Peter T. Wyckoff, founder and executive director of the Minnesota Senior Federation-Metropolitan Region for the past 33 years, announced his retirement effective the end of the year. Throughout his tenure Wyckoff was at the forefront on most issues of aging, leading the nonprofit from a metro entity to a statewide organization advocating for seniors in every corner of the state. It didn’t take long for the rest of the country to pay attention.

Wyckoff is a nationally recognized speaker and writer on the Medicare Moderation Act and leads the Federation’s nationally acclaimed Prescription Drug Canadian Importation program. He currently serves on the Board of National Coalition of Consumer Organization on Aging (NCCO) and has just completed six years on the Board of the National Council On the Aging (NCOA). He continues to serve on the NCOA Leadership Council. He testified on behalf of these groups before the U.S. Senate finance committee (1998) and the U.S. Health and Human Service Task Force on Drug Importation (2004). In addition, he served on the Board of the Minnesota Housing Partnership and is currently vice chair of the Housing Preservation Project. He also serves as president of the Karen Wyckoff Rein in Sarcoma Fund.

“Our mission has always been one of seniors organizing, helping and advocating for themselves. The community doesn’t need another social service agency. We found that when older people unite and become a larger voice for positive social change, the entire community benefits, not just seniors,” said Wyckoff, 62.

Among the notable accomplishments of the Minnesota Senior Federation were establishing the Federation Pharmacy, the state’s first senior-owned nonprofit drug store (1976); sponsoring the nation’s first major medical insurance program on a group basis (1979); winning a landmark case with Minnesota attorney general’s office against nursing homes that charged more to private-pay patients than to patients on Medicaid (1988); organizing the first prescription drug run to Winnipeg, Canada in protest over the high cost of prescription drugs in the United States (1995); filing an historic lawsuit over injustices in the Medicare reimbursement system that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court (1999); and to date, recovering more than $4 million of pension benefits for retirees and their beneficiaries (2006).

An active Presbyterian minister, Wyckoff has served as an interim pastor and on the denomination’s committee on ministry and nominating committee. He currently acts as trustee of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area and he has served on the Board of Governors of Mount Sinai Hospital in Minneapolis.

Mr. Wyckoff received a BA from Ohio Wesleyan University and a MDIV from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He resides in Shoreview with his wife, Sue Wyckoff, has one surviving son, and one grandchild. An active singer, Peter was a member of the Minnesota Chorale for six years.  

In recognition of Peter Wyckoff’s contributions to the community, the Minnesota Senior Federation will host a luncheon, Jan. 30, 2007, at the Northland Inn in Brooklyn Park to honor his legacy, celebrate the Federation’s future, and launch an endowment campaign in his name. The public is invited to attend the ticketed event. Information on tickets will available in October.