December 13, 2021 —Ithaca, New York (Sept. 10, 2019) — Mary Pat Dolan, Chair of Kendal at Ithaca’s Board of Trustees, has announced that veteran senior living administrator John Turongian has been selected to lead Kendal at Ithaca as Interim Executive Director until a new Executive Director is recruited. Dan Governanti retired in August after 19 years as Executive Director of the Life Plan Community (also known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community).
Turongian, who has more than 30 years of experience as a senior living administrator in New York, Illinois and Missouri, stepped in Sept. 3 as Kendal at Ithaca’s Interim Executive Director.
A licensed Nursing Home Administrator, Turongian most recently was as an Executive Director and the “go-to” person for special projects with Lutheran Senior Services, an organization based in St. Louis with nine Life Care Communities in Missouri and Illinois. During his six years there, he also served on an interim basis as Chief Operating Officer of Lutheran Senior Services.
“The best part of my career has been working in communities where I develop relationships with residents and staff,” Turongian said. “Both my wife, Ellen, and I are from Central New York and we have family in the area, so when I was contacted about the possibility of serving as Interim Executive Director at Kendal at Ithaca, I was immediately interested. The high level of resident engagement and productivity, which are so important to growing older with dignity, is exciting to me. My hope is that I can contribute to this success in some way.”
From 2009 to 2014, Turongian was Vice President, Senior Ministries, for the Alexian Brothers Health System (now owned by Ascension Health) in St. Louis. In that position, he was responsible for a $170 million organization in seven states, with 17 communities and programs, including Life Plan Communities, skilled nursing, assisted living and home care services.
Before that, Turongian served as Chief Executive Officer of United Helpers Management Company in Ogdensburg, New York, from 1990 to 2009. There he was responsible for a $45 million organization, including market-based independent living, licensed residential care and skilled nursing services, as well as home- and community-based services for people with disabilities, and transitional living for people with mental illness.
Turongian graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a bachelor’s degree in business education. He also has a master’s degree in business education from SUNY at Albany. In addition, he has taken courses in leadership and administration from the Center for Creative Leadership, Harvard University’s Program on Negotiation and the University of Michigan Program on Labor Negotiations.
About Kendal at Ithaca
Kendal at Ithaca offers a life care contract that provides the peace of mind that comes from having access to high-quality health care at a predictable future cost that is a fraction of private pay rates. The Community welcomed its first residents in December 1995. An active Residents’ Association supports more than 45 committees organized by residents that enhance and enrich the recreational, educational and social life of the community.
About Kendal
Kendal communities are located in Hanover, New Hampshire; Ithaca and Sleepy Hollow, New York; Northhampton and Easthampton, Massachusetts; Oberlin and Cleveland, Ohio; Lexington, Virginia; metro Washington, D.C.; and Kennett Square, West Chester and Newtown, Pennsylvania.