, volunteered their time on Thursday to help set up a prom for residents of Pleasant View Communities. Brosey will be attending the senior prom with her original prom date from 75 years ago, Mark Winters.
Esther Brosey, of Manheim and Pleasant View Communities , shows off a photo of herself and her prom date from 75 years ago, Mark Winters, detailing how she hopes the two can recreate the image when they attend the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom together on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom is planned for Friday, April 26, 2024.
Esther Brosey, of Manheim, describes the dress she will be wearing to the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom to Hope Hollinger, a freshman at Manheim Central High School, while Hollinger paints her nails on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Brosey will be attending the senior prom with her original prom date from 75 years ago, Mark Winters. Members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club, volunteered their time on Thursday to help set up a prom for residents of Pleasant View Communities.
Hope Hollinger, right, a freshman at Manheim Central High School, paints Pleasant View Communities' Esther Brosey’s nails in preparation on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Brosey will be attending the senior prom with her original prom date from 75 years ago, Mark Winters.
Payton Snyder, left, a senior at Manheim Central High School, laughs at a joke a resident of Pleasant View Communities makes while Snyder paints her nails on Thursday, April 25, 2024.Members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club, volunteered their time on Thursday to help set up a prom for residents of Pleasant View Communities. Some student volunteers painted residents' nails for free, while other students helped blow up balloons for the event.
(From left) Cali Inthavongsa, a sophomore, Caleb Bower, a junior, and Payton Shoenfelt, a senior at Manheim Central High School, careful assemble a balloon arch in preparation for the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom in Manheim on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Ahead of the senior prom, members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club volunteered their time to paint residents' nails and set up balloon decorations in preparation of the Pleasant View Communities senior prom on Friday night.
Sydney Peters, a senior at Manheim Central High School, carefully makes a daisy of small balloons in preparation for the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom in Manheim on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Ahead of the senior prom, members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club volunteered their time to paint residents' nails and set up balloon decorations in preparation of the Pleasant View Communities senior prom on Friday night.
Synai Thomas, a sophomore at Manheim Central High School, carefully makes a daisy of small balloons in preparation for the Pleasant View Communities' Senior Prom in Manheim on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Ahead of the senior prom, members of the Manheim Central High Schools Interact Club volunteered their time to paint residents' nails and set up balloon decorations in preparation of the Pleasant View Communities senior prom on Friday night.
Esther Brosey, right, of Manheim and Pleasant View Communities , tells Sheryl Faus, of Pleasant View Communities, about how she will be attending Friday nights prom with her original prom date from 75 years ago, Mark Winters, on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
AMBER RITSON | Staff Photographer
Reuniting
Brosey and Winters married other people and had children. Both families lived in Manheim but never socialized. Eventually, each couple moved to Pleasant View with their spouses, who have since passed away.
Occasional lunches in the community’s dining room led to discussions and shuffleboard and cornhole games. They often watch “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” together and sometimes share dinners.
“We seemed to really hit it off,” Winters said of getting to know Brosey again. “How good is it that after losing your mate, you can fill that gap with someone you love.”
Family members say they approve.
“He talks about her all the time,” said Tim Winters, Mark Winters’ son who lives in Atlanta. “They have feelings for each other.”
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Leslie Flory of Manheim, Brosey’s daughter.
Flory came early to prom to take pictures of her mother and Mark Winters and wish them well as they entered Pleasant View’s main building and walked down a pink, sparkly carpet.
“They’re both so happy,” she said.
The pair have been “serious” for about a year, Mark Winters said, but have no plans to marry.
As Tim Winters put it: “You don’t have to put a label” on their relationship.
Mark Winters, left, and Esther Brosey attended prom together as students of what was then Manheim High School. They reconnected later in life, and on April 26, attended another prom together hosted for Pleasant View Communities residents.
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The event
This prom marked the first time that Pleasant View Communities invited all its residents to an indoor gathering since the pandemic, said Aubrey Smith, Pleasant View’s community engagement coordinator. The retirement center has hosted sock hops and other dances, but employees decided to host the community’s first prom this year.
Volunteers offered corsages, cupcakes and sparkling punch. Others helped attendees navigate the auditorium or pushed wheelchairs.
While dressing comfortably was acceptable, some women wore glittery gowns or jackets while a few men displayed top hats.
About 23 college students joined the older adults for Pleasant View’s prom — because they temporarily live at the retirement center. They participate in One Life, a Christian gap year program at Cairn University in Langhorne, Bucks County.
Students take college courses and volunteer at least six hours a week at Pleasant View, said Hollinger. In addition, college students receive mentoring and advice from residents during the nine-month program.
“It’s a great intergenerational program,” Hollinger said. “Young folks get to learn from old folks, and old folks get to learn from young folks.”
Pleasant View Communities residents participated in a conga line during their prom on Friday, April 26.
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And they shared fun at prom.
“This is really cool,” said Ashlyn Miller, 19, of California.
“It’s really sweet to see all the older people get up and dance,” said Gracie Connors, 19, of Coopersburg, Lehigh County.
Pleasant View’s full-time residents seemed to agree.
“This is my first prom,” Bonnie Likens said. “I didn’t have a date,” for high school prom, she recalled. “Back then, if you didn’t get asked, you didn’t go.”
Kathy and Jack Fitz also didn’t attend prom in high school.
“It wasn’t that big a deal,” Kathy Fitz said.
Jack Fitz didn’t have a choice. His family lived in Sydney, Australia, and high schools there did not hold proms, he recalled.
“We’re here just for the fun of it,” Kathy Fitz said. “We asked each other.”
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