Niantic Seniors Life & Career Comes Full Circle at Crescent Point

a woman sitting and smiling on her couch
31
Jan '23

For nearly 20 years, Niantic Pharmacy and its owners, Tony and Milna Haldis, were fixtures on Niantic, Conn.‘s Main Street, working side-by-side 14 hours a day, seven days a week.

Not only did locals rely on them for much-needed medication but no summer was complete without a visit to Niantic Pharmacy for sunblock, towels and beach reads.

“We enjoyed watching kids grow-up as their families came back year after year for their summer vacations. We were there from 5am to 10pm everyday but I honestly loved every minute of it,” said Milna.

The Haldis’ originally met in 1951 at his mother’s restaurant in Norwich, Conn., and married shortly thereafter at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Norwich before he enrolled in the U.S. Air Force to serve during the Korean War. After returning from the War, he attended the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy.

In 1980, the couple retired so they could spend more time traveling the globe. Besides traveling all over the U.S. in their motorhome and frequently to Milna’s native Czech Republic, they visited many European countries together.

In 1999, they decided to sell the pharmacy to Benchmark Senior Living to help bring much-needed senior housing to the area.

After 68 years of marriage, Tony succumbed to medical complications in 2000. Today, Milna is proud to be continuing her retirement at Benchmark’s Crescent Point at Niantic assisted living and Mind & Memory Care community where she can have more support.

“Never did I think I would live in the location of our former pharmacy, but I’m glad to be here on this land where I have many fond memories. It means a lot to me,” said Milna.

At Crescent Point, Milna has made new friends and enjoys the community’s programs, including indoor and outdoor concerts and off-site trips.

But, most of all, after years of waking up at the crack of dawn, she enjoys being able to sleep late in the morning. “I can have breakfast whenever I want to, and the staff is great about working around my schedule. It’s a very good place to be.”