Courtney Van Dyke, the new director of activities for The Massry Residence, the assisted living residence at Daughters of Sarah Senior Community, in Albany, takes her job personally.

Van Dyke, who lives in Delmar, will be married in March. She has plans to include the men and women who live at The Massry Residence in her wedding preparations as well as to create a celebration for the residents at The Massry with the feel of her wedding.

An impersonator, Van Dyke appears regionally as “Patsy Cline,” singing such songs as “Crazy”. She has serenaded The Massry residents as Cline and will do so again, impersonating other famous entertainers.

“Her approach to our residents, both as a group and as individuals, has completely won their affection. We’re seeing a high level of attendance and enthusiasm for the events she’s creating for them,” said Sharon Rosenblum, executive director of The Massry Residence, in a release from the Daughters of Sarah Senior Community.

Van Dyke has a master’s degree in health administration and worked for six years in long-term care.

“The work I’m doing here feels as though I’m giving as much to folks who live here as they are giving to me,” said Van Dyke in the release. “I love that I can — and should — bring my sense of playfulness to this position. As human beings, we were meant to laugh and enjoy together.”

Van Dyke has brought new games, activities, and outings to The Massry and has plans for trips to the GE Theater at Proctors to see To Kill a Mockingbird, to the Albany Institute of History and Art to see the mummies, and to Art in the Park. She is also coordinating Lunch and Learn programs and a lecture series that will include Sandy (Sandor) Schuman, a nationally known Jewish humorist and storyteller, entertaining residents at The Massry in December. 

“We hit gold when we found her,” said Diane Koenig, a retired professor who has lived at The Massry for a decade. “I look forward to every day to see what little things we’re going to do — she’s so talented.”