Mary Sue Koeppel, a founding member of Oak Hammock, moved into the community with her husband in 2005. Koeppel is a dedicated and well-recongnized faculty member of several colleges in north Florida and other areas of the northeastern United States.
Before moving to Oak Hammock, Koeppel wrote poetry and created short stories. She, at the time, had two books of poetry published and decided to learn a new hobby every year. She learned to refinish furniture, woodwork, knit and crochet, sew, and candle making. Name it, and she has most certainly attempted it!
When she got to Oak Hammock, she made it a new goal to start an adventure – to live out life learning new and exciting things as she had done all her life. Had it not been for the watercolor class she first attended when arriving to Oak Hammock, her life would look incredibly different than it does today.
Koeppel takes almost every art class available at Oak Hammock. A few of her newly recognized talents include oil painting, pastels and Chinese watercolor. She has fallen in love with art in a new way, even winning a “best in show” awared in a Gainesville Fine Art Association exhibit.
Koeppel explains she can always discover something that has never existed before when she is creating a piece of art. “There is an obligation to make the world a better place,” she says. “Part of the challenge in retirement is to be open!”
How do you plan to explore new passions in your retirement? Learn more about our community and our residents here.