Long Island Seniors Build Thriving “Friendship Circle” for Hundreds of Women

By: Serach Nissim

After the COVID-19 pandemic struck, isolating so many seniors, one Long Island community built a massive “friendship circle”, with close to 850 women.

As reported by the NY Post, a North Merrick woman succeeding in uniting senior strangers, by creating a thriving friendship circle. “Four years ago, I put out online that I was looking for friends that I could call my family,” said the group’s founder, Ester Horowitz, 68. “The reaction was about 300 responses. It made me realize how many of us were feeling isolated,” she said.

The group, formed in 2021, is for Long Island women over the age of 55, and aims to help them connect and feel companionship in their golden years. The popular group organizes planned events, including Mah Jong game nights at restaurants, museum and theatre outings, and dinners— some of which spouses are also invited to. Some of the members are even considering planning a group cruise. The group also has a closed member-only Facebook channel, where the seniors can seek out a companion to join them for a walk, meal or other activity.

“It feels like the new version of being a neighborhood kid and knocking out the door to see if somebody can come out to play,” said Horowitz, who noted that the group grows as members invite their outside friends. Last week, the group enjoyed one of their larger get-togethers — an evening of card games and Italian food at Patrizia’s in Hicksville, per the Post. The group took up half of the oversized dining room, with the restaurant manager, Tony Luisi, printing out menus specially made for the “Friendship Circle” event.

The members expressed enthusiasm about the group and their new-found friends. “Life is better with friends,” said member Jenny Jardine, 65, of Wantagh. “I probably know at least 50 new people now,” longtime member Toni Smith, 68, of Bellmore told The Post.

“A lot of us here, like myself, are widows. … Everybody is really friendly. This is awesome,” said new member Frantique Stone, 65, of Sea Cliff.

Stella Jacobsen said the “Friendship Circle” helped her after she lost her husband just before the pandemic hit, which was also when a lot of her friends moved off Long Island. “I was isolated for about a year,” Jacobsen, 77, told The Post. “They have become so wonderfully supportive and changed my life,” she said of the group’s members. “Who knows how much time we all have, so I am so happy this is how I am spending my life right now.”

Founder Ester Horowitz has also organized essential events for the group, like talks on Medicare and cybersecurity, as well as a much-anticipated upcoming three-and-a-half-hour defensive-driving course. “I never thought it would grow into something like this, but I am so happy that it did,” Horowitz said. “So many people need good friends at this age.”