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Panel Detail:
Monday, April 27, 2009
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Life After 80: Always Looking Forward
Speakers:
Norman Lear,
Producer
Jim Pattison,
Chairman and CEO, The Jim Pattison Group
John Sperling,
Founder and Executive Chairman, Apollo Group Inc.
Deborah Szekely,
Owner and Director, Rancho La Puerta and Golden Door
Moderator:
Marty Kaplan, Research Professor and Director of the Norman Lear Center, USC's Annenberg School for Communication
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John Sperling, right, of the Apollo Group recalls his mother saying, "The Depression doesn't mean anything to us. We've been poor all our lives." At left is producer Norman Lear.
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"Eighty is the new 60," proclaimed moderator Marty Kaplan of USC's Annenberg School for Communication. But judging from the stamina and recent accomplishments of the panelists, it may have been more appropriate to say 80 is the new 30. Jim Pattison of The Jim Pattison Group captured it best when he said, "Retirement is not in the cards."
The four panelists hail from across the U.S. and Canada, though all grew up in modest households and lived through the Depression. John Sperling of Apollo Group recalled his mother saying, "The Depression doesn't mean anything to us. We've been poor all our lives."
Deborah Szekely of Rancho La Puerta and Golden Door speculated that living in that troubled era had been an advantage because they had nowhere to go but up. "Risk-taking and challenges are the vitamins and minerals of life," she said. Growing up poor hardened her resolve and perseverance, two qualities she believes are crucial to attaining success in life.
Producer Norman Lear "does not enjoy or look for conflict," though with twin 14-year-old girls at home he has plenty of excitement. He does, however, look ahead at all times. In his words, he is "always on to next."
Another similarity among the panelists was their dedication to philanthropic endeavors. Each has specific and unique causes – Lear is a benefactor of People for the American Way, Pattison has tithed 10 percent to his church his entire life, Sperling contributes to an array of scientific endeavors and Szekely helps new immigrants – and all believe in the power of giving.
Not surprisingly, each of the panelists also makes diet and exercise a priority. Szekely has eaten well her entire life, though just recently she acknowledged her lack of discipline in "the exercise area" and hired a trainer three times a week. Lear chimed in saying, "I want to talk about my body, too. My legs have been carrying me around for 86 years." Then he kissed his knees.
Kaplan asked the panelists about a recent New York Times article documenting a recent study that showed people with more friends — even distant friends — seem to live longer, healthier lives. Three of the panelists echoed the sentiment to varying degrees. But Sperling countered, "I love humanity but they are not my friends."
Lear recounted that his son-in-law once asked him to reconsider his desire to be cremated. "I want to take my kids to your headstone and have them see 'Even This I Got to Experience.'"
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