A couple of weeks ago, I had lunch with centenarian Fred Nicholas. Fred and my father Ernest Raboff were college friends at USC before WWII and while my father was sent to France to cover the war as a reporter for Stars & Stripes, Fred was first stationed in southern Europe, then northern Africa and finally in the Philippines before being honorably discharged in 1946. In the late 1950s, the two friends met up again and stayed close until my father died in the fall of 1986.

I’ve never met anyone 102 years old, let alone had an inspiring conversation with a centenarian. While not as mobile as he once was, Fred was as clear-minded and humorous as I’ve always known him to be. I chalk that up to him still working a couple of days a week and visiting his gym regularly.