Page 10 - North Haven Magazine Issue 15 Autumn 2020

Meet

Eric Piekarz&

by Marisa Hexter
Eric Piekarz always saw himself in a help- COVID-19 proves to be a challenging
ing profession. “I’ve always been a helper,” time for many, but Eric makes sure the
he says. It's “Always been in my nature.” pandemic is not impacting the community
His desire to help people progressed as he negatively. Leisure Care, the parent compa-
studied at Sacred Heart University where ny to The Landing, has its corporate office
he majored in psychology. Originally from in Seattle, where the pandemic first made Eric Piekarz, General Manager
Yonkers, New York, Eric moved with his its mark in the United States. Because of
family to Ridgefield, Connecticut in the this, The Landing had a heads up in prepar- its First Selectman Mike Freda as being
mid 1970s, eventually moving to Madison ing for the virus as it spread. “That put the an advocate and facilitator for getting the
to raise his family, now residing in Farm- urgency on all of us here in this building project moving forward and approved, “He
ington. a little sooner maybe than it did before the was committed to getting a senior living
rest of the area.” About one to two weeks community here.” At the grand opening
before the virus hit Connecticut, they be- of the building there were over 600 peo-
gan wearing masks and allowed only staff ple who attended the event, “That’s just off
to continue to come into the building. He the hook” said Eric. He says The Landing
credits the residents on their “resilience” has felt overwhelming support, “The com-
and “strength” as well. “The families were munity has been cheering our success all
terrifically understanding,” Eric says, as along.” The Landing is an active member of
they began window visits, talking on the local groups including the Rotary Club and
phone or walkie talkies. The restaurants Chamber of Commerce.
in the building closed down, and residents
were eating in their rooms, but opened up
again in June and July. The Landing also
The Leadership team at The Landing delivers mandated regular employee testing and
Assisted Living and Memory Care with a created strict sanitation protocols. Eric ap-
whole lotta heart! plauds his team and is happy to report The
Landing saw no positive cases of the virus.
Eric joined The Landing of North Ha- He does not look at this pandemic as a
ven in April 2019 while the building was necessarily gloomy time, but is remaining
being constructed, as the General Manager. positive, saying “Let’s make the best of it,”
As General Manager, he oversees all teams and now after the initial anxiety in March
within the building; sales and marketing, and April, this is the new normal, which
the culinary department, health and well- “involved frequent change.” Now, the resi-
ness, activities and guest services, and plant dents are back having indoor activities and
operations all report to him. Eric describes events, safely, letting The Landing, “Rees- Open House for Town Employees
his job “To run the community the way tablish [it’s] source of community.”
that I see best for North Haven, for the res- Eric’s favorite part of his job is “The con-
idents, and for the staff that we have here.” stant, all day interaction with the people.”
Because Eric started working at The Land- He wants to make sure the residents and
ing as it was being built, he was able to cre- their families have positive experiences,
ate a community, literally, from the ground “people might not remember what you did,
up. “The opportunity to start a community but they will always remember how they
from scratch is a once in a lifetime oppor- make you feel.” Interacting with his resi-
tunity.” he said. He told his staff, “No matter dents to create a positive environment, “just
where our paths take us, or where we go in make it so fulfilling.”
life, we will always be the crew that opened
The Landing of North Haven. We will When asked what he likes most about
have put that first stamp on it.” Eric really the town of North Haven, Eric said the
involved his staff in creating the commu- community. “It is remarkable the sense of
nity at The Landing, asking the question, community in all corners, nooks, and cran-
“If I had my own community I would . . nies.” Eric Piekarz always knew he wanted
. please tell me what those things are, tell to help people in whatever way possible,
me what comes after that. How would you Sales Advisor, Pasquale Nuzzolillo, General and he does just that today at The Land-
build your dream community, how would Manager, Eric Piekarz and Sales & ing of North Haven, by creating a positive
you build your dream department?” Today, Marketing Manager, Donna Naparstek community for staff, residents, their fami-
Eric continues to help his staff to create the lies, and the community at large. “If you are
best care for the community. “We commit The Landing of North Haven is the a giver or a helper, this is the kind of work
to each other that we will be better, we com- town’s only assisted living provider and you are drawn to...you have to start with the
mit to each other that we’re going to be ex- filled a need in the local community. “Just heart.”
traordinary.” being able to fill that need for North Ha-
ven residents has been terrific.” Eric cred-
10 North Haven Magazine - Autumn Issue 2020