Larry Haubner, Marathon Man

July 2, 2009

larryhaubner According to actuarial tables created by the Social Security Administration, Larry Haubner, who was born in 1902, had a 1 in 25,000 chance of making it to age 107. But when you look at this man, who recently celebrated his 107th birthday, and you hear him bellow: “Exercise! I think we should all exercise more than we do…” your first thought is this guy must be one-in-a-million.

With his broad mostly toothless grin, he’ll happily flash a loving smile and show off his biceps: the result, he insists, of a daily exercise and weight lifting routine. Affectionately known as “Curly,” this bald man with the kind eyes and the incredible attitude entered an assisted living home in Fredericksburg, Virginia at age 102. Up until that time he lived on his own and was known to most locals simply as the kind old gentleman who rode through town every day on his bike.

In 2004, after Mr. Haubner fell off his bike, he was taken to the hospital. He made a full recovery, but without any living relatives to oversee his care it fell upon the court and state-appointed social workers to conclude that he could not return and live safely in his apartment. And so a space was found for him at a private assisted care facility in Northern Virginia known as Greenfield.

This week in a story on Haubner in the Washington Post, the Greenfield facility was described as a ”private-pay facility with 36 residents.” All the private rooms are personalized with photographs, pets and the patient’s own furniture.” Haubner’s room is simple and furnished mostly with donations. There is a recliner in one corner and it is flanked by ancient exercise equipment, including, according to the Post, “a homemade weight — an eight-kilogram lead ball inside a basket — that he lifts at least 20 times a day.” But Haubner cautions visitors to start with lifting the weight just five times a day and taking their time to build up to his level.

The Post reported that Robert Prasse, a physician who treats Haubner for free, notes that he is in good health. Prasse, who is amazed by his overall vigor and fitness, told the Post, “I don’t see anything that’s going to take him away from us in a hurry.”

Haubner never married, and he has no surviving family or friends that anyone connected with Greenfield has ever identified. But other residents and their families have adopted him, and bring him gifts every Christmas, and faithfully join in his birthday celebrations.

The only problem: Haubner has a $3,200-per-month bill in order to continue living at Greenfield. Otherwise he’ll be sent to a state-funded age home.

His $1,200 in pension and social security falls well short of his financial needs. Local residents in 2007 began collecting money to supplement his care. To date, through a website called www.SaveLarry.org and various fundraising events, $56,000 has come in from nearly 400 people to help keep him at Greenfield.

No one among Haubner’s many admirers wants to tell him that, as 2010 approaches, and in a tough economy, these funds are hard to come by. At the age of 107, one of his admirers explained, ”he’s earned the right to stay where he is.”

Haubner’s past details are pretty sketchy. As the Post explained. “He was born in Dubuque, Iowa, and grew up in Tacoma, Washington, where his father worked on the railroad. ‘You might say we never had any money.’ he said. Haubner worked at a Tacoma lumberyard before enlisting in the Army in his late 30s, then moved to New York to work as a doorman and pursue a dream of singing opera. He had a teacher who believed in him. ‘She said I had a voice that could make it,’ he said.

But he never sang professionally.” Haubner gave up on a career in opera before Truman left the White House.

So this inspirational marathon man will have to continue to rely on the kindness of strangers.

Meanwhile. with his 110th birthday less than three years away, he reminds others to remain vigilant about maintaining a diet and exercise program.

As for all those birthday cakes, Haubner always partakes, he says, “I don’t believe cake is a good food.” But, what the hell, you only live once!

To donate to Haubner’s fund, go to www.SaveLarry.com.

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