The Gerovac’s have a passion for the people in the Coleman community.

Lee leads some stretching to start off class.

Originally published April 2021.

Lee and Nancy Gerovac continue to prove that community and camaraderie are greater than Covid-19.

Once high school friends, Connie and Kay have reformed their friendship at Groovin’ Geezer meet-ups.

Two times a week, the Coleman residents led a group affectionately named the “Groovin’ Geezers.” The hour-long fitness classes, which began four years ago, are aimed at those who take life a little slower than they used to. As the CD player belts out Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley, Lee counts ten overhead presses with single-digit weights in the hands for some and open palms for others.

Like many groups around Greater Midland, this collection of about 20 senior citizens had a hard time during shutdowns when they were unable to meet.

Nancy and the crew do some overhead presses.

“These are very critical, important friendships that we have made. Their joys are our joys, their burdens and sorrows are ours and vice versa. We are a very close knit group. We care about each other,” Lee said.

Like many of us, they turned to social media to keep in touch.

“I formed a Facebook group - Groovin’ Geezers. We’ve been able to keep in contact even when we weren’t able to be here,” Nancy said.

These friendships helped make the uncertainty a little more bearable and staying in contact via social media is nice but nothing beats being the presence of friends. The couple were eager to safely return and are overjoyed to be hosting regular in-person exercises again.

Jen Shelby, Director of Operations and Early Care and Education at Coleman Family Center, is also happy to have them back in the building.

“They are the most spunky, fun, loving people we have here at the Family Center,” Shelby said. “They come in with a smile, which makes you smile. They make the days brighter. They bring a lot of joy, encouragement and motivation.”