By Sarah Morgan
Mike Bacon is a longtime resident of New Canaan and has dedicated himself to professional success and community service, specifically through his projects and volunteer work with the Lapham Community Center.
Born and raised in Darien, Bacon graduated from Darien High School in 1978 before earning his degree from Connecticut College. His career path led him through mutual funds sales for Phoenix Equity for over ten years, after which he founded Connecticut Brokerage, where he has served as CEO since its inception in 1996. As a father of five children, Bacon recognizes the importance of giving back to the community that has supported him throughout his career. In 2010, he founded Fit Adventures, a project focusing on health and wellness in the community.
Bacon’s involvement with the Lapham Community Center reinforces his dedication to enhancing the lives of New Canaan residents, particularly its senior citizens. Since 2014, Bacon has volunteered at the Lapham Center, where he has initiated and led several impactful projects. These projects are free and open to all who wish to participate as long as they pre-register.
“My initial work at the Lapham Center was an experiment for them and me,” Bacon remarked. “And now, after a decade, I continue to be ever impressed by the sincere dedication of the Lapham staff. Aggie, Kathy, and Stephanie are constantly striving to make a great thing even better,” he continued. Together, Aggie Aspinwall, Kathy Collins, and Stephanie Stiles are responsible for most of the programming at the Lapham Center and have all witnessed Mike’s commitment to his work at the center and how large of an impact he has on people’s lives. Kathy spoke highly of Mr. Bacon and stated, “We are so lucky to have Mike volunteering at Lapham. He is a true gem. His warm smile and positive energy ensure everyone feels welcome and encouraged to participate.”
Bacon’s commitment to the Lapham Center has resulted in the addition of three significant projects aimed at enriching the lives of the community’s seniors. Fit for Life- Bacon’s most popular program is a weekly group exercise class that meets on Mondays at noon and focuses on strength and balance. By integrating historical trivia questions throughout the program and ensuring that all exercises are safe and scalable to any fitness level, the program has become a favorite weekly activity for many of its participants. “Mike’s class is outstanding. He helps strengthen our bodies and our minds as well with his weekly trivia,” said one participant.
In addition to physical workshops, Mike also leads a Fit for Life Book Talk entitled “The Science and Art of Longevity.” As a group, participants review current health and wellness recommendations in an effort to promote wellness while navigating aging. The next session of the book talk will run for five consecutive Thursdays at 1:00 PM from May 2nd to 30th. For those interested in games, Bacon’s third project is a free Billiards course on Wednesday afternoons at 2:00 PM. Bacon spoke about the many benefits of billiards and playing the game alongside other community members. “Pool is a fun yet challenging game… it’s also an excellent activity for social connection,” he said.
Reflecting on his involvement with the Lapham Center, Bacon expressed his admiration for New Canaan’s commitment to residents of all ages; “So many of us agree that New Canaan is a wonderful place to raise children… The other gem here is the way this town cares for its Senior Citizens. And the commitment never gets old. I’m honored to be part of the team at Lapham Center,”.
For more information on Bacon’s programs and the other offerings for participants of all ages at the Lapham Center, please visit www.newcanaan.info/community/lapham_community_center.
