It’s never too late to pursue a dream.
At 90 years old, Frank Udell is living proof that you are never too old to follow your dreams. A regular at our Sanford Activity & Dining Center, Frank can often be found sharing conversation with friends, enjoying center activities, or filling the air with the unmistakable sound of the bagpipes.
Growing up in Port Huron, Frank dreamed of learning to play the bagpipes, but it simply wasn’t possible. “We couldn’t afford it,” he recalled. Like many dreams, it was set aside while life took him in other directions.
Frank served his country for 26 years in the United States Air Force, retiring at the age of 60. His military career took him to many places, including Lincoln, Nebraska, where he eventually decided it was finally time to make his childhood dream a reality. He joined the Lincoln Pipes and Drums group and began learning the instrument he had admired for so many years.
Years later, after returning to Michigan and settling in Midland around 2007, Frank continued his musical journey with the White Pines Pipes and Drum group. Today, he enjoys performing throughout the community and especially cherishes playing Hector the Hero, his favorite piece.
One tradition has become especially meaningful to him. Frank often visits local cemeteries to play his bagpipes, believing it is a gracious way to honor those who have passed and offer comfort to families who may be visiting loved ones.
That quiet act of kindness recently touched one of our own.
While Frank was practicing at the Sanford Activity & Dining Center, fitness instructor Shelley Mowery paused to listen. The familiar sound immediately brought back memories of her mother, who passed away in November 2025. Shelley, whose family is of Scottish heritage, grew up hearing bagpipe music. Her mother, who served as the Site Manager for Happy Diners for many years, especially loved its stirring melodies.
Moved by the moment, Shelley asked Frank if he would accompany her family to the cemetery and play in memory of her mother.
Without hesitation, Frank agreed.
Surrounded by Shelley’s children and grandchildren, Frank performed Amazing Grace and Hector the Hero. The music echoed through the cemetery, creating a beautiful tribute that brought comfort, healing, and lasting memories for everyone present.
It’s a reminder that sometimes the greatest gifts we give one another aren’t material things—they’re our time, our talents, and our willingness to share them.
Stories like Frank’s happen every day in our Activity & Dining Centers. They are places where friendships are formed, talents are discovered, and people from every walk of life enrich one another in unexpected ways. Whether it’s through music, conversation, volunteering, or simply showing up for someone else, the connections made here continue to strengthen our community.
Frank’s story reminds us that older adults carry a lifetime of experiences, skills, and passions that continue to make a meaningful difference. His bagpipes don’t just play beautiful music—they tell a story of perseverance, service, kindness, and the enduring power of human connection.
Special note: Frank also handcrafts mandolins and plays one each Wednesday morning with the Sanford Pickers at the Sanford Activity & Dining Center. The group welcomes anyone who would like to stop by and enjoy the music beginning at 9 a.m.
