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| Canning for a good cause: Piermont's Rob Elder, a newly-minted |
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| Chief Energizer: Ed Pospisil assumed the role of chief of Corinth's volunteer fire department a decade ago. During his tenure, he has been able to secure state-of-the-art equipment to an energized force. |
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| Still in the game at 103: Haverhill's Evelyn Brown's advice to younger members of the community is "Do it while you can." She is pictured with just one of the numerous quilts she makes for sale and as gifts. |
Journal Opinion, Sept. 28, 2022
It can be easily understood why Vermonters live longer than the persons in most other states, there’s so much worth-while to stick around for.” St. Albans Daily Messenger, Nov 1, 1935
If this can
be said about Vermonters, it must also be true of those who live in New
Hampshire and Maine, as those are the only two states with an older population.
The population of all three states is aging more rapidly than in other states.
In times
past, Americans have been ambivalent in their attitudes toward the elderly.
Terms such as frail, decrepit, doddering, stooped, senile, long in the tooth,
or infirm describe the negative sides of old age. Elders were sometimes thought of as being in
the way.
On the other
hand, others celebrated longevity. Elders were sources of accumulated wisdom
gathered from a lifetime of experiences. Many who lived to a ripe old age were
considered as vibrant and “well preserved.”
Newspaper
articles frequently commented on the elderly in their community. In 1873, a
Haverhill columnist wrote, “the healthfulness of our village is often remarked,
and the longevity of its inhabitants is something remarkable.”
Several
years later, newspapers carried the following on Newbury’s “remarkable
percentage of longevity.” In a population of 2,300, “there were no fewer than
42 persons who are more than eighty years of age, still living and of these
seven have passed their ninetieth year.” The writer credited that record to the
relative lack of doctors and lawyers in town.
Better
health care and healthier lifestyles have increased the life expectancy of
residents of the area. An individual that lives past 65 has a good chance of
living to be 80 and beyond. Studies have shown that many “people tend to feel
younger as they get older.” There is something to be said about 80 being the
new 60.
The
remainder of this column is a celebration of eight area residents who are 80
years of age or older and are “still in the game.” As you will see, this means
that they still lead a vigorous and rewarding life, rewarding both for
themselves and for the community in which they live.
Rob Elder of
Piermont is a newly-minted 80-year older, reaching that milestone this
September. I play a round of golf almost daily with Rob and somewhere around
the 4th hole, I ask him about his agenda for the day.
That agenda
is filled with community volunteer activities. Almost too much for any one
person, it includes mentoring a young man, organizing six blood drives
annually, delivering meals on wheels, and serving as a cornerstone of the
Piermont Congregational Church.
As a member
of the area’s Interchurch Council, Rob is pivotal to the operation of its food
shelf. He gathers donations to resupply the shelf and helps with the
distribution to needy families. This is coupled with his role as area
representative for the Salvation Army,
As we go
around the Bradford golf course, play is interspersed with the collection of
empty bottles and cans, something he does whenever there is an opportunity. The
money he gains from the annual collection of 8,000 items is donated to the
Piermont 7th and 8th-grade class trip.
When asked if he is going to slow down now
that he is 80, Rob quotes Galatians 6.9, “let us not grow weary while doing
good…”
Ed Pospisil
has served as Chief of the Corinth Fire Department for a decade. For this 81-year-old, this is a continuation
of a lifelong interest in the fire service that began in New York City when he
was just 6.
His fire
service career included both New York and Hartford, CT. He retired from the
latter with the rank of Lieutenant and as the most highly decorated firefighter
in the department.
During his
membership in the Corinth Fire Department, Ed has used his connections with
urban departments to obtain state-of-the-art equipment for Corinth. Taking
advantage of those departments’ policies of retiring equipment that is still
very serviceable, he has acquired six vehicles, bunker gear, and a jaws-of-life
tool.
This
leadership has led to an energizing of the department into an organization that
merged two smaller companies. Membership has grown to 25 volunteers. A renewed
effort to replace two aging firehouses led to a drive to build a new one. In
2020, a new 4-bay firehouse was completed on donated land on Fairground Road.
Ed’s pride
in the fire company he leads is evident in his voice. When asked why he was
still so involved, Ed said, “It is something I love, it’s very dear to me.”
Another
Corinth resident still very much in the game is author and conservationist
82-year-old Laura Waterman. She and her husband Guy moved to Corinth in the
1970s and adopted an off-the-grid lifestyle. They became experts on mountain
climbing in the Northeast and wrote extensively about mountain environment and
history.
Following
her husband’s death in 2000, Laura continued her work as a writer, having
recently completed her second memoir. She is also writing a novel about opera
singer Maria Callas.
In a recent
telephone interview, Laura talked about her role on the Board of Directors of
the Waterman Foundation that was established to continue emphasizing their
life-long role as mountain stewards.
Laura
maintains a large garden, emphasizing feeding herself as much as possible. She
said gratitude for health and opportunities best expresses her attitude toward
an aging life.
Helping to develop a sense of community in a
town that has changed over the years is a focus of 82-year-old Ann Green of
Orford. Ann is on the Board of Directors
of the town historical society, a volunteer at the Orford Social Library,
delivers meals on wheels in Orford and Lyme, and helps to distribute produce
collected by the Willing Hands organization. Ann has helped to organize the
Orford-Fairlee 4th of July parade for many years.
She
explained that one project that carried out the sense of community goal was the
creation of the new bandstand on the Orford common. The idea came from a simple
conversation. A group of five organized the Band Stand Committee and raised
private donations for its construction. Each summer the committee, with partial
assistance from the town, organizes six concerts using local bands.
Ann
brightens any room she occupies with a broad smile and cheerful greeting. There
is no doubt that helps to garner support for her projects. Asked about the concept of actual age v. felt
age, Ann confessed that sometimes she feels vulnerable to the effects of aging
and takes caution against accidents. Something, she believes, she shares with
others who are just “old enough.”
At 3 A.M.
tomorrow morning, 82-year-old Douglas Miller will be in the barn doing chores
at his Bradford South Road farm. He and
his son Robert have 20 beef cattle and one milk cow. They sell hay, maple syrup and calves.
Doug is the
newest member of Bradford’s Board of Listers, a position he held from 1978 to
1989. He is also chair of the Bradford Development Review Board. This is the new title for the Zoning Board of
Adjustment, on which he has served for nearly 40 years. He also was a Bradford Select Board member
from 1988-1998.
This
experience, coupled with a strong memory for details, makes Doug one of
Bradford’s residents most familiar with the town’s physical characteristics. As
I have always been complimentary of Doug’s ability to recall facts, I asked him
if he felt he is as sharp as he ever was. “Off just a bit.” was his
response.
I asked this
practical traditionalist if he was optimistic about the future. He said he was
optimistic but did not believe things will change as much as many others think.
84-year-old Bill Murphy of Lyme epitomizes the
title, “still in the game.” He is teaching social studies at Hanover High for
the 62nd year. He is an honored and
beloved member of that school’s community, having taught generations of
students. Teaching his students civic responsibility is a significant focus of
his courses.
In 2020, Bill
entered his name in the New Hampshire Republican Presidential Primary, getting
less than 500 votes. Whether he enters in 2024 depends on who else seeks the
nomination. Either way, his bid offered
an example of the civic responsibility he fosters in his classroom.
I spoke to
Bill as he was preparing for another day at school. He loves the routine of “teaching the kids.”
“I started teaching when I was 23,” he said, “and the kids were 16.” They are still 16, so thinking young, “I
should still be 23.”
Bill is
known for his coaching of Hanover’s Quiz Bowl Team which has won championships
in both states numerous times. He is
also writing a history of Hanover High School.
Bill also is
active in the Lyme Congregational Church, where he serves on the church
outreach board. With his love of
history, it is not surprising that he is vice-president of the Lyme
Historians.
“Mover and
shaker” is the description that comes to mind for 86-year- old Don Weaver of
Fairlee. Don is a part-time resident at
Lake Morey, having come there since he was 2.
He spends the remainder of the year in North Carolina.
In the past,
Don played a pivotal role in moving of the Fairlee Town Library to its new
location, in restoring the Fairlee Town Hall and in Fairlee’s 250th celebration.
He is currently co-chair of the Lake Morey Commission. The latter is an
extension of a 30-year effort to protect the lake’s health, leading to almost
total eradication of mill foil.
Don retired
in 1989. “Sitting on his hands” is not in his nature. He “enjoys big projects” and “the more
difficult a project is, the more enjoyable the challenge.” He is especially challenged by projects that
others believe cannot be done.
When talking
of his key role in the town hall project, Don hoped the restored space would
activate the residents of Fairlee to take part in and enjoy cultural programs.
A recent program held in the hall drew over 100 spectators. The sense of
satisfaction that he felt as he watched the turnout was his reward.
When asked
what advice she would give to these folks in their 80s, 103-year-old Evelyn
Brown of Haverhill said, “eat healthy, keep busy and never get bored.” During
her 29 years in Haverhill, Evelyn has gained a reputation for her sewing of
quilts of all sizes. She says she learned to sew from her mother, who often
used material from feed bags.
Her sewing room is filled with pieces of
cloth, either donated or purchased, waiting to be hand quilted. “I always have
a quilt going. I can’t image anyone with a sewing machine being bored,” she
says.
Since January she has made 11 baby quilts, 8
sofa quilts, and children’s book bags.
She
handcrafts the quilts using traditional patterns, using both new and repurposed
pieces. She displayed some of her older creations for my wife and me and
readily recalled the origin of many of the pieces.
Evelyn sells
some of her creations, but many are just given away. Parents of newborns are
gifted baby quilts. Book bags are donated to the local library and church.
Evelyn Brown
is the concept of “still in the game” personified. What about staying in the
game? “Do it while you can,” she advised.
In the
interest of full disclosure, I selected this topic as I will be 80 in
October. While my activity agenda is
still reasonably full, I am interested in how others, of reasonably good
health, have dealt with being in their 80s.
I could have interviewed a similar group that
was overwhelmed by the ill effects of aging, but I chose to offer these individuals
as models instead. I am sure that
readers are familiar with elders in their community to serve as models of being
still in the game.
I think that
all these eight individuals can identify with a quote I found on Laura
Waterman’s website. “Whatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
Begin it now.”
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