MANCHESTER – It is said that it takes a village to raise a child but it also takes several villages to form a community. Crestwood Village IV recently celebrated a half century of life and activity in Whiting.
The Kokes’ homebuilding business began in 1964 and broke ground for one of the first of many age-restricted, workforce housing developments. According to Jan Kokes who took the reins in 1989, the process of what would become Crestwood Village IV began in November 1962 when his father Mike Kokes went to a seminar at Rutgers to learn about the demand for senior housing in the state.
His partner owned 120 acres in Whiting and wanted to build a retirement community. The term “active adult” community was not yet coined when Crestwood opened for business in 1964.
The first home was sold for $6,999. Eventually 500 homes multiplied into 10,000. Among the special events that took place during Village IV’s evolution was the gala opening of Clubhouse IV that was part of the fanfare of welcoming Crestwood’s 3,000th family, Mrs. Tony Neggesmith, formerly of New York whose new home was to be on Independence Parkway, as it is known today.
It was also noted that another first was when Henny Youngman, TV and stage comic, opened a series of proposed star attractions with a personal appearance at the new clubhouse known as Crestwood IV, Independence Hall. Crestwood Village I got Friendship Hall in 1965, Harmony Hall came to Crestwood Village II in 1972 and Unity Hall opened in 1973 at Crestwood Village III.
Among the many people present for the special anniversary event were members of the 2024 Board of Trustees of Crestwood Village IV including President Donna Golding, Vice President Frank Skettini, Treasurer Ed Figler, Secretary Karen Reuther, Trustees At Large Carolyn LaBerta, Kathy Roe and Janet Barnosky.
Golding told The Manchester Times that a committee had been formed to create special celebration events during the year. “Blanche (Doran) spearheaded this particular event making it during the day so the residents didn’t have to come out in the evening to enjoy the 50th anniversary. The weather just isn’t cooperating today.”
She was referring to overcast rainy day but the spirit inside the clubhouse was something very different as the audience listened to speakers, the student speakers and enjoyed a delicious cake with some tea and coffee afterwards that served to warm them up.
“It is a nice turnout and we do have a beautiful cake,” she added. Doran was summoned up to the podium by Golding to receive some special recognition. “It takes a village, thank you for being part of ours,” Golding said reading what inscribed on the framed presentation to her friend Blanche.
Jerry Carroll served as master of ceremonies for the event and introduced two residents who sang “God Bless America.” Several representatives from other Crestwood Villages noted what they had done to observe their own milestone village anniversaries.
Their official celebration was noted with much fanfare at the Village IV club house off Moccasin Drive and featured then Councilman/now Mayor Joseph Hankins and mayoral staff member Judy Noonan plus many other familiar faces from not only Village IV but representatives of other Crestwood Village communities. The Whiting Elementary School Choir even performed for them.
“It has always been my privilege to represent the senior community and I want to thank Mr. Kokes for all he has done,” Noonan said as she introduced Hankins to speak.
Hankins thanked the Kokes family, “so often builders build houses and they make money and that is all they are interested in but they put a community center in here and a beautiful hall and your trustees maintain this hall. I thank the trustees for thinking of the school and letting them be part of this program. It is so important that as a community, we come together and involve everybody.”
He added, “that is what this community is about and what the council wants to push. We have children and seniors working and being together so it is always enjoyable when we see them come together.”
The Griffith family were original owners in the development and their son John recalled, “my parents came down here. Back in those days you had competition with other places and my parents went down to those places and then to Crestwood Village and after seeing the place and they liked what they saw.”
“I turned around to my parents and asked ‘how come you moved here when the other place was giving away appliances’ and my mother said she wanted her own appliances for the home. They got their place and in those days the groups got together from the village and there were big crowds and parties, dancing, horseshoe tournaments, bocce, shuffleboard – but it is different today because you have a lot people still working. This is a great place. I am second generation here. When they passed on, I took over their place,” he added.
Somebody Cares Inc. President and CEO Pat Donahue said “I’ve been working with the senior community out here for about 15 years in different capacities. We’re looking for volunteers so come on in.”
AristaCare Executive Director Robert Greenburger also congratulated the residents of Village IV. “We celebrated our 15th year local here. One of the most important things as we grow older and we live among younger people, sometimes we feel sidelined.”
“We feel less important… but it is important when you live in a senior village where everyone is together and you have a sense of community.” He noted the dangers of loneliness within the senior community. “Coming together for 50 years is very special and many, many, more years for all of you,” he added.
Special guest Jan Kokes and his son Michael J. Kokes, managing principal of Homestake Capital LLC in Brielle came out and spoke during the anniversary event.
“I have so many memories to go back on, 50 years ago, my father and I built your community. I was 30 years old. How fast the time has gone by. It is unbelievable. Your community looks great. It is affordable and safe and I am proud to have been part of building it,” he added.
Michael Kokes is the next generation at the helm of his family’s homebuilding and development business in New Jersey. The Kokes family built some 21,000 homes over nearly 55 years. “It is amazing to come out here and see this. This is America and the most beautiful thing we got is community.”
