by Suzanne Frank
Rick Trandahl seems to be a man for all seasons, who has spent most of the last thirty years working hard to help residents — giving personal attention to their exercise routines and leading pool classes. As an instructor in the fitness and aquatics department, he is a linchpin who helps create a warm and humorous atmosphere while carrying out the mission of fitness for those who are stiff and those who are limber. He has also endeared himself to those in Lumberton with his easygoing style, while still seeing to it that everyone who participates keeps to the routine.
Rick was born in Mt. Holly, went to Vo-Tech in Hainesport, taking night courses in fitness while he worked in his father’s trucking and his grandfather’s firewood businesses during the day. He says that since 6th grade, he’d been working on farms on weekends and every summer, planting and picking. “I’ve always been working,” he says.
Years ago he almost joined the Navy, he admitted, but got a job at Ft. Dix’s Gym One instead — one which lasted seven years. He lost that job to military replacement and next went to RCA until GE took over. So it was that in 1989 Rick arrived at Medford Leas. He began in housekeeping, then nursing as a CNA (certified nursing assistant) in John Woolman, and then he was hired by Beverly Kannengeiser, who headed the fitness program at the time.
Rick met his wife Dawn here in 1990. At the time she was an x-ray technician for the dentist. They married on October 6, 1991, and produced daughter Daphne and son Gregory. Rick is a proud parent who regales residents with his history with them. Daphne is a corpsman in the Navy and is married to Justin Cordell, who is a Marine. Gregory is in high school, plays football, is a member of ROTC, and is an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts.
Rick tells many stories of his leading boy scouts in adventures to help them grow as persons and also to focus on helping their community.
The Trandahls have two dogs and many turtles on their 1¼-acre spread. Rick likes to relate the story of when one day a baby turtle was dropped by a bird and landed on a relative. Dawn took over and nursed the little fellow until he grew into a “7 pounder who thinks he’s a dog,” according to Rick. That’s because he sits in Dawn’s lap while she’s watching TV and even is welcome in her bed!
Rick also is involved with an auction house and thereby has an extensive knowledge of the value of things. Often he aids residents with their private disposables. Who can’t benefit from such advice. As said, he is man of all seasons.
Children leave home but the nest isn’t empty.