Why Am I Here?
A strong sense of purpose could be the key to a long and fruitful life.
Throughout his life, Dennis Brunn has found inspiration and fulfillment in three distinct muses: the arts, social justice, and time on the water. A retired social worker and community organizer, Brunn continues to devote his time to all three—thanks in large part to Cathedral Village, the continuing-care retirement community in Philadelphia’s Andorra neighborhood where he has been living since 2018.
“One of the reasons I was interested in coming here is that it’s an engaged community,” he says. “We have our own chapter of Indivisible [a grassroots movement devoted to defending democracy], and we’ve supported efforts around causes like gun violence, women’s rights, and climate. Each month as many as 40 residents are out on the corner of Ridge Avenue and Cathedral Road, out there with signs and banners. … I’m pleased to live in a community where people feel compelled to get involved.”
Brunn may have retired several years ago, but that hasn’t stopped him from living a life of purpose and meaning. Doing so has the potential to help him live longer. A 2019 JAMA Network Open study found that among a group of nearly 7,000 adults over the age of 50, those who had a strong sense of purpose in life had better physical and mental health, as well as better overall quality of life. Some studies suggest that people who have more purpose in life experience less functional decline than their peers.
Purpose comes in different forms. For Brunn, who grew up the son of a commercial artist, art is a big one. He seems to have inherited some of his mother’s talent; he has particular interest in woodcut prints, linoleum-cut prints, and pastels.
“I’m not striving to get my art into the Metropolitan [Museum of Art], but I do like to share it with others,” he says. “It’s also about the process. I like to do pencil and pastels of people, or capture the feeling of a landscape or nautical scene.”
Brunn’s fellow community members share his interest in the arts. He co-chairs the Top of the Stairs Gallery, an art gallery within Cathedral Village, which promotes the work of artists who live in the Philadelphia area. Some of those artists are Cathedral Village residents, including Geri Greinke-Mack, whose works are currently on display in the gallery.
Having grown up on Long Island, New York, Brunn developed an interest in sailing at a young age. He spends time on the water as often as he can, though these days he’s more interested in kayaking—“something you can do at almost any age,” he says. Favorite kayaking destinations include Peace Valley Park in Doylestown, Marsh Creek State Park in Downingtown, and the waterways of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
Otherwise, he’s happy to build on his life of purpose at Cathedral Village: working on his art; attending lectures, presentations, and performances by musicians from the Curtis Institute of Music; interacting with fellow residents, including those who meet for breakfast to practice speaking the Italian language; wandering the grounds with his dog, a Havanese named Cuba; and taking the lead in efforts to make the world a better place.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, May 2025.
