Retired Psychologist Lifts Seniors’ Spirits

Retired psychologist David Woodsfellow began his mission to lift seniors’ spirits by becoming a music volunteer for Weinstein Hospice. His current group, Dr. Dave and Friends, performs once or twice per week at The William Breman Jewish Home, Balser Tower, Berman Commons, Sunrise at Buckhead, Arbor Terrace of Decatur, and Wesley Woods.

He said, “I began performing solo at Jewish HomeLife. Before long, I was joined by Bruce Bubier on electric bass, and later, Karen Hefter on tenor banjo. I play tenor guitar and sing. The three of us have connected beautifully, and we love performing classic hits from the 20s to the 60s. We find that this era lights up our audience and takes them back to their youth.”

Audience size ranges from 15 to 75.

Woodsfellow’s parents taught him that life’s purpose is helping others. As a clinical psychologist, he and his wife, Deborah, helped people save marriages. Now retired from that practice, he’s helping Atlanta’s seniors reminisce and enjoy the songs they recognize. In his teens, Woodsfellow was a self-taught, guitar-playing folk singer. In his twenties and thirties, he was a contra dance caller in Brattleboro, Vt., and Santa Barbara, Calif.

Retiring after his storied career in counseling, his experience confirmed that music soothes souls. He related, “Some prefer to sing in Hebrew, some in English. It’s all about lifting their spirits. What is particularly moving for me are the conversations I’ve had with many residents after our shows. They often share special memories that our songs evoke. At Balser Tower, a lady was in tears when we played ‘Erev Shel Shoshanim.’ She loved the song and found it incredibly special. She told us she had played it at her wedding.”

The group also plays and leads Friday night services at Lenbrook and Hammond Glen, where they create a “celebratory musical Shabbat experience.” The husband of one resident requested “Take Me Home Country Roads,” because it was his wife’s favorite song. In spite of her severe memory problems, she sang every word, and he was moved to tears. When they performed “This Little Light of Mine,” a Black woman at The William Breman Jewish Home went into gospel mode, raising her arms high, singing proudly. Woodsfellow recalled, “We just kept playing it continuously because of her joyous spirit.”

At Sunrise, an audience member in a wheelchair was totally hunched over. Woodsfellow noted, “It was hard to know if he was awake. When we began to play, he started vigorously clapping his hands to his lap – right on the beat. Lately, he looks up from time to time, and he even winks at our banjo player!”

A veteran at Berman Commons wears his Coast Guard cap to their concerts. He’s full of pride when the “Armed Forces Medley” (which ends with the Coast Guard hymn) is played.

Other residents’ comments include:

“You all are my very favorite of all the people that perform here, and I can’t wait to see you next month.”

“I love how Dr. Dave talks about the songs and has interesting stories about them.”

“You know, playing those old songs really helps some of our residents who have, well, (looks around and whispers) let’s just say … a touch of dementia.”

“I sure love hearing that kind of banjo – you don’t hear that often.”

“You all are so in sync … I assumed you had been playing together for years and was surprised to hear you had only been together a few months.”

Their repertoire contains Jewish songs in Hebrew and Yiddish such as “Hava Nagila,” “Bei Mir Bist Du Shon,” “Tzena Tzena,” “Shalom Chaverim,” and “Sunrise Sunset.”

Much of their English repertoire is from “The Great American Songbook,” like “All of Me,” “Hey, Good Lookin,’” “Joy to the World,” “The Tennessee Waltz,” and “Sweet Caroline.”

Other favorites include “You Are My Sunshine,” “Goodnight Irene,” “Swing Low Sweet Chariot,” and “Home on the Range.”

Dr. Woodsfellow concluded, “I am grateful for the opportunity to share my lifelong love of music with members of my generation … I hope that they enjoy listening and singing along as much as we enjoy performing.”