HEALTHY LIVING:

Regular exercise keeps “The Lunch Bunch” young

They call themselves “The Lunch Bunch.”

The premise behind their tightly knit group is simple: They all gather once a month, after Jeanne Sutyak’s “Fitness After 50” class at the Ridgewood Family YMCA, and head off to lunch together.

Meet Dora Bublo, 85 of North Royalton; Mary Jane Shamrock, 84, of Seven Hills; Gloria McManus, 81, of Parma; Pat Werle, 88, of Broadview Heights, and Joan Gasior, 89, of Strongsville.

All of them have been exercising with Sutyak for 27 consecutive years, with the exception of McManus, who has been with the group for 15 years. They come to the Ridgewood Y three times a week at 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The group began when the YMCA offered classes at Fay Junior High School on State Road, which is now the Parma Community General Hospital Health Education Center. The group moved to the Ridgewood Y in the early 1990’s.

“These women have gone through all the stages of my life with me,” said Sutyak. “They’ve watched me raise my children, been with me through weddings, graduations, and the birth of all six of my grandchildren…all the stuff of life."

"I’ve always hung around with older people, and these women are like my extended family. When I ‘m with them, I feel like I am with all my Moms. I feel very loved here.”

It is Sutyak – known for her energy, enthusiasm, and bubbly personality – along with the programs of their local YMCA, that all five women say keeps them coming back week after week, year after year.

Along the way, strong bonds of friendship have developed. Gasior, who lives in a nearby retirement community, summed it up best.

“You have to be involved with people. I need people in my life. And I want to see people every day and talk to them.” She also “loves to get out.”

Gasior travels alone frequently, at age 89, to visit her children, who all live out of state. Her daughters reside in Houston, Chicago and Philadelphia. She’s had knee and hip replacements and her regular exercise regimen keeps her going strong.

“We’re all staying healthy,” she said with a big smile. “We’re all widows – the merry widows. This is the biggest part of our life.”

Shamrock, who has had multiple bouts with different types of cancer, says the regular classes and her friends have helped her stay well.

“It’s fun to come here,” she said. “It’s not work. I come back after every operation and it helps. We really do like each other.”

According to Werle, her routine “makes her feel young.”

“I used to golf and ski until about five years ago,” she said. “I never broke anything and I didn’t want to start.” For McManus, the results have paid off in a very tangible way “

"When I started, I had (severe) arthritis in my knees. They used to swell (and I had difficulty walking). Now, it’s gone. I feel great.”