With its twisted trunk and outstretched limbs, the majestic Duplantier Oak is a symbolic centerpiece of St. James Place senior living community in Baton Rouge. The tree has been around since 1776, and its strength, beauty and character are a testament to the motto “bloom where you’re planted.”
Father Tony Russo who moved to St. James Place in the fall of 2024, has lived that motto all his life. He’s served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, earned a PhD in education and was a resident professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Later, he answered the call to become a Catholic priest and followed that vocation for nearly 25 years before joining the St. James Place family. We caught up with Father Tony (as he likes to be called) and asked him to talk about his budding new life—and pursuing wellness in his senior years.
Planting Roots at Our Baton Rouge Retirement Community
When Father Tony made the decision to downsize from his two-story house, it didn’t take him long to plan his next move. “As a priest, I’ve visited more than 10 retirement communities over the years,” Father Tony explains, “and St. James Place is a true pearl among the others. People are so welcoming and—I know it sounds cliché, but it’s true—everyone feels like family.”
One of the many advantages of living in a community like St. James Place is that folks don’t have to worry about chores like yard work, housekeeping and home repairs. Father Tony says he definitely doesn’t miss that daily grind—particularly when Mother Nature flexes her muscles. “We had a pretty nasty windstorm here recently, which blew down lots of tree branches. It was nice to have someone else do all the clean-up work for a change,” he laughs.
Another thing Father Tony appreciates is that he’s only steps away from our Wellness Center, which features state-of-the art equipment, a heated indoor pool and expert-led fitness classes. “There are more activities here than you can shake a stick at, so I don’t have to fight traffic and go all yonder to work out. That’s a good thing, because St. James Place has some of the best food in Baton Rouge, and I’d be piling on the pounds if I didn’t exercise regularly.”
Sowing the Seeds of Friendship and Senior Wellness
Building social connections is proven to help seniors live a longer, more fulfilling life. In fact, an active social life is associated with a lower risk of illnesses—including heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression and dementia.
Social isolation is one thing you won’t find at our Baton Rouge senior living community. From Monday Night Football at the Blue Heron Bistro to Sunday Dinner in our Belle Fontaine Dining Room, there’s always space for one more. “Whenever I go to dinner, someone always says ‘come sit with us,’” Father Tony explains. “And no matter who I’m with, there’s always a basis on which we can start a conversation, because folks here have a depth of experience in just about any professional realm you can think of. My next-door neighbor is a retired LSU law professor, so I know who to talk to if I ever need legal advice,” he adds with a laugh.
A classical music aficionado, Father Tony also appreciates that St. James Place maintains close ties with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. At Christmastime, the orchestra sent an ensemble to the community, and they played such beautiful carols and other traditional favorites,” he beams. “All of the programs here are first-class. It’s really a great place to be.”
Growing Spiritual Wellness for Himself and His Fellow Seniors
When we asked Father Tony what living life well during retirement means to him, he shared how important it is to face each day with a sense of purpose. “I’m lucky because in my domain, people will always need some kind of spiritual leader,” he explains. “Just the other day, I said Mass at the Wellness Center, and I’ll be officiating at another Mass tomorrow. Since I was ordained late in life, I feel I owe it to the Lord to go out and serve for as long as I have my boots on.”
Father Tony takes a page from his psychology textbooks to share why spirituality is such an important part of senior wellness. “It’s all about awareness of attitude,” he explains. “As we age, one of the things we need to do is to invigorate our minds and think rejuvenating thoughts. Because when you have that so-called joie de vivre, you can really get in sync with the Lord and his plans for you.”
“At St. James Place, I feel like I’m continuing to live out my calling. There’s so much more to do in this life.”
See How St. James Place Provides Fertile Soil for Living Life Well
When you think about it, the Duplantier Oak really is the perfect symbol for St. James Place, because there are so many opportunities for growth—from exploring new horizons to pursuing worthy passions to forming lasting social connections.
Ready to enjoy a life blooming with possibilities? Schedule your tour of our Baton Rouge senior living community by calling 225-215-4510.