Pat Thielen Finds Fellowship in his Next Chapter at Panorama

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By Gail Wood

Pat Thielen joined the staff at Panorama in 1988.
Pat Thielen joined the staff at Panorama in 1988.

For 26 years, Pat Thielen has talked to perspective residents about the advantages of living at Lacey’s Panorama, convincing them it was the place for them to enjoy their next chapter of life.

It’s not just a sales pitch.

Thielen, along with his wife and best friend, Joy, moved into Panorama four years ago when he turned 66. His up-close, live-it-each day perspective has convinced him that it was the best choice for him.

“It’s really about the lifestyle,” Thielen said. “It’s more of a community here.”

Sure, Thielen will tell you, the 1,200 residents at Panorama are retired, on the plus-side of 65. But that doesn’t mean there’s not something going on. Whether you want to swim – “My wife goes to the pool all the time,” Thielen said. Dance – there are classes for classic, folk or jazz – play bridge, attend a Bible study, or a learn how to weld or carve wood, there is always something on the community calendar at Panorama.

“You name it, it’s here,” Thielen said. “If it’s not here, you can start it. It goes on and on.”

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Pat Thielen started a half-mile walking club at Panorama.

Two years ago, Thielen, who was born in Olympia and graduated from North Thurston High School in 1962, started a walking club. Every Tuesday night during the summer, Thielen’s group walks a half-mile loop. Walkers, whether they’re using a cane, walker or even a wheelchair, are all invited. And from July through September, about 110 people complete their walk with the Thielens.

The first year Thielen did his walk about 20 people joined him. When he bumped the starting time back an hour, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., giving everyone time to eat dinner – turnout spiked. To help give the group a team feel, Thielen picked out the brightest yellow T-shirts he could find and emblazoned “Walk the Loop Group” on the front. It’s become the walking club’s team jersey.

“To get the word out, I got some fliers and put them in mailboxes,” Thielen said. “It worked.”

Thielen didn’t oversell the exercise side of the walk. Instead, Thielen, who is a people person and enjoys chatting, emphasized the social side of the walk.

“I said get out and meet your neighbors,” Thielen said. “That was the whole purpose – to get out of the house and meet the guy down the street. That’s what it was all about.”

During a walk, Thielen introduced Bill to George. And, discovering they had both worked for Puget Power Energy at different times, they’ve become friends.

“They said to me that I linked them up on purpose and that I knew that they worked at the same place,” Thielen said. “I didn’t. I was just trying to get them to know each other.”

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The purpose of the Walk the Loop Group at Panorama is to connect neighbors.

After working as an insurance broker with his wife for about 30 years in his own business, Thielen joined the team at Panorama as a retirement advisor in 1988, which is something he still does at age 70. He loves to share stories about Panorama. After living in their Olympia home for 18 years, Thielen and his wife decided it was time to sell, putting aside the chore of yard work. He didn’t just want to talk about Panorama. He wanted to live it.

Four years ago, Thielen got involved in another passion – youth sports. He coached youth baseball for 20 years as his kids grew up. Now, he wants to help other kids get that same chance. In 2010, Thielen and his wife started All Out Sports, a non-profit venture that sponsors children who are financially unable to play sports.

Kids up to the age of 18 who don’t have the money to turn out for a sport, whether it’s baseball, basketball, swimming, football or soccer, can apply for a sponsorship. Thielen’s group sponsored eight kids last year. For one girl, the Thielen’s generosity allowed her to swim on the South Sound YMCA club team.

A thank-you note from that girl moved Thielen emotionally.

“I bawled my head off,” Thielen said. “She thanked us for what we did for her.”

Buying her goggles, swimsuit and membership, Thielen said they spent about $800 on the student last year. They’ve now sponsored her for three years. As the word gets out about All Out Sports, Thielen is expecting more families will ask for help. Thielen prefers the direct connection with the kids.

“We could just give each school money, but that’s not my dream,” he said. “That’s not how I want to do it. My desire wasn’t to go out there and flood the market. It’s to help a family here and a family there. Just help the families we can.”

Thielen is living out his dream at Panorama, helping and connecting people along the way.

 

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