Visionary celebrated at RAIN Bailey

On Monday, the staff and members of the RAIN Bailey Senior Center were in celebration mode. The weather was wet and gray outside, but the center’s main room was full of energy. Some people were dancing to beats played by DJ Juan Giovanni while others enjoyed treats and balloon decorations.

And perhaps the dreary weather outside was fitting. More than 50 years ago, Beatrice “Bea” Castiglia-Catullo was a nurse in Westchester when a patient gave her $500 to help fund her vision of a senior center. When the patient asked what the center would be called, Ms. Castiglia-Catullo took in the stormy weather outside the window and said, “Rain.”

RAIN, or Regional Aid for Interim Needs, grew to include 11 senior centers, a homecare network and an advocacy group.

The party was in honor of Ms. Castiglia-Catullo’s centenary — she turns 100 later this year — with similar celebrations taking place at the other RAIN locations.

“You don’t know how happy it makes me to see all this, at my age. It’s wonderful, wonderful,” Ms. Castiglia-Catullo told the crowd. “God bless all of you, and thank you for coming to RAIN, because we love you.”

“She looks good to be 100,” remarked Willem Griffiths, who works as a custodian at the 2660 Bailey Ave. center.

After the birthday speeches, Ms. Castiglia-Catullo took a seat at the front of the room and posed for pictures with staff and RAIN members. With her snazzy red suit jacket, oversize sunglasses and crowds of adoring fans, she looked like a glamorous celebrity.

“Yes, it’s called ‘Meet the Founder!’” said RAIN CEO Anderson Torres. “As we approach her centenary celebrations for her, it’s very important to connect with the seniors who have been served because of her mission and vision. She is so happy to see seniors who are so engaged in her work in this community of need.”

RAIN Bailey director Valentina Correa said the center is a great example of Ms. Castiglia-Catullo’s legacy.

“When you get older, probably after 60, you enter a period of time when you might be a little lost,” she said. “I think it fits that void of having free time and needing to socialize. Everybody here has that need of wanting to connect with other people, and I think that’s what this fits.”