William (Bill) J. Laing was born on Staten Island NY in 1929. He attended local schools there and graduated from Wagner College on the Island. He joined the US Navy during the Korean War. After his military service, he attended NY University and completed his Master’s Degree in Psychology. He became a Psychology Professor at Suffolk College on Long Island where he worked for many years until he decided to take an early retirement from education. He was ready to take leave from his beloved Long Island and move to Florida.

Bill chose to locate in beautiful Sarasota, Florida where he proceeded to build a successful career in real estate. He acquired all the trappings of success, including a lovely home and a large boat. One day, a boat trip set the stage for a heart attack. Although the attack was not life threatening, it jolted him into thinking about his age and his health. He began questioning his aging process as a single Gay man. He could not picture himself ever living in a straight nursing home where he would have to live in the closet during his elder years. Bill decided to create his own community where aging Gays and Lesbians would live in an accepting, supportive and safe environment.