Happy Mother's Day!

Mary, Lynn's grandmother
(here about age 16), was the
inspiration for her work in
the field of aging. 

My mom's goal in life was to be a mother - she often said it was all she had ever wanted since she was a child. Thanks to me, she got to celebrate her first Mother's Day, and then went on to have a beautiful baby boy, who tragically only lived for three-and-a-half years. Then a miracle: she became the mother of twin sons when she was almost 40! God's blessing.

Evelyn, Lynn's mother (here,
age 17), always wanted to
be a mother.

As my "best volunteer" throughout my years of work with centenarians, she was commonly known as "Lynn's Mom," which she enjoyed, and that said it all.

New mother - Lynn's mom,
Evelyn. She's pictured here
with Lynn on her lap.

We wish a very Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers - and, yes, some great great grandmothers - everywhere! And I offer this message: Treasure your mother. Though she may drive you nuts sometimes, she is one-of-a-kind, a unique gift to be cherished - always. And the older you become, the more you will find this true.

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Happy 106th Birthday, Maynard!

Maynard and his daughter, Diane, attend-
ed the Centennial Luncheon, celebrating
Arizona's 100 years of statehood in
February, 2012.

Maynard White celebrates his 106th birthday on May 8th, with a big birthday party at the Chandler (AZ) Senior Center.

Despite recent health challenges – all of which Maynard has successfully overcome – his goal is living to be America's oldest man, following in the footsteps of Walter Bruenig, who lived 114 years. We're rooting for you, Maynard!

Maynard has the help and support of his devoted daughter, Diane, and wonderful community support from his church and the Chandler Senior Center, where he exercises regularly.  He has also been an active volunteer at his church, taking great pleasure in helping others.

Maynard is featured in Lynn's new book "Celebrate 100: Centenarian Secrets to Success in Business and Life" (John Wiley & Sons), which is due out in early July.


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The Longevity Economy: From The Elderly, A New Source Of Economic Growth

By Paul Irving & Anusuya Chatterjee
Forbes.com
(excerpts)

Apple Computer once famously advised us to “think different.”  It’s time to think different about America’s ongoing demographic shift — and to think seriously about the opportunities it holds.

For decades, we’ve been conditioned to believe that growth is driven by the entrepreneurship, consumerism and aspirations of the young. We’ve learned about new technologies, products and services from our children, often the early adopters, who lead us to new ways of communicating, working and playing.  Advertisers and marketers see the young as most open to new fashion and change, and as prime consumer targets. Products and services aimed at the young abound.

Conversely, there is a widely held view that aging hangs like a dark cloud over individuals, families, communities and many countries in the developed world. In the U.S., we hear daily that the aging of more than 78 million baby boomers brings with it the burden of entitlements, the inadequacy of pensions, and the rising costs of healthcare.

However, there’s a silver lining in the cloud of aging – and it’s big.  Aging boomers represent a powerful wave of potential and opportunity.  Longevity is not diminishing their influence; it’s changing their focus as consumers, leaders, learners and workers.  Demography is destiny, and the size of a generation counts. Now is the time for businesses, investors, educators, public policy makers and others to share in the fruits of longevity, or miss the chance to benefit from a massive emerging market. Are the boomers capable of driving the economy forward?

Just look at the numbers. In 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, disposable income for Americans 50+ was over $3 trillion.  That age group also accounted for almost one half of all expenditures: spending over $250 billion on apparel, personal-care products, education and entertainment alone.  Leading market analyst Nielsen, together with BoomAgers, says that boomers are “as likely as younger cohorts to experiment with new products.” There is very clearly is a growing hunger for products and services tailored to satisfy the needs, interests and aspirations of the rapidly growing mature consumer market.

Another enduring misperception is that the 50+ are technologically challenged and unplugged. In fact, aging consumers are tech savvy and eager for more. The same Nielsen report states that boomers spend $7 billion on online shopping, are quite active in social media, and represent one of the highest TV viewership groups — a wake-up call for those in entertainment, marketing and brand integration.  Savvy companies are already serving up content for this target group: from NBC, Proctor & Gamble, and Verizon to Nintendo. These and other forward-thinking companies are both expanding existing businesses, and creating whole new ones focused on an aging demographic in areas such as financial services, lifestyle, dating, fashion, travel and education...

...The longevity economy – understanding and capitalizing on it – and thinking different – can be an important part of the solution to America’s economic challenges and the challenges of many aging societies.  It’s a powerful opportunity driven by dramatic demographic shifts and a hunger for products, services, innovation, and ideas focused on a huge, rapidly evolving and lucrative market – our aging population.

Paul H. Irving is the President of the Milken Institute and Anusuya Chatterjee is a senior economist at the Milken Institute.

The complete article is available online at:http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/04/02/the-longevity-economy-from-the-elderly-a-new-source-of-economic-growth/

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Happy Easter! Happy Birthday!

Happy 100th, Mallie!

Mallie Wright, who celebrated her 100th birthday on March 25th, loves to collect antiques and has a large collection of antique lamps.

Mallie and her late husband, a pastor, spent many years in the ministry. She remains very active in church and still lives in her own home. 

Mallie has two siblings: one lived into her 90s, the other lived to be 100, as well.  Mallie loves spending time with her family.  She has one son, Knox, who is deceased, and one daughter, Betty, one grandson, Gary, and his wife, Lisa, two great grandsons, Zachary and Andrew, and a great-great-grand baby on the way.

Happy 100th, Frances!

Frances Meis celebrated her 100th birthday on March 30th. She still lives in her own home and goes on walks two times a day. Frances has always been a proponent of exercise and healthy eating.   

She enjoys being with her family, reading and doing puzzles.

 To post a comment, click on the "Comments" link below or send an email to adler@ncap100s.org.

Happy 100th Trudy Harradine

Trudy’s “secret” to her longevity is ATTITUDE, she declares. She doesn’t only say it, she demonstrates this every day. “I try to stay upbeat and positive, no matter what happens,” she tells and I walk two miles every day.  I don’t let the fact that I now have to use a walker because of my diminished vision stop me.”

Trudy lives in an apartment in a senior residence and takes care of herself, she is quick to point out. “My daughter, Kaye, comes to take me grocery shopping. She gets a kick out of the fact that all the employees know me and stop to say hello, and sometimes help me with my selections. I believe that if you’re nice to people, they will be nice to you.”

Gertrude Boucher was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, the eldest of six children. “I’m the only one to have lived this long – isn’t that amazing,” she says. Both my parents were French-Canadian, and we only spoke French at home. My parents would not allow English in the house. It was their way of ensuring that we retained our heritage. I learned English from the other kids in the neighborhood and then, of course, when I started school. It’s been hard over the years, not having anyone to speak French with. All my brothers and sisters are gone.”

Trudy’s father died when she was fourteen. “Being the eldest I had to work after school and on weekends at a local fruit and vegetable stand to try and help my mother make ends meet. But I was lucky – I got to finish high school.  Some kids in our circumstances weren’t able to. 

With a high school diploma, Trudy was able to get a job at the Federal Land Bank of Springfield. “I met my husband, Allen, there and we were married in 1940. My oldest son was born in 1942, then two more. My daughter was born nine and a half years after my youngest son – and believe it or not, she was planned. We were blessed with a girl.

Eventually, we moved to the Rochester, New York area for my husband’s work. After he passed away in 1993, my children wanted me to move closer to one of them, but I wasn’t ready to leave my home – they’ve all moved away – California, Michigan. But I had my friends and I loved my home and so I stayed on. A few years later, I sold my home and moved into an apartment at a senior retirement community in Rochester, so I could have more social connections and activities, which I knew I needed. Then, finally, at 87, I decided my kids were right, and I left New York State – which I hated to do – and moved to Michigan to be near my daughter. I have my own apartment and I’m as independent as I can be at 100. Because of my vision, I can’t play cards any more and it’s difficult to watch TV clearly. But there is a lady here in the complex who is also French-Canadian and we converse, although I must say, she is rather “losing it,” lately. There are plenty of others to socialize with though, and I stay active. I try to make the best and most of all that comes along, and it’s very nice to be close to my grandchildren and great grandchildren. They are all very good to me.”


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Driver's Test Renews More Than License

“I was at the DMV last Saturday renewing my driver’s license before it expired on my birthday (today). The place was an absolute zoo – no neat lines with numbers called out clearly on amplifiers, as they have in some places – this was just chaos, with an automated speaker calling out people’s names – very hard to hear and understand over the din.  I was thinking about how difficult it must be for those intrepid centenarians who would venture in to a similar place to renew their licenses.  I know several centenarians who are driving – all without incident - and many with perfect driving records.  Still, the process of license renewal can be daunting since over a certain age (not me, yet!) many states require an actual driving test and they all require an eye test.  And with so many young people there taking their first driver’s test and teenagers waiting with their parents to obtain their learner’s permit, I must admit that I was feeling a bit out of place.  I thought back to my 16th birthday when I was at a DMV first thing in the morning with my Mom to get my learner’s permit – I didn’t want to waste even one day!  Couldn’t wait to get on the road - especially solo!

Then, by coincidence, along with an e-mail birthday wish from a friend, I received the article below.  The joke’s on me – this lady obviously is not intimidated by her age – or anything else!  I should have known…

105-year-old California woman 'relieved' to pass driver's test with flying colors

By Cristina Corbin 
Published January 28, 2013
FoxNews.com

Edythe Kirchmaier, 105, provided this
photo of herself.

Calvin Coolidge was president and Babe Ruth was having the best season of his career when Edythe Kirchmaier took her first driving test. Last week, she passed her most recent road test at the age of 105.

The California great-grandmother, who has never had so much as a parking ticket, said the test was a snap -- and she never even thought about turning in her card and leaving the driving to someone else.

"I just couldn't imagine myself without a car," Kirchmaier told FoxNews.com. "It just didn't feel very good."

The Santa Barbara resident started out driving on the streets of Chicago in a Model A Ford Coupe back in 1927 while attending graduate school. That was long before the days of traffic jams and $4-per-gallon gas, and Kirchmaier said plenty of other things have changed, too.

"When I learned to drive, there were no rules of the road," said Kirchmaier. "The roads were narrow and there were no signs saying 55 mph or anything like that."

Through it all, Kirchmaier, who now drives a 1997 Dodge Caravan, has maintained a perfect driving record for 85 years -- with no accidents, speeding tickets or parking violations to report.

"I think I’m a pretty good driver," said Kirchmaier. "I feel safe about getting my driver's license renewed because I’ve never had an accident."

Kirchmaier took her latest DMV driver's test on Jan. 23, the day after she turned 105. It'll be good until 2017.

Born in 1908 in Dayton, Ohio, Kirchmaier moved to the Santa Barbara area with her husband after the couple were married. She has worked as a volunteer for a local non-profit, Direct Relief International, for the past 40 years.The organization has a Facebook app dedicated to Kirchmaier, which allows visitors to light a candle on her virtual birthday cake. Her goal is to get 105,000 likes for the agency. Click to visit Direct Relief Int'l and light a candle on Edthye's birthday cake.

"For nearly 40 years, Edythe has been a volunteer at Direct Relief International, supporting the nonprofit's mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by disaster, poverty and civil unrest. Edythe's invaluable service spans across many of Direct Relief's historic disaster relief efforts, including Haiti, the Japan earthquake and most recently Hurricane Sandy," states the site, which has nearly 70,000 likes.

Kirchmaier is also one of the older drivers on the information superhighway: Kirchmaier, who has an active Facebook profile of her own, is reportedly the oldest member on the social media site. 

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Season's Greetings!

Season's Greetings to all... and 

Happy Birthday, Essie Mae Redmon McCants 

On Christmas Day, 1912, a very special gift arrived at the Redmon home in Brewton, Alabama, in the form of a baby girl her parents named Essie Mae.  This little baby went on to live for 100 years.

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Charles “Cliff” Kayhart, 100

Charles "Cliff" Kayhart, 100; inset WWII service photo

Cliff Kayhart, a U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran, recalls the day he stood on the airstrip of Iowa Jima in 1945 and remarked how low a U.S. B-29 bomber was flying over the island.  He later learned that it was the Enola Gay he had seen, on its way to drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. 

Cliff was sharing this memory and many others from his WWII experiences with a group of fellow veterans from South Carolina who were participating in an Honor Flight trip to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Cliff Kayhart at the
WWII Memorial in Wash D.C.

“I was on Iwo Jima at the height of the battle. We landed two days after the flag was raised on Mt. Suribachi. I was commanding an Army Signal Corp battalion.  Our job was to establish a communications system so that all the units on the island could be coordinated. After six months, I was ordered back to headquarters at Fort Shafter in Hawaii. It was while I was waiting for my air transport to take me to my next assignment that I saw the Enola Gay. I became the commanding officer of the inter-island radio station in Hawaii and stayed on for a while after the war ended. In 1946 I left the military as a Captain and returned to civilian life.”

Cliff picked up his career on the engineering side of the communications industry. “I had always been fascinated by radios and airplanes, ever since I was a kid growing up in Bloomingdale, New Jersey. I built my first radio when I was nine and as a teenager built a Heathkit airplane in the basement of our home. But I didn’t see it as a career, and became a runner on Wall Street at 17, and then I went to work for the New York Telephone Company. I soon realized that I wouldn’t get far without a college education, so I decided to go to Indiana where I could study aeronautical engineering, a field I really loved. I graduated in 1934.  It was the Depression, but I got a job in the developing radio industry; it was an exciting time to be in communications. I worked for all of the big corporations at that time: RCA as a quality control manager, then as a service supervisor at Philco Radios, and then at the aircraft instrument division of Bendix Aviation in New Jersey. 

When we got into the war, I joined the Army Signal Corp. They sent me to Harvard and then MIT to study radar.  After my training I was assigned to the Army Air Corp and stationed at Robbins Field in Georgia, briefly. After that I was sent to Hawaii and then on to Iwo Jima.“

Cliff at home with his new "toy"... an IPad.

Back home, Cliff joined Magnavox in 1947 as their first field engineer. “Eventually, they sent me to Greenville, South Carolina,  where I founded a new division for the company.  I retired in 1976 and decided that this would be my home for the rest of my life.”

Today, Cliff keeps current on new technology and recently bought an iPad.  “I like the new technological toys,” he says.  He continues to live in his own home and to drive. There is only one area where he is old-fashioned.  “I still mow my lawn with a push mower – it’s good exercise.”

Visit the Honor Flight website: Honor Flight Network

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