Featured Resident: Mike Russell
Cottage Resident since April 2025

Mike and Nancy are some of our youngest and most active residents. They met in California, where they married in 1990. Mike is an Army veteran who served with the 82nd Airborne Division located at Fort Bragg, NC. Fortunately, Mike never served during wartime.

When Mike first moved to California, he managed an apartment building – where he met Nancy, who was one of the residents. He later began working for the government as an Animal Service Officer, a role he held for the next 22 years. He describes his work as protecting animal law – investigating cruelty cases, rescues (including once rescuing 143 cats from a hoarder), and testifying for the safety of animals. His work involved “all animals that were not human,” including horses, cows, snakes, dogs, cats, and more.

In 2020, he and Nancy decided it was time to leave California and move to Florida, where their son and granddaughter live. They settled in Suntree and soon began thinking about their long-term plans.

Nancy started researching options for their senior years. They wanted to make sure their family would not have to worry about providing care or financial support if their needs changed.

Ultimately, they decided they wanted a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community). They found Peace of Mind, both medically (every level of care they would ever need) and financially (knowing they have a contract that would always allow them to stay) at Buena Vida Estates.

In April 2025, they moved into a cottage home at The Cottages at Buena Vida Estates. Mike admits he was hesitant at first,  thinking he was moving into a place with “old people.” Instead, he quickly discovered he is busier and more active now than he was living in Suntree. He tells everyone it’s a beautiful place and the food is above his expectations.

Mike even hoisted his fishing boat into his garage over one of their cars. It didn’t take long before someone noticed he was a fisherman and asked if he liked to fish, especially since he could now fish right out his back door!

These days, Mike has also taken on another role. He has become the “keeper of the koi” – or as he proudly calls it, the Assistant Director of the Buena Vida Tilapia Relocation Program! The tilapia out-breed and out-eat the koi fish in both ponds, one at the Cottages and one on the Main Campus. Thinning out the tilapia makes room for the koi to breed, and the tilapia are safely released into a nearby canal.

To date, Mike has relocated 426 tilapia from both ponds!