FPA January 2024

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Vol. 51 | No. 1 | January 2024

Waterville Valley is a multi-generation destination with more than just skiing page

18

Malden native Norman Greenbaum is still singing about that

‘Spirit in the Sky’

By Brett Peruzzi Managing Editor MALDEN – In late 1969, singer-songwriter Norman Greenbaum’s record company released his song “Spirit in the Sky.” More than half a century later, it’s still in heavy rotation on classic rock radio stations.

Greenbaum, now 81 and still performing, grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family in Malden. He attended Hebrew school and graduated from Malden High School in the class of 1960. He had gotten a guitar in junior high school, and taught himself the basics of how to play it. Greenbaum studied music at Boston University for two Norman Greenbaum | page 4 PHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK

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Get Moving with AARP

By Mike Festa, State Director AARP Massachusetts

I

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t’s New Year’s resolutions time.

Health resolutions are always popular. One of the easiest ways to be healthier in the new year is to put one foot in front of the other and get moving.

Despite widespread understanding that exercise is beneficial to many aspects of good health, many adults 50-plus aren’t nearly physically active enough. Many fall short of the 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends.

Mike Festa Many people are not even aware of that straightforward recommendation.

But while concrete recommendations haven’t reached many adults, most do understand the benefits of exercise. An AARP survey of adults 50 and older found that most agree walking is beneficial for improving physical, mental and brain health.

There’s science to back that up.

Moderately paced walks stimulate the release of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, that is key to the survival of existing brain neurons and the generation of new ones. Participants who walked more than 4,000 steps per day had healthier brain tissue in the area responsible for memory, learning and cognitive function than those who did not, one study found.

At AARP Massachusetts, we know how important walking is. So, we teamed up with the nonprofit, Walk

with a Doc. Last year, we started our monthly walking series in Worcester — in the winter, walking inside St. Vincent Hospital and in the summer walking in Elm Park. This year, we’re bringing the program to Boston as well. We’ll take a stroll or a brisk walk around Boston Common. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll move over to the Prudential Center.

Every walk starts out with a brief chat with a medical provider, talking about the physical and mental health benefits of walking and then enjoying a healthy walk at your own pace.

You can ask some basic general health questions, too.

We’re doing these walks on the first and second Saturdays of every month. People of all ages, fitness levels and backgrounds are welcome to these free, ongoing events. You just need to sign up beforehand. You don’t need to be an AARP member; you do need to register. We’ll be walking in Worcester on every first Saturday of the month; Boston every second Saturday. RAIN OR SHINE. In too many communities, people can’t safely walk due to a lack of sidewalks, crosswalks or other safety features. AARP is working to change that. Last year, AARP Massachusetts funded walk audits in Dunstable, Lynn and Taunton. In Springfield, we worked with Walk Massachusetts to fund walk audit classes. A walk audit is a simple activity where you observe and evaluate the walkability and pedestrian safety of a location. The project ensures walking is safe, accessible and convenient — and to reverse the trends in pedestrian fatalities and injuries.

If you’re looking to get walking, AARP Massachusetts is here to help with our monthly walks in Worcester and Boston or we can help you make your community even safer to walk.

You can find out more at aarp.org/ma.

Mike Festa is the State Director for AARP Massachusetts. For more articles visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.

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Marlborough honors fallen veterans with Medal of Liberty

By Maureen Sullivan Contributing Writer MARLBOROUGH – Jeanne Wickson remembers babysitting Michael Blanchette.

“He had such a sense of humor,” she said.

Blanchette’s cousin, Peter Maybay, recalled going to Solomon’s Pond with Blanchette to hunt frogs.

Both relatives were on hand at the Marlborough Senior Center on Nov. 9 to help honor Blanchette – and six other Marlborough natives – who sacrificed their lives while in service to their country.

The Massachusetts Medal of Liberty — presented to the next of kin of those killed — was given in honor of William Crosby, Wilfred Demers, Richard Demers, George Hanlon and Michael Minehan.

The Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity — ­ presented to the next of kin of those who died as a result of illness or disease in connection with their service — was given in honor of William Borowski.

“It’s a small token of appreciation for their sacrifice,” said Mayor Arthur Vigeant.

Matthew Sargent, a lieutenant commander with the U.S. Navy and trustee with the Marlborough Historical Society, reads off the names and achievements of the seven Marlborough residents being honored with the Medal of Liberty/ Medal of Fidelity on Nov. 9 at the Senior Center.

Peter Maybay, left, and Jeanne Wickson, relatives of Michael Blanchette, listen to presentations made during the second annual Medal of Liberty/Medal of Fidelity ceremony on Nov. 9 at the Marlborough Senior Center. Michael Blanchette was killed in Vietnam in 1970; his portrait is on the table.

The city’s veterans services officer, Michael Hennessy, served as master of ceremonies. Matthew Sargent, a lieutenant commander with the U.S. Navy, called out the names and achievements for each recipient, including Blanchette, who was killed in Vietnam in 1970 while serving with the 196th Infantry Brigade.

PHOTOS/MAUREEN SULLIVAN

The other honorees: William Crosby – A gunners mate third class serving on board the USS Turner. He was killed when the vessel exploded just outside New York City in January 1944.

Wilfred Demers – A private first class with the 331st Infantry Regiment. He was killed in action in France in July 1944.

Richard Demers – Lance corporal, 7th Marine Regiment. He was killed in action in Vietnam in July 1966.

George Hanlon – Master sergeant serving at the Special Forces headquarters in Vietnam. He was killed in a motor vehicle accident in January 1967.

Michael Minehan – Lance corporal, 26th Marine Regiment. Killed in Vietnam in June 1968.

William Borowski – Specialist 5, 629th Supply Company. He survived the war (he was discharged from the Army in 1968), but he was exposed to aflatoxin B while in Vietnam. He died of liver cancer in 2001.

The ceremony was sponsored by the Marlborough Historical Society, with support from the mayor’s office and the Department of Veterans Services.

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Malden native Norman Greenbaum is still singing about that ‘Spirit in the Sky’ Norman Greenbaum | from page 1

Norman Greenbaum’s number one hit song sold over two million copies within a year of its release in 1969.

years and played in local coffeehouses.

But then he dropped out and moved to Los Angeles in 1965 with the hope of starting his career in the city’s fertile music scene.

Path to fame After some limited success as a member of a psychedelic band that had one novelty hit, “The Eggplant That Ate Chicago,” Greenbaum went solo as a folk artist and submitted “Spirit in the Sky” to Reprise Records. In the recording session, the producer arranged it with a full electric rock band, female backup singers, and a haunting, distorted, overdriven guitar riff.

The song rocketed up the pop music charts to number one all over the world, and sold over two million copies in the next year. Since then, “Spirit in the Sky” has been used in over 30 commercials, 65 movies, and numerous TV shows, firmly embedding it in pop culture history. While Greenbaum hit the charts again in 1970 with another song, “Canned Ham,” it is “Spirit in the Sky” that remains the song he is remem-

bered for. “Spirit in the Sky” was even played at the 2022 Oscars ceremony, during the in-memoriam segment as the names of stars who had died in the past year were projected on the screen.

Greenbaum, a longtime Santa Rosa, California resident, still performs occasionally and enjoys his fame, maintaining a website, Spiritinthesky. com, where he sells autographed CDs

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and has a plethora of photos of him both past and present, and information about his iconic song.

Hometown tribute Mike Davis of Scituate, who graduated from Malden High with Greenbaum, reconnected with his famous classmate 49 years later in 2019, at the unveiling celebration for the mural in

Malden painted in honor of Greenbaum and his famous song. “I have no idea when I first heard ‘Spirit in the Sky,’” said Davis. “I didn’t connect Norman with the song until I heard that it was him, at either our tenth or twentieth high school reunion.”

“I had been working on the music for ‘Spirit in the Sky’ for a long time,” Greenbaum told Australian DJ Sandy Kaye on her radio show “A Breath of Fresh Air” last year. “But I didn’t quite know what to do with it.” While living in Los Angeles in the late sixties, Greenbaum would watch a country music show on TV that also featured some gospel music. “I thought maybe I could do something like that,” he explained.

“So I sat down and wrote the lyrics ‘got to have a friend in Jesus.’”

Incredibly, he wrote all of the lyrics for the song in just 15 minutes, but the music took him about six months.

It was a far cry from Greenbaum’s religious upbringing, but he said he was just focused on writing a good song. “If you’re a songwriter, you can write about anything,” he noted. While it has Christian references, the universal theme of

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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JANUARY 2024 + fiftyplus advocate • 5 redemption and the afterlife has wider spiritual appeal and likely contributes to the song’s unending popularity.

He knew he had a memorable guitar lick for the song, based on an old blues riff, and once he had the lyrics, he felt like it had all come together. “I guess it’s in like the top five of opening rock and roll licks,” Greenbaum observed. And it’s a song he is still collecting royalties from, which increased significantly almost 20 years after the song was released. “Who knew a song could last that long?” he quipped.

Resurgence in film and television For a time in the seventies, while still touring and performing, Greenbaum ran his own farm in northern California, raising goats, chickens, sheep, and pigs. He later dropped out of the music business for a while and worked at a variety of jobs, including managing a restaurant. But he was drawn back in by the enduring appeal of “Spirit in the Sky” and its increasing use in films (including “Apollo 13” and “Ocean’s Eleven”) and commercials for products like Gatorade and Kellogg’s Bran Flakes.

In 2015, he was critically injured in a traffic accident in Santa Rosa when a motorcycle plowed into the vehicle in which he was a passenger. He was in a coma for nearly a month and wasn’t

Norman Greenbaum’s 1960 Malden High School classmate, Mike Davis of Scituate, reconnected with him at the 2019 ceremony in Malden when a mural celebrating “Spirit in the Sky” was unveiled.

The “Spirit in the Sky” mural is located on this building at the corner of Exchange Street and Washington Street in Malden.

expected to live. It was a long road to recovery, but just over eight months later he was well enough to perform at a benefit concert in Santa Rosa for victims of a fire. He has also faced other health issues over the years, surviving both prostate cancer and a heart attack.

And for the Baby Boomers and other fans who are now going on to their own spirit in the sky, the song is a popular sendoff tune. “I’ve gotten letters from funeral directors telling me that it’s their second-most-requested song to play at memorial services, next to ‘Danny Boy’,” Greenbaum told an interviewer in 2011. “It sounds as fresh today as when it was recorded.”

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Algonquin’s championship-winning football team returns to campus 50 years later The championshipwinning 1973 football team gather on Dec. 1, 50 years after defeating East Longmeadow to win the Super Bowl and finish undefeated.

By Evan Walsh Contributing Writer NORTHBOROUGH – They’re known as the Algonquin Titans, but Richard ‘Dick’ Walsh is perhaps the titan of Algonquin.

The 92-year-old Northborough man has dedicated his life to Algonquin Regional High School. Walsh has spent the last 66 years at the Northborough high school, becoming the school’s first athletic director, teaching thousands of students (he’s seen every single graduating class from the school), working in the cafeteria and leading the then-Tomahawks to the school’s first — and only — Super Bowl and undefeated football season in 1973.

“He’s never not been here,” said Algonquin Principal Sean Bevan. “He’s an institution.”

Walsh, humble as they come, never asks for the limelight — the Algonquin mainstay is content with meeting students from his post in the school’s cafeteria — yet he received the celebrity treatment nonetheless on Dec. 1.

On Dec. 1, 1973, Walsh guided his football team to the Super Bowl, and on Dec. 1, 2023 — exactly 50 years later — the team reunited at Algonquin to celebrate its history-making championship win.

Proudly wearing his maroon-andgold-typeface ‘A’ hat, worn from years of activity around Northborough, Walsh was escorted onto the field. As he saw his former athletes — now in their late-60s — Walsh couldn’t help but smile. The players at once gathered around him.

“Some of you guys look older than me,” Walsh said.

‘Still Undefeated’ As Walsh was greeted by players, Lee Heffernan — the team’s star halfback and coordinator of the reunion — hurriedly distributed commemorative hats. The maroon hats, which perfectly matched the high-school letterman jackets many players brought for the occasion, had an unmistakable message embroidered on the back: “10-0,” the hat reads. “Still Undefeated.”

While local newspapers at the time were optimistic about Algonquin’s chances, Walsh initially wasn’t happy with the team — and he let the press know.

“This is the most disappointing team I ever had,” Walsh told the Enterprise-Sun before the 1973 season opened. “I think the problem with the team is their attitude… We have talent on this team, but their play has been very disappointing to me… There’s go-

ing to be some changes made.”

Yet the coach’s less-than-complimentary words only motivated the team. Algonquin breezed past Wachusett 39-0 to open the year. Heffernan, the halfback, scored three touchdowns and the Tomahawks — who ran the bruising, run-heavy wishbone offense throughout the year — accumulated 236 rushing yards in the season’s first action. Algonquin won 21-0 against Wayland the following week, registering only seven passing yards.

“I remember at the beginning of the year, Coach [Walsh] kicked us in the butt. He told us we weren’t playing to our level. That really got us going,” Heffernan said at the team reunion on Dec. 1. Algonquin next faced Shrewsbury, another preseason favorite, and earned its third-straight win after another 21-0 rout. “I remember the Shrewsbury game was a big… jumping point for us.

We knew we had a really good team,” Heffernan said.

Algonquin kept rolling; Milford, Marlborough, Hudson, Athol and Clinton were the next stops on the team’s road to the Super Bowl. Over the course of the season, Algonquin beat opponents by the combined score of 222-30.

Walsh’s wishbone offense accumulated points, and Defensive Coordinator Jack Wallace ensured nobody could catch up with them. Algonquin cruised to 8-0.

“These kids were good… We had a two-platoon team. We had an offensive team and defensive team… Our toughest game a lot of that year was our offense against our defense at practice,” Walsh said at the team reunion.

Then — the rivalry game. More

Richard ‘Dick’ Walsh is greeted by his former players.

than 5,000 fans gathered at Algonquin’s field — which would later be named in honor of Walsh — to watch the match on Thanksgiving Day. Algonquin got the better of Westborough, 18-0 that day, but five decades later the rivalry still runs deep for many players.

As the team gathered at the 50yard line of the (recently redone with turf) Dick Walsh Field for photos, the old teammates couldn’t help but relive their triumphant win over their rivals: “1, 2, 3… beat Westborough,” they yelled as cameras shuttered.

Algonquin, 9-0, had earned the opportunity to face East Longmeadow — which hadn’t lost in three years — in the Super Bowl. The high-stakes game was an extremely low-scoring slugfest. Wallace’s defense held the 45-point-per-game East Longmeadow offense to zero points (the team’s two points came after an Algonquin safety).

Walsh’s offense attempted four pass-

PHOTOS/EVAN WALSH

es (completing zero), but nonetheless found enough offense to win.

As the team gathered at Algonquin 50 years later, the team’s monumental 6-2 win against East Longmeadow was reflected on the scoreboard. As the team stood on the field, reliving their past success, Athletic Director Mike Mocerino presented the team’s 1973 championship trophy. Long after their football careers had ended, the team was able to raise the trophy once more.

‘We’ve stayed together’ With many members of the team in town, Heffernan coordinated activities for the whole day. Prior to walking onto Dick Walsh Field, Mocerino showed the team around Algonquin, highlighting both the old and the new parts of the building, and giving players the opportunity to see the school’s recent athletic success in the gymnasium and Hall of Fame.

“The school was different,” said

www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JANUARY 2024 + fiftyplus advocate • 7 Heffernan. “A lot of new additions. Bigger. Cleaner. Brighter.”

The team later had dinner at the Neighborhood Tavern, watching old film of their championship-winning season.

While time often draws people apart, the group has remained remarkably close over the last five decades.

Some of the members of the group have an annual golfing expedition, and when the team was inducted into the Algonquin Hall of Fame in 2015, team members created an intricate scrapbook that catalogs newspaper clippings and photos from each of their 10 wins.

The group picked up where they left off in 1973, swapping stories about football, their families, careers, children and lives on the gridiron.

“When Southborough and Northborough came together, we came together as one football team. I mean, look at us. We’ve stayed together. We love each other. We played multiple sports with each other. We went from age 14 to 18, formative years, and did a lot of stuff. We have great families, great teachers, and great coaches that have helped us. Look at everybody smiling. Good people,” Heffernan said.

Unfortunately, not everyone could join the fun. The team, including Walsh, huddled at midfield to honor several now-deceased teammates. Bill Santella, Heffernan’s co-captain, and Gerry Milano, who scored the only touchdown in the Super Bowl, were among those who have since died.

“We’re all part of the team,” said an emotional Heffernan, holding his Algonquin undefeated hat against his heart. “Some of us are not physically here today because they’re off to the football field in heaven, but they’re as much a part of the team today as they were then. They’re our brothers.”

After each game, Walsh would have his players do 10-yard sprints, and thus, as the reunion on the field was wrapping up, it was only natural to hand the whistle to Walsh and have everyone run. The players likely weren’t as agile as they were 50 years ago, but

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Former teammates reunite at the event.

many expressed excitement they had the opportunity to do the grueling exercise in front of Walsh once more.

‘He’s a very special man’ Walsh sat on the field, proudly watching the crowd of men he had coached 50 years ago. As he shook hands with the team, one player looked at the rest of the team: “This man is my role model,” he said as he walked away.

“I became a teacher, coach — all because of him.”

The title-winning squad gathered around Walsh as Mocerino presented

PHOTOS/EVAN WALSH

him with an Algonquin game ball. “[Walsh] has not only had an impact on the 1973 football team that won the Super Bowl, but many teams thereafter. He still has an impact on the lives of many of us — coaches, athletes, students inside the building. Many in both communities are still impacted by his involvement within the school community. We can’t thank him enough for everything he has done,” Mocerino said.

Mocerino also presented two citations to Walsh as the team watched.

Both towns — Northborough and

Southborough — made certificates to honor Walsh’s impact on the Algonquin community; Nov. 17 will hereafter be referred to as “Richard Walsh Day” in the local community.

“It means a great deal,” said Walsh.

“Having the superintendent and principal here — it’s great.”

Walsh remains an ardent supporter of Algonquin football, egging on his Tomahawks (Titans) whenever he is able.

“Coach Walsh has been a tremendous supporter for me in the time I’ve been here,” said Algonquin Football Head Coach Mark Allen. “He’s a very special man. He’s impacted a lot of people, and the kids here love him…

For the kids to play hard for him, it’s a special opportunity.”

Walsh had touched the lives of thousands, spent decades helping the school, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of everything Algonquin.

After health concerns prompted him to miss two weeks of his Algonquin cafeteria post, all Walsh would talk about was how much he missed being at the school.

“There’s great people here. There’s a great facility here. They treat us well…

“I really miss being here. The kids are good… and I wouldn’t be coming here unless I wanted to,” said Walsh before he was whisked away by the team for another group picture with the trophy.

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7 important things to know about living wills

By Dave Carpenter Contributing Writer REGION – Living wills allow people to specify how they want to be cared for if they become so ill or incapacitated that they’re unable to make decisions about their health. Such wills have long been advocated in some form by everyone from estate planners, lawyers and medical ethicists to groups such as the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association.

The failure to have such a document in place can result in the need for a wrenching family decision on whether to withdraw life support, or even a high-profile legal battle such as that involving Terri Schiavo.

Living wills, however, technically are limited in scope and are often confused with regular wills, which deal with transferring property at death. “Living will” tends to be used synonymously with “advance directive,” but legally only applies when someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness.

An advance directive is much more comprehensive and allows you to both give a broad range of health

Living wills allow people to specify how they want to be cared for if they become so ill or incapacitated that they’re unable to make decisions about their health.

care instructions and designate someone to make decisions on your behalf when you are incapacitated. In most states, the law allows you to do both in a single document.

Here are seven key things to know about living wills, or advance directives: 1. Why is a living will important?

It can provide direction and reduce ambiguity during a difficult time by spelling out your wishes on the use of feeding tubes, resuscitation and other procedures that might be needed to prolong your life. Ultimately that should

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comfort your loved ones and reduce the chances they will be divided over whether additional measures should be taken.

2. Can’t they be dealt with when you get sick?

That’s what a lot of people seem to think. Only a small minority have living wills despite promotion by various groups. The rest presumably see no pressing reason to have one.

But Schiavo was seemingly healthy and just 26 when she experienced respiratory and cardiac arrest in 1990 that left her severely brain-damaged and in a persistent vegetative state. The St. Petersburg, Fla., woman had no living will. Her husband, Michael, fought his in-laws in court for years to end her life. Schiavo died in 2005.

3. Can I draft one myself?

Yes. Going to a lawyer can be helpful in order to get advice, learn what medical issues could arise or find out what would happen if you don’t have one. But it is not necessary in order to set up these legal documents.

4. How do I get one?

Forms can be obtained online as well as from many hospitals.

The U.S. Advance Care Plan, a private organization that promotes the use of advance directives and stores them online to make them available to health care providers, charges $125 for lifetime service. But it also makes its services available through member providers that offer them discounted or free to their patients. For more information visit www.usacpr.com.

Because it’s a legal document, make sure your form adheres to rules for your state.

5. What should it say?

The standard forms available online or through reputable or-

ganizations will take care of the content. Fill in the blanks, have it witnessed and notarized and you’re done.

Just make sure you also get health care power of attorney, which many advance directives incorporate. Laws vary state by state as to what happens if people don’t have one or both of these documents.

If you want a customized living will, consult an attorney.

6. Do doctors honor them?

Not always, especially if there is disagreement within the family.

The American Bar Association’s (ABA) website on living wills warns that “you should be aware that just having a written advance directive by itself does not ensure that your wishes will be understood and respected.”

Studies have shown, the ABA said, that advance directives do little to influence end-of-life decisions without communication with your likely decision-makers before a crisis occurs.

Accordingly, it’s a good idea to discuss the issue with your doctor in advance and give him or her a copy of the document.

7. What common mistakes do people make?

Simple as the process can be, oversights are frequent. They include failing to update a living will that was done years ago; not updating it when you change states; not also getting health care power of attorney; not telling whomever you named to act on your behalf, and not telling a spouse or other obvious choice that you named someone else.

Other pitfalls: getting too specific with preferences under various medical scenarios, which risks leaving some out, and not storing the document safely or where relatives will find it.

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Irish music fans mourn the loss of radio host Brian O’Donovan

By Brett Peruzzi Managing Editor

Passion for Irish music O’Donovan, 66, was a native of County Cork in Ireland who moved to the United States in the early eighties after visiting Boston on vacation in 1980. He died from glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer. He joined WGBH in 1986 to host an Irish music radio show, which eventually was expanded to three hours and was a mainstay for the station’s Saturday afternoon programming. He hosted the show for a total of 37 years, and for over 20 years he also hosted and produced “A Christmas Celtic Sojourn,” a live stage production that featured music, dancing, and storytelling.

“His passion for music and his sheer joy in sharing it was abundant-

PHOTO/MEREDITH NIERMAN COURTESY OF WGBH

BOSTON – When Brian O’Donovan, longtime host of the WGBH radio show “A Celtic Sojourn” died in October, the loss left a gaping hole in the Boston Irish music scene and beyond.

But what many of his listeners didn’t know was that he also had a long career in the world of professional sports and event management.

A longtime champion of Irish music and culture in Boston through his WGBH radio show, Brian O’Donovan died of cancer in October.

ly clear to GBH listeners, whether of his weekly show or of his spirited live events,” said Susan Goldberg, WGBH’s president and CEO in a statement released by the station. “In more than 35 years with our organization, Brian never met a stranger. His warmth to his colleagues, and his deep commitment to the mission of GBH, will be

greatly missed.”

Executive at Gillette Stadium In 1984, O’Donovan worked as a consultant on an Irish music festival at Sullivan Stadium in Foxborough, the predecessor to Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. He was later hired by the Sullivan family, then

owners of the stadium and the team, to be the stadium’s general manager.

Over the next decade he brought the facility to international prominence, as it hosted events ranging from the expected NFL games to soccer World Cups and concerts by high-profile musical acts like U2, Madonna, and David Bowie.

Following the acquisition of the Patriots by the Kraft family in 1994, O’Donovan became the stadium’s chief operating officer, a role he held for several years before taking on an expanded role in business development at WGBH, developing partnerships with other organizations.

The goodness of people In September 2022, O’Donovan publicly announced that he was suffering from terminal brain cancer.

“My kind of attitude generally has been to take every piece of life and every experience as the gold nugget that it is,” he told Jim Braude of WBGH’s talk show “Boston Public Radio.”

“When you get a diagnosis like this, you need to really think about making the most of whatever time you have left.”

Brian O’Donovan | 11

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Exercise physiologist accepts no excuses for not exercising Dr. Bruce Cohen works with one of his fitness clients.

By Matt Robinson Contributing Writer REGION – As people recover from holiday-inspired indulgence and prepare for the year ahead, one of the most popular promises they make to themselves is to improve their health.

After a few weeks, however, many find themselves back on the couch, in front of an open refrigerator, or even in the hospital. Fortunately, there are ways that can keep even those of us with the least resolve on the track to long-term health.

Psycho-social aspect “After years of providing fitness assessment and customized programming,” Cohen recalled, “I began to realize that it was not the physical aspect but the psycho-social aspect that was missing in the exercise adherence equation.”

In other words, even when people could exercise and despite the fact that they cognitively understood the risks of not doing so, many were still more likely to make excuses than progress.

As a result, their health and happiness suffered.

Using his doctoral dissertation as an opportunity to research this reticence, Cohen emerged with his Excusercise program and has since helped countless clients overcome their own obstacles.

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No excuses The book “Excusercise: Inexcusable Excuses for Not Exercising” by Bruce Cohen and Michael L. Sachs responds to the most popular reasons people give for not sticking to their health goals. From an alleged lack of time to a lack of appropriate equipment and training, the book stares would-be shirkers in the face and helps them face the fact that such excuses can lead to illness…or worse.

“As humans we are very good at understanding the value of things that might improve our health,” observed Excusercise creator Cohen, who has

of

a Ph.D. in exercise, health, and sport psychology. “But we’re not as good at the execution.”

A certified exercise physiologist, the greater Boston-based Cohen has worked for the federal government and at the U.S. Army Research Institute for Environmental Medicine in Natick, as well as with hundreds of personal and corporate clients.

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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JANUARY 2024 + fiftyplus advocate • 11 “My research showed that people who relapse back into sedentariness report significantly more excuses and less motives than long-term exercisers,” Cohen explained. As with other habit-transformation programs, Cohen emphasizes the importance of having multiple options to deal with potential challenges.

“We all need to have an A, B, and C option each day,” Cohen maintained.

He suggests a fitness plan that works in any situation, regardless of where you are, what equipment you have, or who you are with. While many use the beginning of the year or summer as a starting date, Cohen suggests that any moment can be a great time to start getting (back) into (better) shape.

Not just for New Year’s “For many, January 1 is sort of the deadline,” Cohen observed. “Really, it need not be limited to just a yearly thing.” He also suggests that it is never too late to take that next step.

“Research has shown that the 50-plus [community] has different motivations than when these same

individuals were younger,” Cohen noted. He cited how younger people may play a sport in order to be around more people, while older people may participate in order to be around more years.

“Seniors’ fitness programs are also designed more for functionality than competition,” he added. “As we chronologically age with the goal to mature more slowly and more gracefully.”

No matter your age, background, or activity level, Cohen and Sachs’ book realizes that occasional relapses are to be expected. He encourages readers to find their most persistent excuses in the book to help overcome them. Then get back on track (or field or court or treadmill) to a more active and healthier lifestyle.

“We aim to provide strategies that counter excuses and increase the enjoyment factor to make exercise more realistically sustainable,” Cohen said in conclusion. “Remember, the race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running, walking, crawling, etc., so keep on keeping on!”

Irish music fans mourn the loss of radio host Brian O’Donovan Brian O’Donovan | from page 9

“The amount of kindness that has come to me through this dark diagnosis really strikes me,” he explained. ”The goodness of people. Please think of that, that there are people out there that are ready to help you,” he said.

In September 2023, only a month before his death, O’Donovan released a statement announcing that due to his illness, live productions of “A Celtic Sojourn”―which were held not only

at Christmas time but St. Patrick’s Day as well―would be paused until further notice.

“Your involvement in and support of A Celtic Sojourn has been a constant source of inspiration and strength, and I thank you for it,” said O’Donovan. “May the echoes of our music continue to resonate in your hearts, and may the warmth of our shared experiences keep you company through life’s journey.”

Puzzle Answers Puzzle on page 13

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JANUARY 2024 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com

Necco’s sweet journey into creating classic candies began in Boston

By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer BOSTON – Penny candies were the norm dating as far back as the Great Depression and the mere mention of some of these sweet delights can automatically put bright smiles on faces. New England Confectionery Company (Necco), the confectionary company behind the re-introduction to such low-budget treats like those peanut butter and molasses taffy Mary Janes and Squirrel Nut Zippers opened its doors near Boston in 1847.

The company is noted for producing America’s first candy, Necco Wafers, which were originally called Hub Wafers. Over time, Necco purchased the Stark Candy Company (makers of Sweethearts Conversation Hearts); the Candy House Button Company (makers of Candy Buttons); Clark Bar America, the makers of the chocolate-covered peanut butter crunch known as the Clark Bar and other brands.

The water tower of the Necco factory in Cambridge was painted to resemble a package of Necco Wafers.

Necco’s Sweethearts Conversation Hearts are a favorite candy around Valentine’s Day. PHOTO/JILL ROBIDOUX-WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Pharmacy origins Necco began as a pharmacist’s trade. During the 1800s, pharmacists often mixed prescription drugs into a liquid cocktail or pressed them, often by hand, into a lozenge which had a high content of sugar to mask the

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bitter taste. Necco was founded in 1847 by 26-year-old Boston druggist Oliver R. Chase and his brother Silas after Oliver invented a small machine that automated the pressing and cutting process to help keep up with the demand.

By 1899, the U.S. government started making soldier’s rations to increase caloric intake and improve morale during wartime. Necco Wafers were shipped to battlefields during the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II. Wrapped in wax paper, original wafer flavors include chocolate (brown), lime (green), cinnamon (white), clove (light purple), orange (orange), licorice (gray), lemon (yellow) and wintergreen (pink). In 1917, the U.S. government bought an entire year’s production of Necco Wafers for military men. Not only did consumers enjoy the candies, but the hardy snack was also not ruined by heat or cold and had a two-year shelf life.

Expansion of product line In honor of the burgeoning aviation industry, Necco introduced the Sky Bar (the first chocolate candy bar to include four different fillings) in the 1930s. Aside from its famous Necco Wafers, the company’s line of Sweethearts Conversation Hearts were another favorite, particularly around Valentine’s Day. Necco was also one of the first American companies to provide life insurance for its employees and required no medical or physical exam.

Coverage started at $500 and after three months of employment, it went up $100 every year to $1000.

By the middle of the 20th century, most of Boston’s candy companies had merged, closed or left town with

some moving to Pennsylvania to take advantage of better tax rates.

For over 75 years Necco had a factory in Cambridge, which now is leased by the pharmaceutical firm Novartis. Pedestrians and motorists alike for decades could smell the sweet scent of Necco Wafers being made as they passed the Massachusetts Avenue factory. In 2003, Necco operations were consolidated to its Revere facility.

Decline and rebirth In 2018, the factory in Revere which made Necco Wafers abruptly closed. Necco was sold for $17.33 million to Round Hill Investments, LLC. Eventually Round Hill went into a bankruptcy auction, with Spangler Candy Company being the winning bidder. However, production of the iconic wafers remained on hiatus until May 2020. Spangler Candy Company CEO Kirk Vashaw announced at that time, “Just when comfort food is experiencing a resurgence, Necco Wafers is back with that very kind of familiar, comfortable feeling we all seem to be craving.”

“We are delighted to bring Necco Wafers back into production and to share in their sweet return with fans old and new,” he continued. “We know fans have been waiting anxiously for the return of Necco Wafers and anticipate high demand. Our production lines will continue to run as fast as possible to keep stores instock. The wafers will begin to hit the shelves of major drugstores and pharmacies in early June, followed by shipments to other major retailers.”

Necco’s candies can be ordered online including via Amazon and can still be found in various stores that sell old-fashioned candy.

www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JANUARY 2024 + fiftyplus advocate • 13

Check it out

By Marianne Delorey, Ph.D.

A

tul Gawande’s “The Checklist Manifesto” is a great read for the New Year. Gawande is a surgeon by training, and yet he is arguably more well known for his ability to reach outside of medicine and connect people with the stories from his practice and his life. In “The Checklist Manifesto,” he explains that even the smartest surgeons, pilots, and other highly-skilled professionals need to follow checklists to make sure they don’t forget basic steps in their processes that ultimately end up having a huge impact on their outcomes.

When I first read this article many years ago, I came to the revelation that if these very smart people can keep themselves organized with a checklist, maybe I should try it, too. I did. And it works. I have mini checklists for what

We are by nature flawed and inconstant creatures. We can’t even keep from snacking between meals. Discipline is something we have to work at.

– Atul Gawande

to remember for certain situations and I have checklists that keep me focused weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly.

Before I read this article, I thought I was disorganized. I did alright, but this checklist really gave me a way to prove to myself I wasn’t as disorganized as I thought.

This past year, I tried checklists in a different way. I decided to write down and check off any books that I read with the goal of reading at least one book per month. When June came around and I had already read 12 books, I was shocked. I realized that I was reading more than I thought, but I hadn’t been keeping track. Now that I am using another checklist — and thus a way to measure my goals — I am even more on top of where I want to be.

I recommend all older adults use checklists to keep them organized

and to help out family members who need to step in during emergencies.

Here are some suggested components for people to consider when they develop a system that works for them. Your list may include items for pets, other family members, and car maintenance. Don’t forget to add steps toward your goals!

House/apartment maintenance 3 Regular cleaning schedule 3 Deep cleaning schedule 3 Change air filters 3 Battery replacement (smoke detectors, CO detectors, thermostats) 3 Clean gutters, winterize Computer/phone maintenance 3 Run virus checker/review system health 3 Delete old emails/texts

SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE

3 Organize photos 3 Back up files File maintenance 3 Review and cull files as appropriate Fiscal Health 3 Review all accounts, change passwords 3 Review beneficiaries 3 Make sure insurance is still appropriate Health maintenance 3 Review medication list 3 Make current medical records available for emergencies 3 Update emergency information Before you set your resolutions, review your checklists from this past year and see where you need to focus some organization. You may find that you are on top of your game. If so, kick back and enjoy 2024! If not, I will be plugging along right beside you. I will be: 3 Checking on my goals 3 Checking out the results 3 Checking up on my progress 3 And checking off each step until I meet my target Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of Colony Retirement Homes. She can be reached at 508-755-0444 or mdelorey@colonyretirement.com and www.colonyretirementhomes.com.

LOVE OF SOLVING Answers on page 11

14 • fiftyplus advocate +

JANUARY 2024 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com

viewpoint Time for a spot of tea

By Janice Lindsay Contributing Writer

and made myself a cup of tea.

If you’ve ever watched a TV drama featuring British persons, you’ve learned that a cup of tea cures every ill, or at least makes every problem seem more manageable.

“What’s that you say, Mrs. Jones?

The demolition crew obliterated your house instead of the eyesore next door, destroying your grandmother’s antique jewelry that you planned to sell to finance your dream home on the Riviera? Never mind, I’ll make you a nice cup of tea.”

My husband and I once hiked the hilly Cornwall coast in southwest England with our friends John and Brenda, a British couple. As we descended a steep slope, Brenda slipped and fell, with her arm twisted beneath her. It was clear she had broken her wrist.

We climbed to a high spot, located a distant farmhouse, and trudged gingerly out of the hills. On the road, we hailed the driver of a farm truck who had room for just one passenger. By the time we three had walked the half-mile to the house, all was as well as could be

One cold dark morning, in spite of everything, I woke up.

The news of the world was disturbing. Wars and suffering. Angry people.

Voices of calm and reason struggling to be heard.

Closer to home, on a smaller, personal scale, my car was in the shop about to enjoy the type of attention that buys the mechanic a new boat.

My computer was in another shop while the technician tried to determine why it had suddenly developed the unsettling habit of turning itself on and off.

Like any normal adult, I longed to curl myself into a tiny ball, pull the covers over my head, and not come out until — until — well, until some other time. Instead, I got up

expected: Brenda was already settled at a stranger’s kitchen table, enjoying a nice cup of tea.

At the hospital, while Brenda’s wrist was X-rayed, we waited near the hospital’s tiny refreshment kiosk. A middle-aged gentleman approached the shop, pushing a wheelchair that cradled a frail old woman, perhaps his mother. He lifted her out of the wheelchair and sat her in a booth. He bought her a cup of tea, added sugar and milk, and sat with her while she drank. She stared straight ahead, saying nothing, reacting to nothing, just drinking her tea.

When she finished, he lifted her into the wheelchair. As they headed back toward her room, he said, “Well at least you’ve had your tea.” Can’t walk, can’t talk, maybe doesn’t know who she is, or where she is, but at least she’s

had the comfort of her tea.

The British have it right. Tea power.

The power of the “cuppa” to soothe and refocus does not lie only in the taste of the tea, its calming warmth, or the caffeine uplift. The power lies in the familiar ritual of water just-offthe-boil poured into the mug or teapot – sugar? – milk? The power lies in serving and being served. It lies in sharing the traditional rite with family and friends and strangers who need your compassion. Even if you’re alone, the ceremony of tea creates a deliberate pause that gives your thoughts and emotions time to regroup.

Make yourself a cuppa. It might seem as if the world is falling apart, but at least you’ve had your tea.

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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JANUARY 2024 + fiftyplus advocate • 15

Boston’s Jacob Wirth restaurant set to let the good times roll again After closing six years ago, Boston’s legendary Jacob Wirth restaurant will be reopening soon after extensive renovations are completed.

By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer BOSTON – Over the years, Boston-area residents have mourned the loss of their favorite dining establishments time and time again, but one change in closure is on the horizon. Enthusiasm for tasty food, fun times and future Oktoberfest festivities recently got a boost following the announcement that Jacob Wirth will be making a comeback in early 2024. The historic centuries-old German beer hall closed its doors in 2018 and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, after a fire started in one of the upstairs apartments.

As first reported by the Boston Business Journal, City Realty is joining forces with Royale Entertainment Group, who will oversee operations, to bring the Boston landmark back to its former glory. “We started looking upstairs and there was an old safe up there,” Jacob Simmons, vice president of project management at City Realty (current owners of Jacob Wirth) told Boston.com. “This is the fun stuff when you get these 200-year-old buildings;

you find that old safe or an old candy patent.”

Keeping the heart and soul Jamison LaGuardia, Vice President of Sales and Operations with Royale Entertainment added in the same Boston Business Journal story that they want to keep the nostalgia going and bring it up to 2023 standards while keeping the heart and soul of the place.

Unfortunately, some menu items like goose liverwurst won’t be making a triumphant return. Although the menu has not been finalized, no doubt there will be some hearty, mouthwatering grub and German lager beers on draft to keep up with the restaurant’s roots.

LaGuardia did admit they want to bring back the bar’s famous piano singalongs as well as event offerings such as live music and karaoke.

The Jacob Wirth restaurant had been a Boston staple since 1868 after its namesake immigrated to the country from the wine-growing area of Kreuznach near Bingen, Germany and even wormed its way into pop culture.

Jacob Wirth | 17

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Filene’s was a pioneer in discount department store history The iconic clock at Filene’s flagship store at Boston’s Downtown Crossing was a popular rendezvous point for generations of Massachusetts residents.

By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer BOSTON - Long before there were suburban shopping centers or malls, consumers took to the downtown areas of major cities for their shopping needs and outings. Large department stores were once the crowning hallmark of cities across America. In fact, Boston was the first to set a prime example.

The city was not only the first to offer a department store but had three of the finest of their time. Filene’s, Gilchrist and Jordan Marsh were landmarks of Downtown Crossing.

Moreover, Filene’s department store not only carried on a tradition of being a first but also has a rich history.

Opened in 1890 by William Filene, the store got its start as Filene’s Sons and Company in 1881, selling fancy goods and women’s ready-to-wear apparel.

Sons Edward and Lincoln made the retail giant into a household name after inheriting the store in 1901. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s son John worked in the basement as a stock boy in 1933. The first $11 men’s suit sale, a hugely popular event even when the price went up to $99 in later years, was held in 1937. Designs by Coco Chanel

Edward Filene, son of the store’s original owner, along with his brother Abraham Lincoln Filene, built Filene’s into a renowned department store chain.

and Elsa Schiaparelli were shipped in from war-torn Europe in 1940, and in 1947, the “Running of the Brides” bridal gown sale phenomenon was born.

Bargain basement pioneer After William Filene’s son Edward

took over, he introduced the concept of “bargain basement” pricing for local consumers. Their markdown system was defined by marking the tag

on a piece of merchandise with the date it was first put on sale. If not sold within 12 days, it was reduced by 25 percent. Six selling days later, it was

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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JANUARY 2024 + fiftyplus advocate • 17 then cut by 50 percent and after an additional six days, it was offered at 75 percent off the original price.

After six more days—or a total of 30—if still not sold, then the item is given to charity. However, 90 percent of the goods sold were purchased within the first 12 days of sale. Filene’s Basement became wildly popular with bargain seekers, and the markdown sales idea was adopted by several department stores across the nation.

Many local shoppers may also recall the crazy days in Filene’s Basement when the men’s and women’s dressing rooms were communal. This meant a bunch of total strangers were undressing and dressing in front of each other to try on clothing in one big space. But that was an improvement from the days when there wasn’t even a women’s dressing room and women, particularly during especially frenzied

numerous locations around New England, typically in suburban shopping malls. The chain’s star began to dim in the first years of the 21st century.

In 2006 the Filene’s brand was retired and most of its stores became Macy’s stores, another chain owned by its parent company, Federated Department Stores.

A 1970s coupon from Filene’s Basement, its lower-level store that was a pioneer in markdown pricing.

sales, would sometimes disrobe and try clothes on in the aisles. Some veteran shoppers prepared accordingly and would wear a bathing suit under their clothes to keep the peep show G-rated.

Boston’s Jacob Wirth restaurant Jacob Wirth’s 90-foot mahogany bar, with its inscribed motto “Suum Cuique”—to each his own, will still be the centerpiece of the nineteenthcentury restaurant in its new incarnation.

Jacob Wirth | from page 15

In the Dennis Lehane novel “Small Mercies,” two characters have a date at Jacob Wirth. A wedding scene for the 2010 Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz film “Knight and Day” was filmed at the restaurant.

The new owners have heard stories of meals enjoyed and favorite former employees from locals who have stopped by checking on progress. According to LaGuardia on Boston.com, “They say, ‘Oh, I remember this place back in the ‘70s and ‘80s.’” Upon walking through the western saloon-type double doors, the first thing many noticed was the 90-foot Old World woodcarved bar. Inscribed upon its mantelpiece is the motto “Suum Cuique”— to each his own.

Ensuring history is intact Allegedly, Jacob Wirth had the first bar to distribute Anheuser-Busch beer and, interestingly, the Wirth and Anheuser families were from the same small German town. The new owners are mulling over hours of operation for the 21-and-over crowd yet maintain a

family-friendly atmosphere, especially for those seeking a go-to place before or after the nearby Theater District’s shows.

As for renovations, the kitchen will no longer be in the basement but moved upstairs next to the bar for practical reasons. The bathrooms will be up to code and modern cultural needs, with more toilet stalls in the women’s restroom. Replacement tile must match the old tile, the clock out front stays and the mahogany bar is to receive updates. Developers had to get approval for fixes to the public-facing exterior of the building and interior of the bar. They are also renovating the apartments upstairs.

After Jacob Wirth died in 1902, his son, Jacob Wirth Jr., kept the restaurant alive and thriving despite many hardships, such as two waves of anti-German sentiment during WWI and WWII, Prohibition and the Great Depression. Jacob Wirth Jr. ran the restaurant until his death in 1965. The Wirth family continued to run the restaurant until they sold it to the Fitzgerald family in 1975, who ran the restaurant until it closed in 2018.

Legendary bridal gown sale Perhaps one of, if not the most memorable thing about Filene’s, is when brides-to-be laced up their sneakers and it was ready, set, shop (mob) the place due to their bridal gown sales, better known as the “Running of the Brides.” Hundreds of women filled with adrenaline seized the attention of the local media while grabbing as many gowns as their arms could hold for this one-day sale. It was pretty much guaranteed to be featured in the city’s newspapers and at least one evening television news broadcast every year.

For several decades in the late 20th century, Filene’s expanded into

Historical legacy Filene’s shuttered flagship store in Boston’s Downtown Crossing is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In the 2010 documentary “Voices From the Basement,” late investigative journalist Mike Wallace called the department store “an important part of our heritage.” Adding to the conversation, former Boston mayor Thomas M. Menino stated, “I loved going to the Basement, going through all the shirts they had, the ties, the suits to find a deal.”

Dubbed the “Father of the American Credit Union System,” Edward Filene also formed a savings and loan association for employees which later became the Filene Employee’s Credit Union and pioneered credit unions across the U.S. He was inducted into Merchant’s Hall of Fame in Chicago in 1956 and credited with the creation of the “automatic markdown” sale system.

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Waterville Valley is a multi-generation destination with more than just skiing Waterville Valley has a nine-hole, executivestyle golf course to enjoy in the warm weather.

By Sandi Barrett Contributing Writer WATERVILLE VALLEY, NH – Unplug, connect with family, and breathe the fresh mountain air―the foundation of a multigenerational getaway. Waterville Valley Resort in New Hampshire’s White Mountains has more than just skiing. The family-focused resort is a wonderful year-round group getaway. At the resort, which is like a mini village, you will find a wide array of fun outdoor activities to keep the youngsters, tweeners, and youngat-heart members of your crew happily occupied. And it’s ideally located as a base to launch many other White Mountains adventures.

Waterville Valley Resort (https:// www.waterville.com/) accommodations include the Town Square Condos, perfectly situated for large, busy groups. They offer a two story, three-bedroom condo living with a full kitchen, dining/living room, and two bath condos that sleep eight guests.

Pack up the kids and grandkids, throw

PHOTO/SANDI BARRETT

in some groceries, and you are off on an outdoor adventure.

Activities abound Along with your reservation at the Town Square Condos, you receive a “Freedom Pass” entitling you to a host of no-fee activities.

You can enjoy the White Moun-

tain Athletic Club’s Aquatic Center.

The indoor and outdoor pool complex is a short walk from the Town Square.

The Athletic Club also offers an indoor track, strength and cardio fitness room, steam and sauna rooms, indoor tennis, and basketball court.

The Freedom Pass changes seasonally and can include adventures

like two hours of free mountain bike rentals―perfect for cruising along and enjoying the fall foliage. Which, by the way, typically runs through the first two weeks in October in Waterville Valley. Another fall perk is a ride on the Snow’s Mountain Chair Lift.

The short lift offers riders a beautiful view of the valley and ski area. Riders

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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JANUARY 2024 + fiftyplus advocate • 19 62 trails ranging from gentle beginner runs to double black diamond expert adventures, everyone can have a great day on the slopes. You can also try out cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or fat-tire mountain biking in the snow.

get off at the top and can play an 18hole disc golf course down the mountain, hike down, or simply get back on and enjoy the ride down.

There is a pretty beach on the pond adjacent to the Town Square to enjoy in the warm weather. It is perfect for little swimmers who want to dip their toes in the water. Kayak and paddle boat rentals are available for some on-the-water fun.

Adjacent to the Town Square is a nine-hole, executive-style golf course.

The semi-private, Waterville Valley Clubhouse offers a picturesque round for players of all levels.

Hiking trails through the White Mountains are a magical way to enjoy Mother Nature. Several trails are accessible from the resort. The beautiful Fletcher’s Cascade Trail nestled in the Sandwich Range Wilderness is a 3.2mile out and back, moderate-ranked trail by All Trails. The waterfall reward is well worth the hiking effort.

Wintertime brings lots of snow to

PHOTO/SANDI BARRETT

Waterville Valley has plenty of winter activities for non-skiers, including snowshoeing.

Dining options While you are staying with your extended gang at the Town Square Condos, you have lots of dining options. With a full kitchen, you can dine together in casual comfort. However, just outside your condo door is a variety of restaurants including La Hacienda Mexicana, Olde Waterville Pizza, and the Valley Pub & Restaurant.

Just a flight of stairs down from your vacation digs is JugThe Fletcher’s Cascade Trail is a popular town Country Store, filled with hiking choice from the Waterville Valley Resort. all the grocery items you forgot, pre-made eats, and beer and wine. And if you want to explore this region and skiing is what put Wathe area’s options outside the resorts, terville Valley on the map. This year there are a variety of other restaurants the Waterville Valley Resort will host within a short drive. the Moguls World Cup. Beginning If you are looking for a close-by January 27 and 28, on Lower Bobby’s spot with tons of seasonal activities Run, the competition bell rings. You for the entire multi-generation crew, don’t have to be a competitor to get Waterville Valley Resort can be a great out and enjoy the snowy slopes. With destination.

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Did you fund your estate plan?

If you wonder what “funding” is, generally speaking, it is the process of situating the ownership and beneficiary designations on your assets to pass in accordance with your estate planning goals.

By Linda T. Cammuso REGION – Trusts are used every day in estate planning for a variety of reasons that include probate avoidance, gift tax and estate tax planning, protection of beneficiaries including minors, spendthrifts and individuals with special needs and sheltering assets from longterm care/nursing home expenses.

Today, more than ever, people understand the need to establish trusts as part of estate planning. However, many people fail to take the next step in this important process, i.e. funding the trusts with their most valuable assets.

What funding means If you wonder what “funding” is, generally speaking, it is the process of situating the ownership and beneficiary designations on your assets to pass in accordance with your estate planning goals. In the context of a trust, funding involves transferring ownership and/ or death benefits of your assets into a trust — a legal agreement that holds those assets for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries.

In a typical living trust arrangement, the person (the grantor) who creates and funds the trust with his/her

Linda T. Cammuso, founding partner at Estate Preservation Law Offices

assets holds two roles, that of trustee (legal owner) and beneficiary (beneficial owner). Upon the grantor’s death, the trust assets are passed along to whomever the grantor has designated in the trust document — be it a spouse, children, extended family, charities, etc. Trusts can be funded during the grantor’s life, or upon the grantor’s death through a will or beneficiary des-

ignations.

On its own, a will or trust does not dictate how your assets will be distributed upon your death. This is why the funding process is so critical. Even if you have only a simple will, you must still go through the funding exercise to account for the disposition of all your assets.

Possible consequences Suppose your will provides that your estate will pay equally to your three children, but your life insurance policy names your sister as the beneficiary and your retirement account names only one of your children. In spite of what your will says, the beneficiary designations on your life insurance and retirement account will trump the will.

Similarly, having another name on your house or bank account will re-

sult in the joint owner inheriting the asset upon your death. This is why estate planning requires a great deal of thought, and is so much more than a pile of documents.

While the funding process is not difficult, many people fail to realize the disconnect between their legal documents and their assets, almost guaranteeing that their estate will not pass where and how they intended upon death.

Linda T. Cammuso, a founding partner at Estate Preservation Law Offices and an estate planning professional, has extensive experience in estate planning, elder law and long-term care planning.

She may be reached at www.estatepreservationlaw.com or by calling 508-7515010. Archives of articles from previous issues may be read at www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.

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