When Patrick Zilliacus turns 100 this month, he won’t be celebrating at a fancy ballroom or a private club. Instead, he’s chosen a place that feels far more meaningful: the Westchester Senior Center, where he has built friendships, shared stories, and found a true sense of community. Tucked along the Lincoln Boulevard side of Westchester Park, the center has quietly become one of the neighborhood’s most vibrant gathering spaces with lots of joyful activities happening inside.
For Patrick and other seniors, that sense of connection didn’t happen by accident. In recent years, the center itself has undergone a transformation. What was once a smaller, more traditional daytime program has evolved into something far more dynamic: a welcoming, intergenerational space designed for adults 50 and up, but open to anyone curious enough to walk through the doors.
Membership has grown significantly, now nearing 500, reflecting a shift in both programming and perception. The center isn’t just a place to pass time; it’s a place to build community. Regulars don’t just attend classes, they form friendships, organize activities, and shape what the center becomes.
That sense of ownership is intentional. Rather than relying on a fixed slate of offerings, the Recreation Facility Director, Kirstin Zullo Aceves, actively responds to what members want through monthly meetings called Donuts with the Director. New classes and activities often begin with a simple suggestion, sometimes even led by the members themselves. The result is a calendar that feels both organic and surprisingly varied.
On any given week, you might find Pilates, step aerobics, line dancing, art classes, sewing, ping pong, or even pom-pom fitness–a high-energy class led by a former professional cheerleader. There’s also a growing interest in games like mahjong, along with more relaxed options like painting sessions and social events, including the Senior Prom, which this year featured a garden party masquerade theme.
What makes the center stand out isn’t just the variety, but the atmosphere. The environment leans toward inclusive and upbeat, with participants ranging widely in age and background. It’s not uncommon to see someone in their early 50s taking a class alongside someone decades older, each bringing their own energy to the room.
That wide age range is part of a broader shift in how we think about “senior” spaces. Extended evening hours now make it easier for those with daytime commitments to participate, turning the center into more of a lifestyle destination than a traditional daytime facility.
The pricing structure also reflects that accessibility. A low annual membership fee of just $15 makes it an affordable option for people looking to stay active, try something new, or simply connect with others. And while the center is geared toward seniors, many activities are open to younger participants as well, encouraging families to share experiences across generations.
Beyond weekly classes, the center offers programming that leans into fun and learning. One standout example is its “Senior Summer Camp,” a playful reimagining of childhood camp, complete with themed days, group activities, and optional field trips. From arts and crafts to outdoor games and excursions around Los Angeles, it’s designed as an easy, low-pressure way for newcomers to meet people and get involved.
Discovering Something New
For Yetive Lowery, a retired preschool special education teacher for LAUSD, the Senior Center has become a place of self-discovery.
“I’ve been trying to define and understand what retirement is and how to go through that journey,” says Lowery.
She’s been learning to journal and even experimenting with music.
“Someone came in with a ukulele, and I thought, I want to learn to play that. But it’s not easy. They keep telling me you have to play until you get calluses on your fingers. At 68, I don’t want calluses!” she says with a laugh.
Still, she’s embracing the process.
“Like I said, I’m discovering myself,” says Yetive.
Finding Balance
For Linda Absher, a retired nurse whose career spanned five decades, being part of the Senior Center has played a key role in her personal growth.
“As a nurse, I want to live a long, healthy life, so I have to balance my mind, body and spirit,” she says.
She enjoys the center’s wide range of exercise classes, but she’s especially proud of helping bring Zumba to the community. After connecting with instructor Gene Wong, she encouraged him to volunteer at the center.
Three years later, his classes have grown from just four participants to as many as 40 or 50 per class, now meeting three times a week. Gene credits the growth in part to his musical playlist, which features familiar hits from the ’40s through the ’80s.
“They love my music. I can hear them singing while they’re working out,” he says.
Linda agrees.
“It’s the music of my generation, I love hearing songs from the Beach Boys.”
She also appreciates the relaxed environment.
“It’s not like LA Fitness where you have mirrors all around you. I do my own thing. I stay in the back. I even go outside on the patio to feel the breeze. I love it,” she says.
“Tell Me Your Story”
Beth Rubenstein, a semi-retired physical therapist trained in the Feldenkrais Method, says she always knew the Westchester Senior Center would one day become part of her daily life.
After moving to Osage in 1991 to raise her children, she would pass by the center often.
“I thought, well, I’m going to live here forever, and the Senior Center is where I’m going to hang out when my kids are grown. At the time, there wasn’t much happening. I thought, I have a stake in this place, so I want to make it better,” says Beth.
Now in her 70s and still highly active, she enjoys both the physical and creative offerings.
“I do improv, which they call drama, but I especially love the class called ‘Tell Me Your Story.’ It’s where they give us prompts, and we talk about ourselves,” she says. “It’s really nice and completely nonjudgmental.”
Westchester’s Centenarian
There’s also a quieter, more meaningful side to the center, one that becomes especially clear in moments of celebration and reflection.
On May 16, the community will come together to honor longtime member Patrick Zilliacus as he turns 100. A World War II veteran and active participant at the center, Patrick represents both the history and heart of the community. His milestone birthday, which he has enthusiastically helped plan, is expected to draw a wide circle of friends, family, and fellow members–a testament to the connections formed within the center’s walls.
Patrick shared some of what guests can expect.
“At 1400 hours, a flag will be hoisted at the Senior Center, and the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Dwight Hanson, the leader of our group and Master of Ceremonies, wearing his USMC dress uniform,” he says.
The giant flag once flew over the USS Missouri Battleship, a ship that now resides in Pearl Harbor. “The flag was given to me, and I’ve now given it to the seniors,” he adds.
Afterward, another veteran, Leon Silverman, will sing “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” followed by “God Bless America,” along with performances by other vocalists, including a former soprano with the L.A. Opera.
Patrick says he chose to celebrate at the place that matters most to him.
“I really wanted to have my party here because this is my home and these people are my family,” he says.
His wife Mercedes will be in attendance as will his three daughters, son and ex-wife, with whom he’s still friendly after all these years. He even has family coming in from Finland (Patrick’s native country) and Singapore.
In many ways, the Westchester Senior Center is redefining what it means to age in a community. It’s not just about services or activities, it’s about belonging. Whether someone comes for a fitness class, a creative outlet, or simply a conversation, they’re stepping into a space that values participation, curiosity, and connection at every stage of life.
In the sincere words of Patrick Zilliacus, “The Westchester Senior Center is a real community and I’m very happy to be part of it.”
And Westchester is better for it.
For more information, visit recreation.parks.lacity.gov/scc/westchester or call (310) 649-3317.
By Shanee Edwards