Portland's Royal Rosarians honor residents of The Springs at Sherwood

By Scott Keith

SHERWOOD, Ore. — A group dedicated to promoting the city of Portland as goodwill ambassadors paid a visit to Sherwood Wednesday, July 29, to honor residents of The Springs at Sherwood.

The Royal Rosarians were guests of honor at a special rose dedication ceremony honoring Fancho Stubblefield, a Springs resident and father of the senior living center founder, Fee Stubblefield.

The rose was presented in honor of Fancho Stubblefield, Fee’s father, who grew up at Lehman Hot Springs and who currently lives at the Sherwood community, and in memory of Fee’s aunt, Eileen Rychlick, longtime Sherwood U.S. Postal office mail carrier, as well as in tribute to the many residents who have been part of the community for several years.

Two long-time Royal Rosarians, who are also current residents of The Springs at Sherwood, were honored: Helen Benscheidt, 103, and Florence Olsen, 99.

Amanda Sanchez, executive director of The Springs, said she was pleased with the event.

“It was mostly to honor our residents that have lived here and those that are future residents, too, and call this place home,” Sanchez said. “The Springs at Sherwood is really deep-rooted in connection and relationships. That’s what this is all about, and we found significance because we have connections to the Rosarians.”  

The ceremony took place in front of a large redwood tree.

“When the Springs at Sherwood was built, that was something that stayed rooted,” she said. “We wanted this tree to signify what was already in place prior, so there’s a lot of significance around the tree. It’s beautiful. It’s a redwood. It feels special because it’s something original to this property.”

Sanchez said the Rosarian attendees were long-time ambassadors, once since 1940. 

“(The event is) more beautiful than we could have expected,” she said. “We chose an early morning to beat the heat and it’s just beautiful. The sun is shining, everyone seems happy and excited..”

Royal Rosarian Carolyn Odoherty said, “It’s a lovely day. We got great weather, a good crowd, lovely honorees. It’s an honor to travel around Portland and get to honor people by planting roses and just being part of local celebrations.”

Fee Stubblefield, founder of The Springs at Sherwood, was also pleased with the presentation.

“It was spectacular, it was wonderful,” he said. “The Rosarians are a great civic group. It’s great to see that we still have some time-honored structure that’s around, that adds context. Even though the world changes, the Rosarians are here. Roses keep growing.”

Fee Stubblefield said his father Fancho is a resident of The Springs. 

“He lives in our memory care community. He moved in a year and a half ago,” Stubblefield said. “Before that, at The Springs, he was kind of the ambassador. He would go around to all of The Springs.”

Also pleased with the gathering, Fancho himself said, “It’s great. It’s a blessing.”