Fairfield Center for DISABILITIES director retires
LANCASTER − Edwin Payne became the Fairfield Center for DISABILITIES and Cerebral Palsy executive director in 1997 on in interim basis. At least the retired medical doctor thought it would be on an interim basis.
He kept the job until he retired last week, with Joshua Stevens replacing him.
“I just stayed on as the permanent one,” Payne, 80, said. “I had retired from radiology and I was on the board of directors in December. And our executive director quit unexpectedly. I said, ‘Well, I'm free now. I could be a volunteer director until they get things straightened out.'”
Payne, a Chillicothe native, said the agency tried to hire a permanent director, but that none ever worked out.
“So I just sort of stayed on and never left,” he said. “I enjoy working with the staff. I'm most proud of the staff I worked with. I've always had a great staff.”
The center at 681 E. Sixth Ave provides four services, each designed to assist people in living full lives within their community. It offers medical appointment transportation, home ramp construction and offers free medical equipment.
Its main focus, though, is its adult day program, which the center said provides support to people as they explore their personal interests, learn essential life skills and move towards a fulfilled life.
Payne previously said there is a misconception that the agency is affiliated with the Fairfield County Board of Developmental Disabilities. But the two are not affiliated and the Center for DISABILITIES is its own organization.
Payne said he never found any aspect of the job too difficult, but that getting grants wasn't always easy.
“Thank goodness that the people I hired, they proceeded to really help out in that regard,” he said. “We worked with the state and were able to get extra vehicles that way. When I started we only had one vehicle. Now we have 16 vehicles. We've gotten those through a federal grant.”
Payne said he doesn't have any definite plans yet, but that he and his wife will be taking their annual trip to Walt Disney World in December. He also enjoys reading and photography.
“Right now, I think it's going to work out for me,” Payne said of retirement life. “I'm getting tired now. I'm 80 years old now and I've been working for 50 years. I think I'm going to relax now.”
Payne is an Ohio University graduate and went to medical school at the University of Cincinnati. He completed the latter's three-year radiology program. His medical career stretched from 1972 to 1994. Payne said he still occasionally comes across some of his former patients to this day.
The center staff will host a retirement celebration for Payne and open house from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the center. Payne said he will be at the event.