Passaic Today

Not everyone is an early starter. While many achieve fame, build businesses, or make groundbreaking discoveries at a young age, there have always been late-in-life achievers who begin their journeys when most are planning retirements.

Montclair State University English Professor Jonathan Greenberg and CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Mo Rocca have released a new book titled "Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs." The book is a collection of stories featuring the inspiring lives and achievements of exceptional elders who made their mark later in life.

Profiling individuals like Colonel Sanders, who founded Kentucky Fried Chicken in his 60s, and Mary Church Terrell, who led sit-ins at segregated Washington, D.C., lunch counters at age 86 in the 1950s, the book celebrates those who live life to the fullest.

On Roctogenarians and what makes them special

“It’s not just advanced years that make a person a Roctogenarian,” Greenberg says. “A Roctogenarian is a person who rejects the basic cultural narrative that age is necessarily a story of decline and diminishing powers and instead sees every new phase of life as a chance for new opportunities.”

Greenberg notes that going against cultural norms about older people is also very Roctogenarian. “We’re looking at a culture that says by the time you round into maybe your third act of life, it’s time to start packing it in. Here we’re saying, ‘Here are dozens of stories of people, famous and not famous, who have done just the opposite.’”

On some featured Roctogenarians – famous and not

The lives and achievements of Mel Brooks, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Diana Nyad, Clara Peller, Peter Mark Roget among others are featured in "Roctogenarians." Greenberg highlights three:

Colonel Sanders – At age 65 with nothing but pressure cookers, seasoning bags, his $105 Social Security check and ambition; Harland David Sanders founded Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) turning it into a worldwide franchise empire.

Tyrus Wong – A talented artist recognized officially as a Disney Legend at age 91 for his work on Bambi. Wong continued creating art until his death at 106.

Henri Matisse – Despite struggles including divorce and cancer surgeries in his 70s leaving him unable to paint; Matisse turned to cut paper collages creating celebrated works until nearly his death 15 years later.

On common attributes shared by Roctogenarians

Greenberg identifies three common attributes among Roctogenarians:

Freedom: Older individuals often stop caring about others' opinions.

Awareness: An acute awareness of time leading to a “now-or-never” attitude.

Drive: Certain individuals possess an unyielding drive exemplified by Frank Lloyd Wright designing New York City's Guggenheim Museum well into his later years.

On how anyone can become a Roctogenarian

Greenberg suggests revisiting past passions from younger years as one way to embrace being a Roctogenarian. He cites co-writer Mo Rocca's public radio segment where listeners shared their own late-in-life pursuits.

He also mentions Brian May from Queen returning to complete his PhD in astrophysics at age 60 after decades as a rock star illustrating how dreams can be picked up again later in life.