First Senior Center Director Dies at 94

The first director of Bedford’s senior center has died at the age of 94.

Donna Argon was enrolled in a 1979 gerontology course at Middlesex Community College and created her own internship by offering to answer the telephone for the Council on Aging, which at the time was a volunteer committee without professional staff.

“She sat behind a desk at the Old Town Hall,” recalled Fay Russo, facilities coordinator for the town and the first and only director of the Town Center.

The position was expanded into a part-time position, and later Argon was hired as full-time director of the senior center when Town Center opened in 1985.

Argon was celebrated as Bedford’s 13^th Citizen-of-the-Year in 1991, shortly before her retirement. She also was a town election worker from 2002 to 2010.

“Donna was a very kind person who was held in high regard by the seniors who regularly visited
the senior center and participated in COA activities,” said former Town Manager Richard Reed.
“Her fellow town workers and I admired her dedication to Bedford seniors and the COA
program.”

Argon, who lived at Carleton-Willard Village, was also active with the Bedford Garden Club, League of Women Voters, Emerson Hospital Auxiliary, and the American Association of University Women.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.