They’re bright, ambitious, energetic, talented and wise. They are, in fact, among the people we depend on for advice. Who are they? Real estate and financial wizards? Idealistic, young high school and college teachers? Savvy, youthful political insiders? Nationally acclaimed super athletes?
Hardly. They’re seniors. And their numbers are increasing. In the past century, the number of people age sixty-five and over increased elevenfold in America. In 1900, these folks constituted one in every twenty-five Americans; today they represent one in eight, according to the U.S. Census. The average lifespan of Americans has risen from forty-seven in 1900 to older than eighty today. In Westport, Weston, Fairfield and Wilton, many people over eighty are still going strong. Here’s a glimpse of just four.