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According to Social Security’s 2010 Life Expectancy Report, American men should live an average of 76.3 years. Sun City resident Paul Souchek defied the odds, celebrating his 90th birthday on Sept. 30, 2013.
Genes may play less of a role in longevity than many believe, making lifestyle and environment more important factors. Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Division of Aging began a controlled study in 1981, enrolling 2,357 healthy men with an average age of over 72. By the end of the research, 970 men made it to their ’90s. Certain factors became obvious among those 41 percent that helped themselves to live longer. Let’s see how Paul compares with these factors and those from other similar studies.
World War II veteran Paul Soucheck just turned 90 this September. He credits his health and longevity to his diet and staying physically and socially active. (Chris La Pelusa/Sun Day Photo)
1. Consume whole healthy foods
Prior to the Great Depression, Paul grew up on a farm-like setting in Norwood Park.
“My diet consisted of garden tomatoes out of our yard, corn, carrots…. We only used dry cow manure, which after three years became our fertilizer. Our fruits and vegetables had no additives,” Souchek said. “I still raise seven plants of tomatoes each growing season.”
“Since we were married, we have always eaten a lot of veggies and salads,” Joan, Paul’s wife of 66 years, added.
For Souchek starting his day properly means a breakfast of cereal or eggs. He also takes multi-vitamins such as D3, calcium, CoQ10, fish oil, and a mature adult daily vitamin.
2. Have a little luck along life’s way.
Paul was drafted into the army and entered World War II at 18 for a period of two years, nine months, and six days. He spent all but 13 weeks of basic training abroad on tours of duty to Africa, Italy, France, and Germany (as far as Munich) where he rose from private to sergeant. When Paul fought the enemy in the France/Germany border area, he narrowly missed death on four occasions.
“One particular situation occurred when I was about to take over ‘watch duty’ in five minutes. The soldier ‘on guard’ took a bullet that killed him right before it was my turn to stand in his place,” he said.
Years later, back home and at work in his construction job, Souchek said: “When a piece of plywood that had been covering a hole in the concrete flipped up on me, I fell down one story through the hole in a high-rise building. I only cracked a rib.”
3. Be dutiful to your health throughout life.
Paul says, “I have never taken alcohol or smoked.” Mr. Souchek does appear to have good genes. His mother lived to be 97, but his dad (who didn’t see a doctor) died at 62 due to uremic poisoning. Paul has never suffered from major illnesses such as diabetes and was told by one physician that his heart’s strength was that of someone much younger than himself. Because he has regular 3-4 month physical check-ups, which include blood work, Souchek keeps his blood pressure under control. He has never been obese, and has only suffered through his life with a double hernia. He enjoys at least nine hours of sleep nightly. Just recently at 90 years of age, he was asked by a doctor “Do you want to be in a wheelchair or do you want to walk around?” After hearing these words, Souchek decided it was finally time to have a total knee replacement. After almost nine weeks of therapy, he is walking just great!
4. Stay active physically and mentally.
Souchek made a career of working on Chicago’s 21- to 34-story high buildings as a laborer’s foreman. After his and Joan’s three children were married, each of the Souchek’s newlywed couples were able to save money for their own houses by staying in the upper floor apartment their (then) 60-year-old father built as a house addition.
At 60, Paul came out of retirement full time for five years. He still tinkers with his longtime hobby of repairing radios from the 1930s and fixing broken parts. Some days you may even find Paul riding on one of Prairie Lodge’s stationary bikes.
5. Stay social through life.
Paul has belonged to the senior social group at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Huntley. When Joan participates in her own engagements with friends, you can find Paul at Huntley’s Papa G’s kibitzing with the owner and other seniors.
A recent highlight occurred at Souchek’s 90th birthday party, attended by 80 people, where a local quilter’s group presented him with “A Quilt of Valor” gift for his participation in WWII.
“I’ve got a lot of determination. I never give up,” Souchek said. In service – same thing – I always knew we could work it out!”
