“Lions Gate is by far the best.”– Jeff Pittner

In September 2024, at 87 years young, John “Jack” Pittner moved to Lions Gate, encouraged by his son, Jeff Pittner, and his daughter and son-in-law, Tracy and Stephen Agnew, based on its stellar reputation and their own firsthand experiences.

Jack grew up in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia and attended Mastbaum High School, where, as a drummer, he was a star, “like the quarterback of the football team,” as his son Jeff noted.

Jack was the kind of person everyone loved having around – a scotch drinker, car enthusiast, and drummer. “He was the life of the party. The party didn’t start until he got there,” Jeff laughs. Jeff also chuckled about discovering just how popular Jack had been in high school, when his sister Tracy found old yearbooks with girls’ names circled. She asked if they were the ones he dated. “Yeah,” Jack confirmed.

Jack’s life took on greater meaning when he married Marion and later became a father to Tracy and Jeff. After their divorce in 1974, Jack bravely stepped into the role of single parent, raising his kids in Kensington, making sure they were always where they needed to be. Marion remained involved, but Jack handled the day-to-day. “He did what he had to do so we could have what we needed,” Jeff says. That included a private school education.

For Jack, family was first. His children, eleven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren mean the world to him. There was never a distinction between family by blood or marriage, like his stepdaughter and her husband, Colleen and Stephen Brown; they were his family.

A proud Mummer since 1971, Jack earned a gold card membership with the Greater Kensington String Band, which he keeps on his dresser at Lions Gate. “He could walk in there and vote today, if he wanted to,” Jeff says.

Through it all, Jack’s rhythm, loyalty, and love for family and community never faded. As Jeff put it, “He sacrificed his own wants so that the people in his life could have theirs.”

Eventually, life brought Jack to Lions Gate. Lions Gate’s compassionate care for his second wife, Denise, made the decision clear. “We moved Denise here first,” Jeff explains. “The care she received was second to none. When the time came for Dad to move, there was no question where he would go.”

Jeff noticed something different immediately and unique at Lions Gate. “The staff here knows him better than I do,” he marvels. “There’s a real investment, from the head nurse to the brand-new aides. They’re not just caring for him; they’re caring about him.”

Although health challenges and Alzheimer’s limit his mobility, Jack’s spirit remains strong. On good days, he joins friends in the common areas, watches his beloved game shows and golf tournaments, and delights in watching squirrels raid the birdfeeder outside his window. He even watches his old Mummers performances on YouTube. “The smile on his face when he watches himself is just priceless,” Jeff shares.

Jack has also made new friends at Lions Gate, including a few gentlemen he has eaten with since day one, and staff members like Ruth Headley and Karen Forbes, who have become part of his extended family. “They don’t just take care of his medical needs. They know him. They respect who he is and who he was.”

That medical care, Jeff says, is truly exceptional. Thanks to attentive management of Jack’s complex conditions, he has not only stabilized, but is thriving. Jeff is also impressed with the level of communication by the staff both to him and Jack’s doctors. Everything they do gives him peace of mind. “I’ve worked in healthcare,” Jeff says. “I know how rare this is. I know the level of professionalism it takes to keep someone at Dad’s stage stable and comfortable. Here, it’s not just talk. It’s real.”

Beyond the care, it’s also the environment that matters. Lions Gate’s clean, welcoming spaces offer dignity and warmth. “It feels like a home here…,” Jeff says. “There’s pride in this place. You can see it in the details…no corners cut.”

Asked what he wants the world to know about his father, Jeff pauses, his voice full of emotion. “He’s a throwback to a time when people would sacrifice their own comfort for the good of others. What you saw with him was what you got – no pretense, no shortcuts.”

At Lions Gate, Jack isn’t just a resident; he’s a beloved part of a vibrant, caring community.