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Max and Sue Supica recently celebrated 50 years of membership at West Side United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor and, with it, a 50-year relationship with United Methodist Retirement Communities (UMRC).
The Supicas moved to Ann Arbor 52 years ago. Sue, a native of Anderson, Indiana and Max from Kansas City, Kansas met while working at Guide Lamp, a Division of General Motors Corporation. Both worked in computer operations with Sue being assigned to computer operations and Max assigned to writing programs for financial systems. They married and, five months later, Max accepted a position with Ford Motor Company at their new plastics facility in Saline, Michigan.
The Supicas attended West Side United Methodist Church and eventually joined the church in 1970. There, they became close friends with several other couples who supported UMRC, including Dick and Norma Sarns. “We ‘grew up‘ watching them,” say Max and Sue. “They set a good example of philanthropy for us.”
They learned more about the faith-based mission of UMRC when some of their pastors and, later, some of their friends retired and moved to Chelsea Retirement Community. The couple began making gifts to support the Benevolent Care Fund in their honor or memory, including Tree of Life ornaments at the holidays.
In 2010, Dick and Norma invited Max and Sue to join them at the UMRC Foundation’s first annual Garden Party, hosted at the home of Board member Jan Lyons, where they became more aware of the Foundation’s work in caring for older adults. Today, the Supicas are members of the UMRC Legacy Society by including the Foundation in their estate plan.
Max retired from Ford on January 1, 1999 after 34 years in the automotive business, his last 12 years being with Electronics Operations as the worldwide manager of Supply Chain Management. His job took him around the globe working with plant materials operations to reduce their lead time in manufacturing operations. Max and Sue now spend half the year in Florida and the other half and holidays in Michigan, where their four children and families live. Sue still works as an Independent Consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics, a career she has had for 35 years.
“We had planned eventually to move to UMRC,” says Sue. “While we weren’t in any hurry, we decided to get our name on The Cedars list in 2015 as the projection was it could be 3-5 years for a cottage to become available.” In 2016, they received a call that a property was available at The Cedars. “It was a tough decision for us to move,” Max says, “but we talked it over and decided we would not have to change our lifestyle.” Sue agrees. “Once we saw the sun-room and the street location, we made our decision and moved into our cottage in September 2016.”
Many of the Supicas’ friends from church live at UMRC locations now, including The Prairie Cottages and Glazier Commons at Chelsea Retirement Community, as well as The Pines and Silver Maples of Chelsea.
They continue to be active members of West Side UMC, although their attendance has changed, due to COVID-19, to ZOOM, YouTube, and outdoor, safely distanced church gatherings. Their daughter recently got married in the West Side UMC gardens. Sue’s UMW (United Methodist Women) Friendship Circle meets virtually once a month.
For the Supicas, their support of UMRC has been an extension of their faith.“We think the world of UMRC,” says Sue.
To learn more about supporting the UMRC Foundation, or becoming a member of the UMRC Legacy Society, visit umrc.com/umrc-foundation/ or call 734-433-1000 ext. 7502.