The residents at Ballard Landmark on Leary Way enjoy a good party and the management loves to oblige them with at least one themed event per month. But on Monday, September 26th it was short-term residents Carroll and Muriel Fellaman who insisted on throwing a party before their return to Florida for the winter. It was a farewell to residents who had become friends and a big thank you for their support during a difficult time for the family. Their grandson Josh Fattal had been held in Iran since Carroll’s 85th birthday, twenty-six months earlier.

Two days before leaving Ballard Landmark, a senior and assisted living community, they had more than enough reason to party: their grandson had been released along with fellow hiker Shane Bauer was actually back on U.S. soil.

Muriel Felleman said the other residents learned their tale of woe in the course of getting acquainted. “They’ve got a grandson at Harvard and I’d say, well I’ve got a grandson in prison in Iran.”

The Fellemans are longtime visitors to the Seattle area; their son Fred and his family live in Ballard. In the summer of 2010 they stayed a few days at Ballard Landmark. For the summer of 2011 they moved in for two months. The management didn’t know about their connection to what were originally three hikers detained in Iran until they learned from another resident. This summer’s diplomatic efforts for the release of the two remaining made the story much more visible. Many residents gathered with the Fellamans to watch the news break on CNN.

The Fellemans are originally from New York, “retired to Florida 16 years ago.” They have five grandchildren. Josh is the second oldest; their only daughter’s younger son. For the last two years the family has been in limbo with very little information about their grandson’s situation and uncertainty about what treatment the detained hikers were receiving. Their daughter Laura has been tireless in working for their release.

During a party which featured a huge cake with the words, “Thank you for your support!” Carroll Felleman fielded questions from a KOMO reporter and other residents while Muriel went from table to table greeting the guests. “It was the isolation,” Carroll answered residents when asked if their grandson had been mistreated, “He says the isolation was terrible.”

With drink levels in the punch bowl dropping, resident Al Jacobsen playing the piano in the adjoining room and a full buffet table the event wasn’t focused on the circumstances that put their daughter’s son into a prison in Iran; just his grandparent’s joy at his release.

“Tell your grandson we sure enjoyed his welcome home,” a resident told Carroll.

Muriel said the minute they heard Josh had been released they thought, “A thank you to these residents is very much in order.” The timing worked out so that even as they planned for a Monday party Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer arrived in New York via Oman and they had had a chance to speak with their grandson on the telephone.

While the hosts mingled and the guests socialized Director of Vitality Leslie Elvebak pointed out various residents. There’s Jordan Cohen who is author, actor and teaches laughter classes; infamous Al Jacobsen at the piano. Leslie nodded towards one table, including “head quilter” Stella Zahn. The quilting group raffled another one of their works last week and raised $250. Earlier that day they had presented the money, plus an additional $100 donation, to their neighbors Ballard Food Bank.

“We are delighted to share our happiness with you,” Carroll said in the only formal remarks of the afternoon party. “Thank you for your interest, your concern, your prayers…”

This won’t be the last party for the Felleman-Fattal family. Grandfather Carroll Felleman hopes they will finally be able to reunite as a family on the east coast. They also plan another thank you celebration for their residential community in Boynton Beach, Florida to likewise acknowledge their support over the last years. In the meantime, “We’re checking out in two days,” Muriel Felleman said, as though Ballard Landmark was the Grand Hotel.

As for whether they will return to Ballard next summer, “At my age I don’t make plans that far ahead,” Carroll Felleman replied.

“At my age,” Muriel Felleman said, “I don’t buy green bananas.”

What they can finally plan, is to see their grandson in person.