Gunter Nitsch documents his life as a refugee in post-war Europe Growing up in East Prussia during World War II and then in a West Germany refugee camp after the war, Gunter Nitsch didn’t envision the books he’d someday write. He was simply trying to get by. “The teachers I had in West Germany, they were […]
Silver Spurs lets older adults take the reins Loraine Bremer has always loved animals. That’s why, a few years ago, when she first heard that her assisted living community, Covenant Living of Northbrook, would be arranging a trip to a horse farm, she quickly signed up. Bremer, who recently turned 100, remembers her visits well. “It was […]Read More
Oldest American to summit Mount Everest reflects on life lessons Art Muir was in high school when James Whittaker became the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1963. Since then, Muir has dreamed of climbing the world’s highest mountain. Now, at age 75, Muir has become the oldest American to make […]Read More
Birder’s passion helps her soar Each morning, Sigrid Schmidt looks out her window for American goldfinches, black-capped chickadees, and northern cardinals — common yard birds that make her heart sing. So, too, do migratory birds and more unusual species, such as the endangered piping plovers she helped monitor in Chicago. “Birding is a wonderful, wonderful hobby,” […]Read More
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black pilots in the United States military and flew about 1,500 missions during World War II. They were courageous, inspirational, and instrumental in the desegregation of the U.S. armed forces. To Melvin Copeland, they were also family. Copeland, now 96, arrived in Tuskegee, Alabama, for aviation training in late 1943. […]Read More
Barbara Bowman’s Passion Stories have always filled Barbara Bowman’s life. And in her 92 years — the majority of them spent as a passionate child development expert in Chicago — Bowman has heard and told myriad stories. There are stories she has told young children as a mother and grandmother; stories she has shared with […]Read More
Jazz pianist and vibraphonist Photographed at his winter apartment in Los Angeles Some of Chicagoan Stu Katz’s passions are quiet. He loves his family, his former career as a corporate attorney and complicated word puzzles. But there’s one passion you can’t miss: jazz. “I have been a working jazz musician for over 65 years. Thankfully, […]Read More
Enthusiast Photographed at his home in Rogers Park, Chicago Chicagoan Jim Lew is a consummate storyteller, bursting with interesting stories from throughout his life. Indeed, everything Lew does seems to turn into his latest passion. His tales start with spending his childhood in his parents’ Chinese restaurant on Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas. He’s full […]Read More
Art collector and philanthropist Photographed at her Gold Coast home, Chicago Walking into art collector and philanthropist Penny Brown’s home is like walking into an art gallery. Her collection is eclectic and vast, and Brown is an engaging tour guide, pointing out her personal connections to each piece or to each artist. For Brown, art […]Read More
Dancer Photographed at Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Chicago As a child growing up on the South Side of Chicago, Susan Trice wanted to dance. But, as the oldest of six kids with two working parents, pursuing that dream wasn’t possible. Trice never let up on her vision, though. And eight years ago, when she was […]Read More