REAL PEOPLE/SENIOR CENTER TALES
Retirees to the Rescue
For Kathy Barbetto, Michele King and Gayen Sullivan, a midday break turned into a dramatic face-off
MICHELE KING: We spend a lot of time together at the senior center in our Connecticut town. Sometimes inside, sometimes outside—taking a smoke break.
Kathy Barbetto: And I’m a nurse. I should know better.
Gayen Sullivan: One day last May, we were out front smoking with three men from the center. Across the street, we saw a girl walking with a guy, telling him, “Leave me alone. I just wanna go home.”
Kathy: Then he put his hands on her and blocked her way. At first, I didn’t believe what I was seeing.
Michele: She started crying for help. She was like 18, 19.
Gayen: The guy was young too—in his early 20s. We weren’t scared of him. We were like, “No, you ain’t getting near this girl.” For me, it was a motherly instinct.
Michele: I was molested as a young teenager and when I was older hung out in a biker bar. I was not going to let this happen in front of me.
Kathy: I grew up in a violent home. When you live through something like that, it touches you even more.
Gayen: I went to the middle of the street and said to the girl, “Get over here,” and she came running. This poor girl had bruises all over her. We have high flower planters in front of our center, and I stuck her in back of them and stood next to her. And then these two confronted the guy.
Kathy: Michele was right in his face.
The Heroes From left, King, Barbetto and Sullivan
Michele: I kept saying, “I dare you to hit me. It’ll be the last time you ever raise your hand.”
Gayen: Kathy is in an electric wheelchair, but that doesn’t stop her.
Kathy: He started going toward Michele. He was trying to get past her, to get to the girl. So I took my chair and I ran right into him. Twice.
Michele: One of the gentlemen we were with had a cane, and he got up and waved it at the guy. None of the men wanted to talk to the press.
Gayen: Together, we kept this young guy away from the girl until the police came and arrested him.
Michele: It was a Friday, so chances were good he was in jail for the weekend. And we know he was charged with assault and disorderly conduct. It was a case of domestic violence.
Kathy: The senior center held a dinner in our honor, and the police gave all six of us citations for bravery.
Gayen: Even though we’re considered seniors, we are still strong, and we’re going to stay strong for as long as we can. We kind of don’t take crap from anyone. —As old to Ed Leibowitz
Kathy Barbetto, 72, a retired nurse, Michele King, 57, a retired waitress, and Gayen Sullivan, 68, a retired nurse’s aide, live in Meriden, Connecticut.