Renata’s love for motorcycles started when her husband asked her on their first date— he asked her to accompany him on a ride around the neighborhood. This was something Renata had never done before, and she was fairly surprised her parents gave her permission to go with him. After the initial ride, Renata was hooked. She and her husband would go on at least a few “rides” a week. Later in life, they even were a part of a club that went riding together to different locations. Renata and her husband owned a few motorcycles throughout their life together. They even owned a sidecar, but its main purpose was to allow their children to ride alongside their father.
Family has always been very important to Renata. She spent most of her time caring for her kids, while also caring for her mother when she became ill. Renata was a foster mom for quite some time, fostering a total of 13 babies. Currently residing at Brookdale Litchfield Hills in Torrington, CT, Renata is one of the Welcome Ambassadors. She enjoys helping new residents acclimate to the Brookdale Community by showing them around and having them attend activities with her. She still participates in many hobbies, such as bowling, playing bingo, listening to music and attending social events.
After her husband passed away 10 years ago, Renata was separated from her motorcycles and hasn’t ridden on one since. Though she spent her life on a bike, she actually never had the chance to ride in a motorcycle sidecar. Renata says that riding always gave her a certain exhilaration that she wants so badly to feel again. She wishes to have the opportunity to once more experience the feeling of being “free” with the wind in her hair in a motorcycle sidecar. Renata says, “I think it would make him proud that I did this while he watched from heaven!”
Wish of a Lifetime and Brookdale worked together with Bud Wilkinson to arrange a day for Renata to take a ride in a motorcycle sidecar for the first time. She met many motorcycle enthusiasts as they partook in a Green Eggs and Ham breakfast together at the Toymaker’s Cafe. Renata was presented with a custom designed motorcycle helmet created by Bell Helmets, Doc’s Motorcycle Parts and Explicit Airbrush. A big thanks to everyone involved for giving Renata a day that she will never forget!
Photography by Neil Tolhurst Photograhy
