“I want to keep my body fit so that I can keep doing what I love. I walk. I drive. I go places. I spend time socializing.”


Enriching


Fred served his country during the Korean War while he was in college, then after graduate school in Michigan, moved to Tokyo with his wife to work as an administrator with the Episcopal Church. Ten, 42 years later, he found his way back to Lancaster.


Now, Fred is a weightlifter and an avid participant of the Lancaster Senior Games, where last year, he deadlifted 180 pounds!


“It’s a mystery,” Fred said of his enthusiasm for weightlifting. “My wife and I lived in Japan and I walked all the time to use the public transportation. Tat’s how I first became interested in deliberately walking. I would get up and walk in the early mornings.”


When Fred retired at the age of 70 and he and his wife moved from Tokyo to a cottage at Landis Homes, he continued walking. “Ten, I discovered what was available at Landis Homes,” he said. “We have a fitness room here so I became interested in using that.”


As he discovered the benefits of the fitness room, Fred also learned about the Lancaster Senior Games, a series of activities held each May for adults over the age of 55. At that time in the early 2000s, the Senior Games were held at Franklin & Marshall College in the alumni sports fitness center, a place very familiar to Fred because he is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall. He received his degree in history in 1955.


Fred knew right away that he wanted to participate. “Te first thing I entered was the walking competition,” he remembered. “Ten I found out that there were other activities. I started not only going to the fitness center at Landis Homes but also the Lititz Rec Center. I started using the weights there.”


Lives, Together


Eventually, Fred moved his training from the Rec Center to Universal Athletic Club in Lancaster. “I have people there who help me with weightlifting,” he shared. “I started working with a private trainer in January who helped me work up to this year’s Senior Games.”


Te 2023 Senior Games were held in May at Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim. Fred participated in weightlifting events and basketball foul shooting. “I’ve been going to the Senior Games for about 20 years,” he said. “It keeps me healthy. I enjoy the mix of people I meet.”


“Wellness keeps your mind active and your body fit,” Fred shared. “Lifting weights helps me with my balance. When you age, it’s easier to trip or lose your balance and I find myself being slower than I used to be. I want to keep my body fit so that I can keep doing what I love. I walk. I drive. I go places. I spend time socializing.”


Staying fit allows Fred to spend time with family and travel. Tis fall, Fred is embarking on a two- week sea voyage to return to Japan, where his two sons will meet him to spend nearly a month together.


Te Senior Games will always hold a special place in Fred’s heart. “Give them a try!” he encouraged. “You’ll meet people from all over Lancaster. I’ve made new friends.”


In addition to friends, Fred has acquired countless medals. “I used to keep them, but got too many,” he admitted. “Now Landis Adult Day Services uses them as awards for their competitions! I’m happy to share.”


Te medals aren’t what’s important to Fred anyway: a healthy body and a healthy mind are worth all of his work and are invaluable rewards!


Landis.org | FLOURISH | Fall 2023 • 15


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