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Stamford's Pacific House Renames Recovery Program After Former Addict

STAMFORD, Conn. -- After overcoming his own battle with drugs, alcohol and homelessness, Sidney Elmore paid it forward by helping others who sought help at Stamford's Pacific House successfully recover. 

Pacific House renamed its recovery program the Sidney Elmore Recovery Program,
in honor of an extraordinary client  who overcame his own struggles and served the organization for 20 years.

Pacific House renamed its recovery program the Sidney Elmore Recovery Program, in honor of an extraordinary client who overcame his own struggles and served the organization for 20 years.

Photo Credit: contributed
Pacific House officials and workers gathered recently to bid farewell to longtime worker and former client Sidney Elmore, whose work inspired the Stamford organization to rename its recovery program for him.

Pacific House officials and workers gathered recently to bid farewell to longtime worker and former client Sidney Elmore, whose work inspired the Stamford organization to rename its recovery program for him.

Photo Credit: contributed

Pacific House is now honoring him by renaming their recovery program for the man they call the center's spiritual leader. At Elmore's recent retirement party, officials announced the new Elmore Recovery Program, part of a variety of programs offered by Pacific House.

“This is the greatest moment I’ve had in my life. There’s no way I would have thought, me, after thirty-some years, to put the bottle down, put the cork in it and leave it alone. It’s paid off, it’s given me my life back,” said Elmore to a packed house. “I thank God for Pacific House because there was no way I would have been strong enough to do it alone.” 

Rafael Pagan, Jr., executive director of Pacific House, presented Elmoren with a plaque and read a proclamation from the City of Stamford.

“Sidney is very much a part of the fabric of our organization, he’s been an ambassador to our volunteers," Pagan said.

Pacific House board Chairman Peter Rugen said Elmore represents every person who has struggled with recovery. 

“He’s the spiritual leader of this place, I can’t tell you how much we’re going to miss him," Rugen said.

Those who attended his retirement party were able to record their wishes and memories of Elmore's work on video and in memory books, officials said.

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