By Laura Hipshire

THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Sue Sprague is a great example for someone wanting to make a career change later in life—at the age of 57 she decided to pursue a career in massage therapy and has been interested in the field ever since.

“I had an advantage by starting at an older age,” Sprague says. “My friends had the money to pay for massages.” Sprague attended massage therapy school for one year and then received a certificate in the field. She owned a business in Royal Oak for 18 years after that.

Sprague’s career change spiked a string of other endeavors—mostly  volunteering in various ways at Henry Ford Village, where she lives with her husband, Bob.

Jump start

When the Spragues moved to Henry Ford Village, she brought her expertise in massage to campus. She helped start a massage therapy program, which has been in place for the past eight years.

Sprague oversees the program by screening and referring clients to massage therapists Elizabeth Riha and Linda Klebba.

“It’s a stress reliever and very therapeutic,” she says. Appointments are scheduled on an as-needed basis. Currently, approximately 20 to 30 clients receive massage therapy at the community. “Some people come three times a week,” she says.

Spreading her wings

Sprague also helps out with maintenance at the chapel and is an active member of the Protestant Council. 

Additionally, she’s been a volunteer at the Treasure Chest for the past ten years. The Treasure Chest sells items donated by community members and benefits the charitable Benevolent Fund on campus.

May I show you to your seat?

Recently, she added a new volunteering gig to her list—she’s an official “co-captain” at the City of Dearborn’s Ford Community Performing Arts Center.