Meet the Team at our Assisted Living Facilities in Denver, CO

Larry Lillo has been the Executive Director for Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus since the summer of 2009. He has brought over seventeen years of experience in the assisted and independent living arena to this position. He has managed three assisted living communities for Sunrise Senior Living, served as a Regional Mentor, as well as an operational trouble shooter for the organization. He also has had the opportunity to manage an independent community for the Spectrum Retirement Company and been involved in the home health/Hospice business as an administrator. Larry is a past Chairman of the National Masonic Communities and Services Association and is a past Board of Director member for the Leading Age of Colorado Association; he has also served in leadership positions in a variety of community organizations over the years. His expertise in developing caring communities through effective operations and management skills has led to success in all of the communities that he has managed. Larry played a critical role in the development and construction of the Mary Barry Assisted Living building added to the Eastern Star Campus in 2014. Larry’s ongoing goals for Eastern Star include; working with the Board of Trustees on the replacement of the Robert Russell Center with a new AL building in the near future and playing an important role in the development of an Independent Senior Building on the Eastern Star Campus; continuing to offer a variety of high-quality living environments for residents on the campus to meet their changing needs; and to meet the strategic, operational and financial goals of the organization as set by the Board of Trustees. Larry and his wife have 5 children, enjoys camping with his family, spending time boating at Lake Powell, traveling throughout the US and vacationing in Las Vegas.

Ljiljana Bjelan was born and raised in Serbia where she lived until her parents made the decision to move to the United States in the summer of 2000. As a child growing up in Serbia, she was fortunate to attend well-regarded school which professed a strong educational and ethical philosophy that has remained with her throughout her life. She has been a registered nurse since 2013. Prior to nursing school, she completed Radiologic Technology Associate Degree at Colorado University and practiced for few years. She has 10 years of experience in trauma, family and behavioral medicine and is currently a member of Colorado Nurses Association. Prior to Eastern Star, she served as a Health Service Administrator. She also participates and volunteers in Health Fairs. She is excited to be a part of ESMRC family and cannot wait to use her personal experiences and skills to serve the residents and community.

When not working, she enjoys Colorado outdoors with her family and friends.

Nadeen Rodrigues has been a nurse for 17 years. She has worked in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, Hospice Houses and for a major laboratory. Her last position was managing an Adult Alzheimer’s Day Center in Florida. She earned her Bachelors in 2019 through Southern New Hampshire University. She loves helping seniors. Her passion stems from the love and care her grandmother received from her medical team in her last months before she passed away. At a very early age she was compelled to “Pay it forward”.

Fun Facts about her, she has 2 children, Joshua 19 and Destiny 9. She loves anything Disney she also loves to travel and meet new people.

Patti Hayford started as the Controller for ESMRC in October 2019. She is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in management positions in the not-for-profit healthcare-related industry. She is excited to join the ESMRC team and put her skills to use to help the organization meet its goals and fulfill its mission to serve the residents and community.

When not working Patti enjoys spending time with her husband and their pets. She enjoys traveling to places both new and familiar and spending time relaxing in her garden.

Jennifer is a seasoned Business Office Manager with over nine years in the field. She has extensive experience in running business from the ground up. Having held positions advertising and healthcare, Jennifer is able to tailor her skills to meet the need of our community. Jennifer is currently wrapping up her degree at CSU in Healthcare Administrative and Gerontology. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with husband Dylan and there 2 ½ year old son Eugene, working on home projects and traveling back to the Midwest to visit family.

Pati Sawyer Boex has been the Fraternal Relations Director at the Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Community since 2009. Her position is unique to the ESMRC and was developed to perform community outreach, not only within the Fraternal Family but the entire community. She has brought a new energy to the community and is inspiring, not only to the Fraternal Family to get them more involved with the community, but in garnering interest from outside the fraternal family. While originally from Amityville, Long Island New York, her work experience has taken her many places while working for Club Med in their global resort villages, as Director of Activities for Sandstone Creek Club in Vail, Colorado, Heritage Eaglebend Golf and Country Club in Aurora, Colorado, the Event Coordinator for the Parker Chamber of Commerce. She is married to Steve and they live in Aurora with their two daughters. Pati loves to inline roller blade, play inline hockey, snuggle her girls and paint pottery.

Please contact Pati patis@esmrc.com if you have an activity that you would like to share with the residents of the community or if you would like to know what our wish list items are for the residents of the ESMRC.

Rebecca Brown started as the Life Enrichment Director for ESMRC in July 2019. She has a passion for working with older adults and has been in the Life Enrichment/Activities profession since 2014. She has experience working in assisted living, skilled nursing/long-term care, and memory care communities. Rebecca greatly admires the strength and resilience of the older adult population and is inspired by them every day.

Rebecca began as an Activities Aide for Atria Grass Valley, an assisted living and memory care community in Northern California. In the Spring of 2016 she returned to Colorado and became the Director of Activities for Avantara Crown Point, a long-term care facility managed by Legacy Healthcare. In 2017 Rebecca won the Colorado Health Care Association and Center for Assisted Living Spotlight on Excellence award for Activity Professional of the Year, an honor granted to those individuals working to better long-term care in the state. In 2018 she became the Activity Consultant for Legacy Healthcare’s Western Regional Division, developing and directing activity departments for Legacy’s newly acquired facilities.

Rebecca graduated from the University of Colorado with a B.A. in Sociology and Philosophy. In the Spring of 2020 Rebecca completed Professional Advancement in Gerontology through CU. Rebecca lives in Aurora, Colorado with her husband Jason, 2 dogs, and her husband’s cat. She is honored to serve the residents of ESMRC, and the Masonic community.

Jerry has worked at Eastern Star Retirement Campus for 17 years. He feels that we are much more than a community but like a family. He cares very deeply for all of our residents. Jerry has 3 children 2 boys and a girl. When not cooking in the kitchen Jerry enjoys sporting events, fishing and dancing. Jerry is originally from Illinois but he has called Denver his home for 30 years

Diane Martini, Director of Marketing, is a Certified Senior Advisor and has been in the Senior Housing Industry for over 20 years. For over fifteen of those years, Diane has been working at the Eastern Star helping seniors and their families find appropriate homes for those who need more help or for those seniors who no longer want to do maintenance on the homes they have lived in for 50+ years. Diane loves working with seniors and finds fulfillment in helping families find the "right place". She also has served on the board of the Colorado Senior Lobby, contributing her efforts to influence legislators to vote on bills that assist seniors. In her spare time, Diane is a professional Salsa dancer performing for the residents and at various events around Denver.

Barbara Aragon Sales & Marketing has over 10 years in the Senior Housing Industry. Barbara experience and passion is serving seniors and providing assistance in finding the best housing and care options for prospects and families loved ones.

Barbara has a personal connection and appreciation for Eastern Star as her mother lived at Eastern Star for over 10 years. Barbara has two adult sons and is the proud grandmother of four grandchildren. She is a health enthusiast and enjoys working out at the Gym, Yoga, Cycling and Latin and Country dancing.

Gary is a Mason and a member of Highlands Lodge #86. He joined the Eastern Star Community in November 2008. Gary has a lifetime of experience in all phases of construction and maintenance, starting as a maintenance man and achieving Head of Maintenance and Construction Supervisor for Mustang Properties. Gary also owned and operated his own business for many years. Gary is also a people person and has held many positions in service to community and people. He served as a volunteer firefighter on the Cunningham Fire Department for more than four years achieving and serving at the rank of Lieutenant for the last 2 years of his service. He studied for and received an Emergency Medical Technician Certificate while with the department. He was a fire department representative on the Cunningham Fireman's Pension Fund Board of Trustees for 3 years. In 1994 Gary was awarded a Citizen Citation from the Adams County Sheriff’s Department for saving the life of an elderly man who had collapsed while suffering a heart attack. Gary served 4 terms of elected office on the Board of Trustees for the town of Deer Trail while overseeing the upgrade and improvement of the town’s water delivery system and the replacement of the town’s sewage system. He was also instrumental in obtaining multiple grants for improving the town’s infrastructure. Gary has been married for more than 40 years has 4 children, 6 grandchildren and so far one great-grandchild.

Mariela has been working in assisting living and memory care communities for more than 5 years. She is a results-driven individual with a caring heart, making a difference in the lives of residents beyond their care. Mariela believes that everyone in the Memory Care Neighborhood deserves respect and the best care. She believes that a solid partnership with families is a major part of running an efficient and effective Memory Care Neighborhood.

Mariela strives to ensure residents and their families have the information they need to participate in decisions regarding their care and quality of life. She enjoys camping with her family, biking in the mountains, and traveling throughout the US.