SANFORD — Eleven years ago, the Sanford Springvale YMCA was looking for a director for The Trafton Center, the Y’s senior center on Elm Street. At the same time, Thea Murphy, the owner of a Sanford fitness franchise and a tanning salon, was pondering the future; it was 2008, the height of the recession, and consumers were watching their pennies.

Murphy said she was approached by Merilee Perkins, the senior programming director of the Y, who told her she would be perfect for the senior center director’s job.

“I prayed about it and tried to figure out what to do,” Murphy said. “It felt like God was saying ‘I’m sending this woman (Perkins) to talk to you, can’t you just talk to her.’”

Murphy heeded the advice from on high, had the conversations with Y officials and was named director.

“It’s been amazing, it really has,” said Murphy.

“We were fortunate to find such a caring, kind, dedicated individual that provided the support and leadership, and helped to bring Trafton Center to more than a social place to a resource for seniors to benefit from,” said Sanford Springvale YMCA Director Andy Orazio.

On Friday, Murphy officially retired, after 11 years.

The seniors threw a party for her. About 125 came for lunch and it seemed, she said, like the remainder of the membership stopped by throughout Friday afternoon to wish her well.

In all, the Trafton Center has about 220 members, estimated Orazio.

Murphy said the center sees about 60 to 70 seniors a day depending on the programming, some drop by daily, others every few days. Members hail from Sanford, Springvale village, Shapleigh, Alfred and Acton.

“For some members, if they’re not here, they’re home alone, watching television,” she said.

During her tenure, the Trafton Center has bloomed, literally, with the addition of a greenhouse where members can plant seeds and watch them mature and blossom, and a courtyard, where people can sit in the sunshine and enjoy a cup of tea and conversation. There’s the Trafton Cafe, where people can drop by for coffee or a light lunch, and there is loads of programming, from yoga to power aging, line dancing, tai chi, pottery, painting, and a whole lot more.

One popular activity has been the Trafton Travelers group, who have taken trips to New York City, Washington, D.C., Niagara Falls, the Great Smoky Mountains, and to Ireland, as well as many day trips.

Succeeding Murphy as director is Robin Hewitt Bibber. They worked together for about three weeks to help ease the transition.

“If I had to name someone, she’d be the one,” said Murphy, who pointed out that Bibber had worked with seniors in her previous job, and so was a familiar face to members.

What’s next? Well, Murphy and her husband Skip plan a road trip, they’re expecting a grandchild in May, and she’ll volunteer some at the Trafton Center.

On Tuesday, she planned to stop by and volunteer with the Co-op program she started that helps seniors, who often live alone, purchase grocery items more economically, and in the quantities they need.

What’s been the best part of being the senior center director?

“I like the connections formed between myself and the members,” she said. “Watching someone coming through the door for the first time, being tentative and not sure, and then making friends and being active and healthy.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.