North Andover Native Maureen Healy Receives Tribute To Women Award

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Maureen Healy, programming director at Ashland Farm at North Andover — an assisted living and mind and memory care community — received the Tribute to Women Award from the Lawrence-based YWCA of Northeastern Massachusetts.

The awards were presented to Healy and the other 19 honorees at the 40th annual Tribute to Women Luncheon on Wednesday at Andover Country Club.

"Each May, the YWCA of Northeastern Massachusetts honors a select group of remarkable women who contribute to the communities within our service areas," the YWCA said in a statement.

According to Ashland Farm, Healy was nominated for her support of seniors, veterans and women's issues.

"We are so fortunate to have Maureen's great passion and dedication benefit our residents and their interests," said Nick Barash, acting executive director of Ashland Farm. "I can't think of anyone who is more deserving of this award than she."

Healy grew up in North Andover and currently resides in Haverhill. She has worked at Ashland Farm, located at 700 Chickering Rd., since 2017, first as the facility's mind and memory care coordinator and now as the programming director.

At Ashland Farm, Healy organizes events like: veterans' recognition programs, making sandwiches for the homeless and stuff-the-bus, the latter where residents can recycle their clothes while raising money for various causes.

Healy's passion for helping the elderly and those with memory loss began at a young age.

Growing up, Healy regularly accompanied her mother, who was a nurse, on visits to nursing homes and to elderly neighbors. Later, Healy spent time with her own grandparents when they developed Alzheimer's disease and moved to a senior living community.

"I learned a lot of patience from my mom and that quality time with older people was important," Healy said. "I also learned that older people have history and developed a love of history. In those days, we didn't have any formal Alzheimer's education, so we really fell into our own way of managing it and connecting with them."

Healy doesn't just help others while she is on the job. According to those who nominated her for the Tribute to Women Award, Healy also serves as the fundraising chair for Soroptimist International's Haverhill/Merrimack Valley chapter. In that capacity, Healy has helped to raise thousands of dollars for scholarships and causes like human trafficking and battered women.