Congratulations
SilverSneakers® Member of the Year 2025
Award Winners and Finalists
SilverSneakers Member of the Year
Activity Award Winner
Anne H. Thibodeaux
Anne H. Thibodeaux, 79
New Orleans, LA – Humana
SilverSneakers Online
Anne H. Thibodeaux spent 34 years teaching elementary school. While she was teaching, she would tell her students coming to school and studying, following the rules making good decisions. “That’s your job.”
Now she says, “As a retiree, my job is to prepare myself to live my best life. A big portion of that is this exercise program.”
Taking 11 SilverSneakers online classes a week may seem like a job to some, but Anne enjoys the classes as well as the benefits.
“I’m writing my own story. Life is a journey. I’m looking for more adventures,” she says. “If I’m not exercising, I’m cutting myself short to live a long life. I want to do it all!”
Anne recently climbed the 72-stone steps leading up to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, commonly known as the Rocky Steps. She also hopes to go to Italy one day.
Her SilverSneakers instructor, Deana Palmisano Lejarza is sure she’ll be able to do it.
“Because she has come to so many classes, she has a lot of stamina. I have no doubt she can do just about anything,” says Deana. “To me there’s nothing Anne can’t do!”
Anne used to attend a Humana Neighborhood Center, but it has since closed. That’s when Deana taught class participants how to get on Zoom to continue exercise classes. And they’re still going strong!
“I never thought an exercise class would be like this,” Anne says. “It’s not just an exercise class. It’s almost like an extended family. We look after each other. We support each other.”
The class celebrates everything – it is New Orleans after all! Birthdays. Anniversaries. Themed exercise classes – hello Mardi Gras. They’ve even started a book club.
Anne recently celebrated her birthday, so she got to select the theme for her SilverSneakers class that day. Being the “Butterfly Queen” she is, everybody wore wings or butterfly shirts.
“We have a saying in New Orleans: ‘Laissez les bons temps rouler’ or ‘Let the good times roll!” Anne says.
The good times are rolling for Anne. She has a wonderful family and she is “really living my best life and I just want to continue to do the things I love.”
SilverSneakers Member of the Year
Inspiration Award Winner
Cecilia Gomez
Cecilia Gomez, 93
Smithtown, NY – Aetna
Gold’s Gym – Smithtown, NY
Cecilia Gomez is vivacious! She is the life of the party! Whether she’s at the gym, singing in her church choir or doing Tik Toks with her granddaughters, she brings joy and light to those around her.
“I couldn’t live without SilverSneakers. I tell everybody ‘Move your body. Move your colita,’” she says seamlessly switching from English to Spanish.
Cecilia, now 93, has been going to SilverSneakers since she retired and moved to Smithtown, New York, to be with her daughter and her growing family, more than 30 years ago.
Despite health problems, including cancer, a broken hip, congenital heart problems, one thing remains constant for Cecilia – her SilverSneakers classes. She even schedules treatments around her gym calendar, not the other way around. After she broke her hip at church, she was in the hospital for a few days, spent a few more at rehab and was back in class doing her physical therapy.
“Her best physical therapy has been at SilverSneakers because of the trainers. They gear her exercises to her,” says Pat Schneider, Cecilia’s daughter.
There are two things that keep Cecilia going during difficult times: SilverSneakers and her church choir. As she was going in for a surgery, she told her doctor that she had a solo to sing and she had to be there for it. She works out for her body and sings for her soul.
“I love them, and they love me! I can never stop going to the gym or the choir,” she says.
Pat agrees: “The only reason (Cecilia) is alive is SilverSneakers, plain and simple. It is the only thing that bounces her back.”
Nothing stops Cecilia! She even went to class with oxygen until she was able to strengthen her lungs through exercise and no longer needed the oxygen. Now, still undergoing cancer treatments and dealing with Sundowners, Cecilia is there, encouraging others to keep going.
“Everybody loves her,” says Pat. “They all come running. They have a greeting line for her (at Gold’s Gym).”
Cecilia won’t let anything get in her way of her SilverSneakers classes and enjoying life to the fullest! She’s an inspiration to all who know her.
Stay tuned for videos featuring the 2025 Winners!
Honoring the inspiring Member of the Year 2025 Award Finalists
Leslie Basilone, 66 – Wexford, PA
Aetna
Pine Community Center – Wexford, PA
Despite having multiple sclerosis and Hashimoto’s disease, Leslie continues to show up for herself and others. She transitioned from member to instructor, just seven months after a total knee replacement.
Bob Christensen, 92 – Galena, IL
Aetna
Midwest Health & Fitness Center – Galena, IL
Bob balances an active lifestyle inside and outside the gym. He leads a growing group of seniors that gathers daily. He celebrated his 90th birthday by skydiving and participates in the annual Galena 5K Walk.
George Fenigsohn, 77 – Poquoson, VA
Anthem
Snap Fitness – Poquoson, VA
George is a former nationally ranked race walker who has refused to let a debilitating stroke stop him from being active. George needs three things for his recovery: walk, Snap, swim. His perseverance inspires his family and community.
Ray Hall, 75 – Opelika, AL
Humana
Anytime Fitness – Opelika, AL
Ray won a heaviest lifter award in 2024 prior to battling a series of back surgeries and complications that threatened his mobility. Ray proves he is “tough as nails” and continues to inspire gymgoers in his community.
Gerald Leinbach, 99 – Palmyra, PA
Humana
Annville Fitness Center – Annville, PA
PA Fitness – Hershey, PA
Gerald is a WWII and Korean War Navy Veteran who not only keeps up with SilverSneakers classes, but can also be spotted in Yoga class, and doing yardwork and gardening. Gerald is looking forward to his 100th birthday in January 2026.
Claude Massengill, 80 – Brooklyn, MI
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Anytime Fitness- Brooklyn, MI
Claude, an Army Veteran, is always challenging himself and others to show up more. Outside the gym, he bikes and walks at his local state park and purchased his first motorcycle last spring.
Becky Wehr, 75 – Barnesville, OH
The Health Plan
Ferrum Fit – Barnesville, OH
Becky’s resilience and positive attitude keep her moving as a leader in her local Kiwanis Club, The Belmont County Museum and Town Newspaper. For Becky, exercise is not a chore but a celebration of perseverance.