Surprise Performances: A Son Sings for His Mom
For 90-year-old Connie Pajak, there’s no better surprise than seeing her son, musician Tim Ceccehetelli, walk through the door of her skilled nursing residence with his guitar.
This summer, Tim surprised his mom not once, but twice, with special performances for the residents at Leavitt Family Jewish Home, where Connie is a resident.
The first performance took place just before Mother’s Day. With the help of Cheryl Gumlaw, Director of Life Enrichment at JGS Lifecare, Tim arrived without telling Connie he was performing. When she saw him, her face lit up.
“She loved it,” Tim said. “She was smiling from ear to ear the whole time.”
Tim, who grew up loving The Beatles and began playing guitar in eighth grade, began his music career by attending open mic nights, gradually building the confidence to perform in front of an audience. After several years of persistence — and some early struggles — Tim found his footing as a performer. Today, he plays approximately 100 shows a year. His repertoire includes music from artists such as James Taylor, Jim Croce, Simon & Garfunkel and Neil Diamond, although he also plays the classics requested by the residents such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Bing Crosby.
Tim is grateful to the many members of the Leavitt Family Jewish Home (JNH) team who have helped make his mother feel comfortable and welcome. “I feel fortunate we found JNH to be my mom’s new home.”
He gives special credit to Gumlaw, who helped arrange these surprise performances. He also appreciates Diane, Jamaris, Byron, Melanie, Jesse and the many other staff members who care for Connie each day.
Connie has also found ways to continue enjoying one of her own favorite pastimes. These days she can often be found playing her keyboard in the A1 common room.
On August 3, Cheryl helped make magic happen again. Tim returned for an encore performance—and once again, Connie had no idea he was coming.
“I never tell Connie when Tim is coming,” Cheryl explained. “It’s always a pleasant surprise for her, and we all love seeing the absolute joy on her face.”
And once again, when Connie saw her son walk through the door, she asked with delight:
“Is that who I think it is?”
For Connie, the performances are about much more than music. They are special moments shared with her son — moments of joy, connection and a little bit of the outside world brought right to her home at Levitt Family Jewish Home. And for everyone lucky enough to be there, seeing Connie’s face light up when Tim walks through the door is a reminder that sometimes the greatest gift is simply showing up for someone you love.
