What sets Blue Skies of Texas apart from other veteran-friendly senior living communities in San Antonio and beyond? A spirit of service that has defined us from the moment we opened our doors in 1970 as Air Force Village. Here, we all look out for one another—and that’s especially true when it comes to our dedicated staff members.
Not surprisingly, several Blue Skies team members have a military background, like many of our residents. One standout is Assistant Director of Resident Services Torry Winfrey, who also happens to be a retired Air Force E-7 Master Sergeant. We sat down with this unstoppable veteran who now devotes his time to serving those who’ve (also) served.
A DEDICATION TO SERVICE TAKES ROOT
The oldest of seven children growing up in Chicago’s South Side, Torry spent 22 years as an Air Force Food Service and Lodging Specialist. He rose through the ranks from line cook to Dining Hall Manager, where he oversaw the preparation of over 2,000 meals each day. His service also included 10 assignments and eight deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. “I really honed my service skills both stateside with the Air Force and overseas with the joint operations, supporting whatever the mission was at the time,” Torry says.
After retiring from the Air Force, Torry moved to San Antonio to be closer to his two children and immediately found work as a hotel catering coordinator. Later, his career path led him to become a reservations manager at Lackland Air Force Base—just a stone’s throw from Blue Skies East—where he dedicated himself to serving military trainees and their families.
“My nickname at Lackland was ‘The Fireman,’ because I was always rushing to the scene whenever something urgent came up,” Torry laughs. “One time, the plumbing went out and I had to relocate 180 people … fast. It took lots of scrambling, but it was also very satisfying to be able to take care of the men and women in uniform and their families.”
FINDING HIS CALLING AS A BLUE SKIES TEAM MEMBER
While he was working full-time at Lackland, Torry’s professional and military connections landed him a part-time job at the always-hopping Cochran’s Bistro at our San Antonio retirement community. “I found a new joy and passion there providing tasty, nutritious meals to the retired veterans and later to civilians who also joined our community,” he says.
Torry’s part-time job soon morphed into a full-time career as hospitality manager, where he instilled a “can-do, will-do” attitude into his 10-member team. “I even had T-shirts with that slogan made up for the staff to wear,” he says with a smile.
One accomplishment that brings Torry particular pride is making the meal pickup service at Blue Skies even more flexible. “Blue Skies has some of the best food in San Antonio, but sometimes residents are too busy enjoying all the activities and amenities to dine in,” he explains. “After a few months of taking notes and strategizing, we were able to change our takeout policy to better accommodate everyone’s busy schedule. That’s what service is all about.”
HELPING RESIDENTS DISCOVER WHAT CAN BE
Near the end of 2025, Torry assumed his new role as Assistant Director of Resident Services for our veteran-friendly senior living community. He rapidly discovered that there’s no such thing as a “typical” day. “I’m on a steep learning curve,” he laughs, “but I still bring that can-do, will-do attitude to work with me.”
On any given day, you might find Torry troubleshooting internet issues, helping new residents settle in, and making sure maintenance requests are handled quickly—and done right the first time. “Outstanding service means helping residents live their healthiest, most vibrant lives and treating them as if they were my own parents or grandparents,” he says.
While Torry thrives on meeting big challenges head-on, the smallest interactions can matter even more. “Sometimes it’s as simple as sitting with someone and asking how their day is going,” Torry explains. “Even if they’re not in the mood for a long conversation, you can see it in their faces that they’re thankful for someone who cares.”
“Residents are truly appreciative here, too,” Torry adds. “One time I picked up a scrap of paper that was lying on the carpet, and several residents came up to thank me. That kind of gratitude is hard to find.”
SHARING STORIES AND BONDING WITH FELLOW VETERANS
For Torry, the social connections he’s cultivated with our resident veterans make every day at Blue Skies more meaningful. “One of our newer residents is a retired Air Force Master Sergeant and career drill instructor,” Torry says. “When he found out that I had also spent time as a drill instructor on special duty, we bonded immediately, and love to share ‘war stories’ to this day.”
Last November, Torry also had the honor of being the keynote speaker at our Veterans Day ceremony, where he recalled his struggles growing up, his years in the Air Force, and his tour of duty in the Middle East after the September 11th attacks. He also touched upon the sacrifices military families make during deployments and the difficulties of having to move frequently—a message that resonated with one Blue Skies resident. “After my speech, Paul W., a retired Lieutenant Colonel, pulled me aside and told me how challenging it was for his daughter to keep adjusting to new schools,” Torry says. “It was an emotional moment of bonding for us both.”
Another resident Torry connected with after his speech was 97-year-old Mrs. Clara Johnson, who was among the first Black women to enlist in the Air Force. “We sat together in the library, and she shared stories about her remarkable life and how she grew up in the South Side of Chicago, just like me,” Torry beams. “We laughed and almost cried, and it was just beautiful.”
EXPERIENCE THE CAMARADERIE OF OUR VETERAN-FRIENDLY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
As San Antonio’s premier Life Plan Community, Blue Skies has built a culture of service on the values of the Armed Forces while warmly welcoming vibrant seniors who’ve served in education, medicine, and all walks of life. It’s also a culture that draws in dedicated staff members who, like Torry, go above and beyond the call of duty every day.
Combine that with a chore-free lifestyle and nationally recognized healthcare, and it’s easy to see why Blue Skies is the #1 retirement community in Texas and #8 in the nation.
To schedule your tour, click here or call 866-553-5389.
