Hundred and Two Mature

There were two [older] male figures in my life when I was growing up. My grandfather, Clifford…my Mother’s father and Harry Lieberman…a painter who lived to be 106.

I used to bring “Grandpa” to school so he could show his art work to my classmates. I remember to this day, how my classmates and teachers would look at him in amazement. He didn’t walk or talk like a man in his hundreds. And while he may have walked with a cane, that didn’t slow him down in the least bit.

He [his daughter Helen and her wonderful daughters Arlene and Erica, and their spouses Stephen and Larry] are all largely responsible for many of the passions I hold dearly today, including reading the New York Times daily. He used to ask me what I was passionate about. My answer was always the same, baseball. He would tell me that I need to have more interests — to be active in many different things. As a kid I didn’t really understand. But as I got older it became clear what he was trying to tell me.

I miss him dearly to this very day, and while I know he’d be disappointed in me for some of the choices I’ve had to make along the way, I hope overall that I’ve made him proud.

Not many people can say they knew or even met someone lived to be 106. Thankfully I did and loved him, very much.

Please take a moment to view the video below. It will give you a glimpse of “Grandpa” and how truly amazing a human being he was.