Stay Busy

Rachel Miller, a friend and founder of Tom Sawyer Entertainment, asked me to go interview her grandfather, Albert who was in town from Chicago. A mostly-retired CPA, he lives part-time in Los Angeles so he can spend time with his grandkids. I drove over to his house right before Shabbat as he's more of a traditional Jew and he tries to keep the Sabbath with his family. But Shabbat seems to be the only traditional thing about Albert.

Eight years ago he saw an ad in the LA Weekly for “Senior Improv.” He checked it out and loved it. When he got back to Chicago he signed up for improvisation classes at IO, and now performs in retirement homes and on cruise ships. He’s also started teaching an improv comedy class for other seniors. He’s started a blog, joined Facebook, and runs a Men’s Club. And he’s 85-years-old. Almost every day of the week he is either teaching or learning. He retired from work but still keeps a couple of clients. He’s the president of his condo board. He’s studying writing. And he continues to run a club for couples on the weekends with his wife of 63 years.

Someone asked me if I remember any of the advice people give me. I said that I remember the good advice but it’s not necessarily about the actual advice. As time goes by, I won’t remember everything Albert said to me. But I will remember that he’s the kind of guy who doesn’t waste a day. He doesn’t let age stop him from continually learning and doing things. I imagine his wife, Ruth doesn’t either but I wouldn’t know for sure. He seems to do the talking for the two of them.

Albert:



Ruth and Albert: