Phil Sullivan: The Unofficial Mayor of New Pond Village

You might call Phil Sullivan the Mayor of Walpole. Well, at least the Mayor of New Pond Village, our senior living community located in the heart of town.

A lifelong Walpole resident, who raised his family in town, Phil has been an integral part of New Pond Village since its very beginning—first as an associate and later as a resident. The community even opened on his birthday, November 26th.

From Workplace to Heart Place

Phil first came to work at New Pond Village in the spring of 1993 after retiring from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He explains his role and responsibilities in the community, “I worked in security and did some driving. I would fill in for anybody because my wife was still working as a nurse. At one point, I took over transportation. I did the scheduling for that for a period of time.”

“He’s such a big part of this community and he really advocates for his fellow residents,” said New Pond Village Campus Executive Director Adam Manchester. “He is the heart of New Pond Village.”

Part of New Pond Village’s History

Phil got to know everyone in the community over the six years he worked there, appreciating all it has to offer and becoming part of its story. “There is a book on the history of New Pond and I believe on page 131, there I am,” he said.

A Safe Place

When his wife’s health began to decline, Phil knew exactly where they needed to be. In October of 2017, the pair moved to New Pond Village’s Independent Living neighborhood and in 2018, Giselle Sullivan became the first resident to move into the community’s Memory Care neighborhood. After her passing, Phil moved out but returned to New Pond Village for a third time in 2023—this time, for good.

Phil’s Community Impact

As a resident, Phil has been extremely active, looking out for his neighbors and establishing committees. One accomplishment he’s particularly proud of as an Army veteran—starting the Patriotism Committee. Now in the Assisted Living Neighborhood, he is actively involved in the Grounds Committee and the Choral Group. Earlier this year, Phil, now 90, was nominated for the Resident Spirit Award in the 2025 Mass-ALA Excellence Awards.

Phil understands the impact that New Pond Village has had on his life and the value that it continues to bring as he ages. “The staff—from transportation and dining to the caregivers and members of the facilities team—they are really great,” he said. “We have everything we need here.”