Lucy Rakov prepares to launch the next phase in her fascinating life
When the Mercury astronauts lifted off the launch pad on their way to making NASA history in the early 1960s, Lucy Rakov was along for the ride — virtually. The Newton resident, a graduate of Wellesley College, was a member of the IBM programming team that developed the launch sequence software. Now, she has signed on to become part of 2Life history, as a presale depositor in our innovative new Opus middle-market community slated to begin construction in 2023.
“It was so exciting to be at the forefront of knowledge,” Lucy says of her involvement in the space program. “We were developing the first real-time computer system and there were many new programming concepts. No one had done anything like it before.”
Lucy was also a pioneer for women in technology, noting that of the 100 software programmers on the Mercury program, just 11 were women. Ever the trailblazer, she also operated her own
information technology business, Lucy Systems Inc. (LSI), for 22 years, until 2010. Today, Lucy still keeps herself busy with projects, noting that staying active and intellectually engaged is important to her. And it’s a key reason for her interest in being part of the Opus community.
“I like the idea that the people living [at Opus] will be involved in supporting its operation,” she says, pointing to the volunteerism that’s a key element of the Opus model. “I think it will keep challenging us and providing opportunities to get to know each other in meaningful ways.”
Lucy got a chance to meet some of her future neighbors at two Opus events this year. “I met several interesting people, which was fun, and I look forward to meeting more new friends and neighbors,” she says. “One person I met was also a mathematician.”
The Opus site next to the Jewish Community Center in Newton, where Lucy has participated in programs in the past, is also a draw. The location is close to Lucy’s family, and she looks forward to keeping in touch with her six grandchildren.
Like any smart consumer, Lucy did her homework and looked at other senior living properties in the area. But Opus offers greater value. “I like that 2Life is aiming at a more affordable cost than the other places I looked at,” she says, adding that the sales process was refreshing. “I feel very lucky to have worked with sales counselor Dave McKenna. He’s a very nice person and that helped me through this decision.”
While Lucy Rakov has an exciting past filled with impressive achievements, she’s looking forward to launching her next phase at Opus, saying, “It can’t come too soon.”
