Martha Knows Best
Celebrating ‘Powered by Connection’ at the Lexington Senior Center
May is Older Americans Month and encourages all Americans to build strength in the lives of older adults. The 2024 theme for May’s Older Americans Month is Powered by Connection.
No one exemplifies that spirit more than Martha Duncan, the Aging Services Manager for Recreation at the Lexington Senior Center. After more than three decades of dedicated service, she retired in April, and Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton joined in the celebration of Martha Duncan Day.
Martha Duncan’s journey with the City of Lexington began when she was just 18 years old, working as a lifeguard for Lexington Parks & Recreation. Her passion for recreation and serving others quickly propelled her through the ranks, as she worked and left her mark in nearly every area of the division.
Once her twin boys entered elementary school, Martha embarked on her full-time, permanent career with the city in 2003, joining the Therapeutic Recreation (TR) team. In her role with TR, Martha planned programs for individuals of all ages with disabilities. There she created the Thunderpucks, the TR participant floor hockey team. Through her unwavering determination and inventive spirit, she fostered a unique bond between Parks & Recreation staff and TR participants.
For 21 seasons and counting, the Thunderpucks have remained undefeated, a testament to her leadership and the power of unity.
Rumor has it she may even dust off her hockey stick and join the team now that she’ll have some free time.
In 2007, Martha began working exclusively with senior programs at the Lexington Senior Center on Nicholasville Road. As the center prepared to move in 2015 to its new location on Life Lane, Martha transitioned to the Division of Aging & Disability Services within the city’s Department of Social Services.
Martha’s role in the success of the new center on Life Lane included dedication to seniors, expertise in programming, and skill in building a talented team of professional recreation staff that have contributed significantly to the center’s rapid growth and the success of its programs. Now it’s her turn to enjoy all the programming she helped create.
Martha and her husband Rick have been married for 39 years, and their family includes four amazing children. Martha shares her home with her husband Rick, her father Dave, and their beloved dog Finley. While the decision to retire from her cherished career was difficult, Martha looks forward to spending more quality time with her family, exploring new adventures in their RV, and maybe even some Beat Drum Boogie (She will not, under any circumstance, help set up anymore though) at the senior center.
Martha’s absence will be felt but her legacy will endure. After a lifetime of service and dedication to recreation for others, it is time for Martha to enjoy her well-deserved retirement and experience recreation for herself.
This article appears on page 9 of the May 2024 issue of HJ. You can click here to read a digital version of the May 2024 issue of the Hamburg Journal.
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