---
title: Meet Ron, Iris and Derek
description: "It's time to release three more incredible videos in our \"30 Videos For 30 Years\" series. Getting to know these residents was so much fun!  This year, the"
image: https://blog.merrillgardens.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/derek_pbpq6y.jpg
---

Menu

[Contact Us](https://www.merrillgardens.com/contact-us)

- [Home](https://www.merrillgardens.com/)
- [Who We Are](https://www.merrillgardens.com/who-we-are)
- [Communities](https://www.merrillgardens.com/communities)
- [Careers](https://www.merrillgardens.com/careers)
- [News](https://blog.merrillgardens.com)

[![Merrill Gardens logo](https://blog.merrillgardens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/MerrillGardens_January2024/images/m-logo.png?width=144&height=135&name=m-logo.png "Merrill Gardens logo")](https://www.merrillgardens.com/)

[206-676-5300](tel:206-676-5300) [Email](https://www.merrillgardens.com/contact-us)

![Meet Ron, Iris and Derek](https://blog.merrillgardens.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/derek_pbpq6y.jpg)

# Meet Ron, Iris and Derek

- Home
- [Merrill Gardens Blog](https://blog.merrillgardens.com)
- Meet Ron, Iris and Derek

[The Team at Merrill Gardens](https://blog.merrillgardens.com/author/the-team-at-merrill-gardens) 09/07/2023

[0 Comments](https://blog.merrillgardens.com/meet-ron-iris-and-derek#postComment)

 1 Minutes

It's time to release three more incredible videos in our "30 Videos For 30 Years" series. Getting to know these residents was so much fun! 

This year, the Merrill Family of Senior Living Communities launched a "Kindness Initiative". We partnered with kindness expert, Linda Cohen, to try and encourage our team members and residents to complete random acts of kindness - as well as practice kindness in their everyday life!

For this reason - we thought it was even more special that we interview Ron, who began handing out "BE KIND" buttons years ago. He has handed out thousands of buttons, receiving really positive feedback from many of the people he's given buttons to. Hear Ron's story by [clicking here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNTKmwL3-fE).

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VNTKmwL3-fE?si=FzljYOlL_EjEo9Eh" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Iris climbed Mount Kilimanjaro at 80 years old. Yes — you read that right, no — that is not a typo. 80 years old! She described the experience as "an adventure, exciting, and a challenge". Hear more about Iris' climb by watching this video. 

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X7xlU4s3PVY?si=qlh3l81r6bi7vMr6" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Meet Derek: an avid traveler and piano player, and a resident of Merrill Gardens at Bankers Hill (CA). Derek has gone on incredible adventures with his sons... also known as his favorite travel buddies. Have you ever seen an elephant tusk come through your window? Derek has! Learn more by [clicking here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQCMpf50fkg).

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FQCMpf50fkg?si=aSrWI2bmW9XiZ4K9" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

---

#### Tag:

#### Share:

- [Follow us on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.merrillgardens.com/meet-ron-iris-and-derek)
- [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.merrillgardens.com/meet-ron-iris-and-derek&text=Meet%20Ron,%20Iris%20and%20Derek)
- [Follow us on Linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.merrillgardens.com/meet-ron-iris-and-derek)
- [Follow us on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.merrillgardens.com/meet-ron-iris-and-derek&text=Meet%20Ron,%20Iris%20and%20Derekdescription=It's%20time%20to%20release%20three%20more%20incredible%20videos%20in%20our)

---

##### [More posts](https://blog.merrillgardens.com/)

### Leave a Comment Below

---

![W3C](https://blog.merrillgardens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MerrillGardens_January2024/images/wcag2.1AA-blue-v_jaqpmq.png?width=368&name=wcag2.1AA-blue-v_jaqpmq.png "W3C")

###### Merrill Gardens

[1938 Fairview Avenue E #300 Seattle, WA 98102](https://www.merrillgardens.com/communities) [206-676-5300](tel:206-676-5300)

<https://www.facebook.com/MerrillSeniorLiving>

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/merrill-gardens>

<https://www.instagram.com/merrillgardens>

<https://vimeo.com/MerrillGardens>

- [Privacy Policy](https://www.merrillgardens.com/privacy-policy)
- [Accessibility and Non Discrimination](https://www.merrillgardens.com/accessibility-statement)
- [Do Not Share My Personal Information/Limit the Use or Disclosure of My Sensitive Personal Information](https://conversionlogix.com/ccpa-opt-out/)

Copyright © 2026 Merrill Gardens

[Equal Opportunity Housing](https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp)