Longtime Kirkwood House Executive Director Patricia “Trish” Ashley retired in May after 40 years of supporting its residents.
“This (occupation) was never really work for me,” Ashley told a crowd of about 75 attendees at her retirement celebration in May in the meeting room at Kirkwood House, were there were lots of hugs and tears. “My very first job was at Dunkin’ Donuts. Now that I’m retired, I could go back there.”
In 1985, Ashley began her employment for the Kirkwood Housing Authority as a maintenance worker, advancing to assistant manager. She earned the responsibility of public housing manager in 2001, and has served as the facility’s executive director for the past eight years…