We are honored to be able to include the following contributors on our journey. They will chime in on occasion with their own experiences and perspectives on living longer. Our contributors are highly accomplished people of all ages and walks of life that will definitely have something meaningful to say!
Bill Langelier
Bill Langelier, Moderator, Bill will be asking the contributors to chime in on the Facebook page as it relates to their special interest.
Bill has dedicated the last 12 years to “rethinking healthy senior living,” which contributes to longevity. His efforts have been recognized nationally and internationally by senior housing experts. Please visit the Hotel Oakland Village website: www.hoteloaklandvillage.com.
Corinne Jan
CEO of Oakland non-profit, Family Bridges which currently serves the healthcare and social services needs of 10,000 unduplicated low income, mostly monolingual Asian clients each year. Family Bridges now has grown to 6 sites in downtown Oakland, with two adult day healthcare centers, two senior centers, a childcare center, a social services center and a community-based health home. https://www.familybridges.org/our-ceo/
Andrew Scharlach
Dr. Scharlach served as the longtime Eugene and Rose Kleiner Professor of Aging at the School of Social Welfare at UC Berkeley. He also directed the Center for the Advanced Study of Aging Services. Dr. Scharlach’s research examines innovative social and community supports designed to promote healthy aging. He has published nearly 100 articles and is the author of five books. https://socialwelfare.berkeley.edu/people/andrew-scharlach
Charles Eisendrath
Nationally recognized journalist with Time Magazine, journalism professor at the University of Michigan, and inventor of the world's best and most famous wood fired grill. https://charlesreisendrath.com/charles
Ben Eisendrath
After buying the dormant Grillworks business from his father, Ben ingeniously developed a variety of sophisticated wood fired grills that meet the high standards of sophisticated restaurants around the world. Ben’s grills have been recognized by the national media as the “Gold Standard” in sophisticated wood burning grills (https://www.grillworksusa.com/). In his spare time, Ben is an avid photographer who ventures out on rides with his precious Harley motorcycle.
Ronan Lennon
Ronan has been a functional fitness coach for 24 years. In that time, he has learned that there are many factors which can affect our health, power, wellness and performance. https://www.leapfitnesssf.com/
Nancy Lu
Wellness Director at Hotel Oakland Village, an affordable senior housing community considered by many housing professionals as the nation's most innovative and successful senior aging-in-place facilities. Nancy led the groundbreaking Health and Wellness Connection to total resident participation of 100%. She successfully completes 400 Health Plans per year and leads the highly innovative Caring Friends Groups.
Dr. Michael Guber
Michael Guber is a retired Gastroenterologist who practiced medicine for over 35 years. He was also an assistant clinical professor at the University of Miami Medical School. He and his wife Susan sponsored a chair at the U of Miami Medical School in the name of Chester Cassel in Gerontology, which subsequently became the chair in clinical Gastroenterology. Dr. Guber served in the Medical Corps of The United States Air Force with a tour in Viet Nam.
During his medical and service career he treated patients of all ages and walks of life, always sensitive to how we deal with the process of aging and especially how it affects our lifestyle.
Megan Jochimsen
Village Director at Hotel Oakland Village. Megan oversaw the implementation of the village concept (https://www.vtvnetwork.org) in this affordable senior housing community - the first of its kind in the US! Megan continues to encourage other senior communities to provide health-focused dignified senior living while overseeing the formal programs at Hotel Oakland Village that target the mitigation of senior isolation and improve health literacy among all residents.
Sylvia Halpern
Sylvia is well-known in the recumbent trike world. She and her trike, Myrtle, have travelled the world and are about the embark on a 9,000 mile journey around the US. Sylvia has traveled the world solo on her trike and mostly camping when practical. As a woman with trike and camping gear, she has a large following from admirers that appreciate her great sense of adventure and “can do” personality. https://www.facebook.com/TravelsByTrike/
Tim Stephen
Tim Stephen is the Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business and Legal Affairs in the U.S. for Gaumont, a French film company (https://gaumonttelevision.com/). Tim is a nationally recognized executive in the entertainment industry with a focus on profitability through better workplace culture. He was also an All-American water polo player at UCLA. As one who became an attorney in his late 30's, Tim is a strong believer in pursuing your passion regardless of age.
Don Perata
Don Perata is a former Democratic politician, who was President pro tempore of the California State Senate from 2004 to 2008. Prior to serving in the State Senate, Perata served in the California State Assembly, as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Alameda County, and as a high school teacher. Throughout his career Don has been an advocate for the rights of the elderly, the mentally ill, and the disabled.