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Former CEO of The Kendal Corporation Inducted into Continuing Care Hall of Fame

October 27, 2021

John Diffey, former CEO of The Kendal Corporation, was inducted into the Continuing Care Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 24, during a reception in Atlanta, Georgia. As one of four inductees nominated into the Class of 2021, John was recognized for his impact at Kendal and within the field of senior living.

John dedicated over 40 years to the senior living field. He served as President and CEO of The Kendal Corporation from 1992 until his retirement in 2016 and was known as a champion of highly participative leadership and governance, diversity and inclusion and outcomes in measurement practices. In addition to serving The Kendal Corporation in this role, John also was dedicated to improving the senior living field. He was highly involved in LeadingAge and participated in several committees. He also was a member on the Board of Directors, a co-founding chair of the leadership development program and president of the North Carolina chapter of LeadingAge. Due to his extensive involvement in LeadingAge, and his unique ability to rally resources in the service of others – as was the case in leading Kendal’s response to the devastation brought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 – John received the organization’s 2006 Award of Honor.

“It is with great pride that I accept this prestigious award,” said John. “It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve The Kendal Corporation and work in a field that touches the lives of and gives back to so many.”

At the ceremony, John was introduced by The Kendal Corporation’s President and CEO Sean Kelly. Sean – who succeeded John – spoke on John’s vision and conspicuous commitment to Kendal’s values.

“The remarkable passion and commitment for transforming the experience of aging that John displayed during his tenure as CEO is still felt across the Kendal System today,” said the current President and CEO. “I carry the lessons that he taught me and the values that he instilled in me during his time at Kendal through every action I take.”

The Continuing Care Hall of Fame was created in 2015 by A.V. Powell and Associates LLC to acknowledge influential individuals and organizations that have made meaningful contributions to continuing care retirement communities and continuing care at home programs. Honorees are inducted every two years by an advisory committee and are chosen based on specific qualities as outlined by the committee.

Bill Sims, Mary Alice Ryan and Larry Minnix joined John in this year’s class. And John joins Lloyd Lewis, The Kendal Corporation’s first CEO, who was inducted in the inaugural class to the Continuing Care Hall of Fame in 2015.

Kendal congratulates John for his well-deserved induction to the Continuing Care Hall of Fame and his values-based service to Kendal and this field of aging!

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