Ollie Firuski’s first memories are ones of life in Salisbury. Born in 1936, she grew up in the Main Street house that is now Elyse Harney Real Estate. Her memories are of an idyllic childhood during which she was free to roam and create all sorts of adventures with friends. From her home, her mother raised and showed Dalmatians and her father ran The Housatonic bookshop, which he founded as a rare and antiquarian book store. He was also a history teacher at Salisbury School.
Ollie’s mom instilled in her a fondness for animals that has been the backdrop of Ollie’s life. After school, she taught riding at her alma mater Fox Hollow School in Lenox, and later raised and showed Dalmatians, traveling to each destination in a motorhome where she lived with her six dogs while on the circuit. Ollie also lived in northern Portugal riding and exercising horses under a master equestrian. Once she moved back to Salisbury, where her daughter Elvia Gignoux lives, she returned to dog shows where she made countless friends who remain a part of her life today.
In 2014, Ollie signed up for the cottage wait list at Noble Horizons where she had many friends and knew she would some day enjoy the easier, hassle-free lifestyle. She moved to a cottage in 2018 with her Boston Terrier, and recently transitioned to the Cobble, where she has taken advantage of Noble’s continuum of care. She maintains an independent life with new and old friends, and takes advantage of the many amenities that accompany life at Noble. She no longer has to shop and prepare meals, clean, or make plans with friends as they are all part of her life at Noble.
While COVID has presented many challenges, Ollie feels safe for which she is grateful. In fact, while enduring the quarantine, she has made several close friends who meet regularly and get on like old pals. “We somehow got to talking in the library. We’re all different backgrounds and we just clicked. We have a ball. I feel lucky to be here.”
