Worth Noting
Compiled by Estelle Rodis-Brown and Marie Elium
Breaking Records at 100
Dr. Howard Tucker Shows Us How
Making it into the Guinness World Records could be a dubious achievement, but in Dr. Howard Tucker’s case, it’s a remarkable claim to fame. The Cleveland neurologist has been practicing medicine since 1947, with no plans to quit.
At over 100 years old, Dr. Tucker is officially the oldest practicing physician in the world… seeing patients twice a week and teaching medical residents at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in downtown Cleveland.
A Cleveland native, Dr. Tucker was born on July 10, 1922. After being raised during the Great Depression, young Howard earned his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He would serve again in the ‘50s during the Korean War as the Chief of Neurology for the Atlantic Fleet.
Apparently undeterred by difficult tasks, Dr. Tucker also holds a law degree (passing the Ohio Bar Exam in 1989 at age 67 as possibly the oldest person in the USA to do so). An avid skier and climber, he was once airlifted off a mountaintop in the Alps and has survived both COVID-19 and a broken neck.
But never down for long and ever a man of the moment, he is now an emerging TikTok star and the subject of an upcoming feature-length documentary, “What’s Next?”
When the Guinness World Records asked if he would ever retire, Dr. Tucker’s response was swift: “Gosh, no. I believe retirement is the enemy of longevity. Even in my younger years, I never once contemplated retirement.”
How does he do it? Adaptability is key. Dr. Tucker says that he works hard to master technology so he can care for patients and teach medical residents.
Dr. Tucker credits his wife (since 1957), four children and 10 grandchildren as the main source of his happiness.
Grateful for his family’s longevity, he has bolstered that with good nutrition, limited alcohol consumption, and the avoidance of cigarettes, motorcycles and trampolines. He also believes in treating everyone with respect and kindness.
If we are to follow Dr. Tucker’s example, let’s start with his mindset and perhaps the rest will follow. Check him out on TikTok at whatsnextmovie. He’s got more than 56,300 followers and 1.7 million likes so far.
Star Struck!
Winter Sky Wonders
The good news is that a terrific meteor shower is making its annual return in December. The bad news is that you have to go outside to see it.
Meteor showers are funny that way; they tend to be an outside-only event, unless you find yourself in a disaster movie.
The Geminids are a good one, as meteor showers go, because (aside from the threat of cloud cover) winter skies are clear skies. The Geminids start showing up Dec. 4-17, with the peak viewing from Dec. 14-15. To learn more, go to in-the-sky.org and type in your location to find the best time to see the shooting stars.
Jay Dreams
Count Birds for Christmas
If you like birds and have a spare day, then you’ve got all the qualifications necessary to participate in Audubon’s 123rd annual Christmas Bird Count Dec. 14-Jan. 5.
The count is free. Counts take place within 15-mile circles. If you live within a circle, you can count birds in your back yard. Otherwise, you’ll go outside and count the birds you see there. Go to audubon.org to learn more and to register.
Creative & Moving
Nativities on Display
For more than 2,000 years, people have created nativity scenes using styles and materials as diverse as those who have made them. You can see several hundred examples of that, many on loan from Northeast Ohio residents, at the Historic Kirtland Nativity Event Nov. 27-Dec. 31 in Kirtland.
Now in its 19th year, the free event shows the many ways the Holy Family has been depicted by people throughout history and the world.
The nativity display is at the Historic Visitors’ Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Get more information at christmasinkirtland.com.
A Lifetime of Service
Local Residents Honored
The Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame has two new members from Northeast Ohio: Cleveland Heights resident Dr. Edward McKinney and Dr. Greer Glazer of Solon.
They were among 15 outstanding older Ohioans recently inducted into the Hall of Fame during a special ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse to honor their lifelong contributions to their communities, their professions and their vocations.
Dr. McKinney is a licensed independent social worker whose scholarly research and extensive community service have improved the lives of people both here and around the world, according to the Hall of Fame.
With a background in nursing, Dr. Glazer was recognized for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in health care throughout her storied career. Through her participation in the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Future of Nursing 2020-2030 Committee, she remains at the forefront of nursing policymaking, the Hall of Fame committee noted.
Congratulations.
Food Help
for Older Adults
Low-income older adults may be eligible for free food through the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Thirty percent of Cuyahoga County’s older adults live in poverty, the highest among Ohio’s 88 counties. Food Bank officials say Cleveland ranks third in older adult poverty among all major U.S. cities.
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program or Senior Boxes provides non-perishable food monthly that can be picked up at a partner agency or delivered directly to a recipient’s home.
The Food Bank works as one of the administrative arms for the program, storing, packing and sending food to partners in six counties to distribute to clients. To learn more about the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, senior meals and food pantry deliveries, go to greaterclevelandfoodbank.org or call 216-738-7245.
