Senior Wisdom

Born and raised in San Francisco, Bob Berman grew up in a family that stayed in the city except for an annual trip to the Tahoe area. It was always Bob’s preference to go with the flow of life and not take big risks in life. It was the easiest thing to do. Unfortunately, his love with the outdoors was not satisfied because there was no easy way to get to the country hills.

Bill also spent most of his professional life as a public defender. He never wanted to start his own law practice because it to, was too risky.

Bill’s suggestion to other people who avoid taking risk in their lives is to be honest with your true desires, have the courage to move forward and know that you will pass through any tough spots.

This wisdom will also serve each of us when the unexpected and uncontrollable circumstances occur in our futures.

At eight years old, money was very scarce so Lowe Robinson, with the encouragement from his grandmother, decided to sell his grand parent’s currants to the Cornish people living in town. He saved strawberry baskets and filled them with currants. Finding space on his cousin’s wagon, he went to town and knocked on every door. He never got very far and his currants were all sold out. He really got excited.

Both his grandmother sharing the currants on their farm and his grandfather’s dairy work taught young Lowe Robinson to listen for community opportunities and apply them into the world. The amazing thing was, Lowe’s Dad, who greatly influenced him, had a false limb from the knee down and still could work Lowe into the ground.

Lowe emphasized the importance in being a good friend to people and listen to what is being said. The challenge in life is to see if you can make an income and put people to work at the same time. If you need some help, you ask for it. It always comes down to doing things together.

Born and raised in the Los Angeles area during the 1950s and 60s, Lew Sitzer developed a curiosity to know more about the world. As a casualty of the civil rights movement, Lew’s graduate professor suggested that he join the “International Voluntary Service” and go to another part of the world to help an underdeveloped country. This experience was supposed to provide some quiet times to reflect on Lew’s past experiences in Mississippi. Well, it didn’t. He was placed in a remote village in Laos, Vietnam.

As you would expect, Lew witnessed many of the tragedies of war. After an accidental bombing at the village that he lived in, Lew decided that he didn’t want to be a martyr to the Vietnam War and came home. Once home, he received his draft notice to fight in Vietnam.

Lew’s realized wisdom is; War is, in most cases, not worth it.” He recognizes that our influence on one another includes taking care of ourselves and each other. Caring starts in the communities where we live and extends beyond.

Ron Spiller served during the Korean War as a military tank driver for two years. When he came home from Korea, he had a wife and a two year old son waiting for him. Starting a new family and finding an occupation that could support them was in the forefront of his mind.

His first step was to work and go to night school. Soon he received a business management degree and was ready to find a career job. He knocked around for a while, attempting to find a job that he liked. He enjoyed seeing the product of his work. This desire eventually led him into manufacturing.

Manufacturing was a good place for Ron. He became employed in a variety of companies and jobs that exposed him to all the departments necessary to run a manufacturing company. His dream of running a manufacturing company was soon achieved.

Ron reaches out to today’s men and women. He emphasizes the need to have patience and not give up on your passion. At some point you will reach a pivotal moment which will direct you into the perfect career and job. Always be alert and look for these opportunities.

Bill Drake was born in Norfolk, Virginia with roots in Mississippi. In fact, Bill’s mom and her parents and grandparents had accumulated experiences in the Ku Klux Clan, slave plantations and serviced as a Corneal in the Civil War. Bill’s mom was actually brought up with the help of a black woman. White supremacy attitudes and behaviors were quite active in Bill’s young life.

At 17, Bill had a transforming experience. He was on a bus witnessing the disrespectful behavior of his cousin towards a respectful black woman. A year and a half later, Bill asked his older brother while driving together if it was right to look down on people that are a different color from them. His brother had the perfect answer. No. This was one of the shortest conversations in his life and one of the most profound.

Bill recognizes that being curious while standing outside the current role in our lives and being honest and understanding of our own imperfections can transform prejudice into appreciation.

Jack Sanchez’s joy of life is to help people realize their potential. Jack was a teacher for 38 years. He taught everything from history and philosophy to the German language. He was also the track and cross country coach and academic decathlon coach. One of his amazing achievements was to take highly intelligent students that were average C students and hadn’t been motivated. His mission was to turn them on. He did just that! Jacks little high school in Auburn, California became the state champs three consecutive times.

Jack says that achieving goals in your life starts with a dream, then you go to a vision and finally you create a plan. Once these steps are completed perseverance kicks in with the execution of the plan. His life certainly demonstrates how well this method works.

Jack is 75 years old today. He walks and sprints for an hour a day and is planning on competing in the long jump and triple jump later this year. He and his wife have successfully climbed the highest mountain in Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro. All of this has been achieved because his belief that having a dream, vision and plan actually works. Always, always, always believe!

One of Jack Clark’s first jobs was working in the Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine in January 1941. This job became necessary when his parents both died within a two-week period of time. At first, he was a stokes man and later worked in the first aide section in the mine. Every day, he would travel to each level of this 3,200 foot deep mine and deliver first aid supplies where they were needed.

In 1942 he enlisted into the U.S. Navy where he spent part of his time in the States and part of the time in the South Pacific. Jack spent two months in a large San Diego hospital and eventually was shipped off to Gualala Canal to setup another hospital.

He became familiar with the Marine Corp when he was reassigned to the Marines and sent to Georgia Island. When he got there, injured men were lying on the ground everywhere. Jack went from one man to another applying first aid and morphine so the wounded could be transferred to the hospital. He saw everything. Jack knew at that time that he wanted a job in the states that helps people.

Jack feels that the conversation and interactions with the wounded built trust with each individual that he met and this trust is a most important attribute that is needed in worker safety. Safety for others and yourself.

Chuck Jakobs had an Uncle, Uncle Bud who was bigger than life. When Chuck was 3-4 years old, Uncle Bud took Chuck to his first fire. This was the beginning of Chuck’s lifetime passion to serve in the fire service. At 16 years old, Chuck was sworn in on June 6, 1967 as a new member of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Chuck’s experiences in emergency response introduced him to many people. He told me that relationships that started in the fire service last a life-time. Chuck equates the fire service to the Marine Corp. You trust that every firefighter around you is watching your back and you do the same for them. As years of service stacked up, Chuck recognized that his motto on life focused on three things; help people, make a difference and do the right thing.

He realized that achieving this was not accomplished by doing big things. It was solving many small problems and issues that add up to making a real difference.

These traits will also serve each of us when the unexpected and uncontrollable circumstances occur in our futures.

Captain Charles Jakobs was a professional fire fighter in California for over 40 years. One day he was approached and requested to recruit and train new seasonal hires. While in the Navy, Chuck worked with the aviation Bosin mates. Their duties were described as, “The ability to work men”, and that was exactly what Chuck became known for in the fire department.

The two most important things to remember are your humility and humanity. Everybody has basic needs that must be met and everyone is fallible in some way. Throwing your rank out to someone or reminding them that they are inmates is not necessary. Your job as a captain of a fire crew is safety of all men and completing the mission.

Chuck feels that motivation comes from inside of you. The Fire Corp is one way to provide opportunity for people to get motivated.

These traits will also serve each of us when the unexpected and uncontrollable circumstances occur in our futures.

Stan Zabka grew up in a large family of 12 kids. They really practiced the “we’re all in it together” philosophy. In Stan’s view, the first half dozen siblings helped bring up the second half dozen.

He didn’t realize the strength of the bonds between each of his siblings until they became adults. Their time apart only enhanced the time when they got together in their adult lives. Family gatherings became events filled with joy.

Stan feels that the commitment to hang together as a family was rooted in the demonstration and practice of diligence, responsibility and trust. Personal character was valued in this family.

Be the example that your children will model.