Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Gilbert Judy, 104 years old, had six different birthday parties this year to commemorate his longevity.
'On Hold'
Local resident enjoys all 104 of his years
By Scott Steinberg
At 104 years of age, Gilbert Dewey Judy considers himself a man on hold.
"My friends met in the spirit world, and they asked, 'Where's Gilbert?' " Judy said. "The great spirit went to my friends and said, 'I'll tell you what happened to Gilbert. He wasn't good enough to go to the good place. He wasn't bad enough to go to the bad place, so we put him on hold.' "
It's a story Judy loves to tell, but don't let it deceive you--Judy is quite happy to be alive, and quite good at it. He still manages to hold his thin 5-foot-9-inch" frame straight. His health is good; his handshake firm.
He lives with his son Harold in Sunnyvale. On May 13 (a day after his birthday) the Senior Center celebrated the 104th birthday of its oldest member.
It was his sixth birthday cake in the span of two weeks. With two children, five grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren residing throughout the country, Judy has a lot of rounds to make. And he is not afraid of traveling, nor scared of doing things.
When he was 100, he and Harold, 71, rode a cruise through the Panama Canal. At 96, he toured Alaska. At 90, he went turkey hunting for the first time.
His grandson put him up on a hunting stand and gave him some shells. Judy said, "I only need one," and returned the rest. When the grandson returned, he found a lifeless turkey in front of the stand.
At 87, Judy remarried. At 65, he earned his private pilot's license and often flew solo around Southern California.
Two weeks ago, he traveled to celebrate his sister's 100th birthday. Then he went fishing with his grandson in Curvale, Texas, catching a 16-inch catfish.
Age does not hinder Judy. His 104 years become him, and he remains essentially what he was as a child growing up on a ranch in Western Kansas--a nature boy.
He didn't have the opportunity to cultivate his fishing skills on the ranch because, as he said, "there's not much water in Kansas." But after World War I, he followed his parents to San Diego.
He became an avid fisherman (eventually obtaining three ocean boats), married and earned his teaching degree from what is now San Diego State University.
Call Judy a simple man, if you must.
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Gilbert Judy, 104 years old, sits with his son Harold. Gilbert still works out regularly, every day doing 50 pull-ups and using a treadmill for five minutes.
On fishing--"I like being outdoors, where the sun is," he said. "I like the trees, the scenery of the trees and the rivers."
On his life--"I did things, and I enjoyed doing them."
On the secret to a long life--"Be honest in your dealings so you can sleep at night."
On youth--"Don't have too many kids. The world is overpopulated."
He remains a charismatic man, and is still interested in the world.
"I reserve my evenings for reading," Judy said, pointing to the latest edition of U.S. News & World Report and a magnifying glass.
His days are spent preparing his own breakfast and lunch, sorting through his mail, doing 50 pull-ups and walking the treadmill for five minutes.
And he's proving to be a delightful roommate for his son.
"My father has always been a very thoughtful, considerate, friendly person," Harold said. "My sister and I were lucky to grow up in a pretty enlightened environment. Discipline was subtle and positive."
Harold says his father washes the dishes at home and "consistently accepts what comes his way."
His father is a man who literally spans modern American history, living through a century and parts of two others. He has seen 21 of the 42 presidents in office (Grover Cleveland twice). He started teaching high school social studies when radio was still nascent technology and retired from the La Mesa school district in 1959 during the television boom.
Despite struggling with hearing loss that has plagued him for 30 years, despite seeing two wives and many of his friends die, Judy considers himself a lucky man.
"I'm sure lucky I can handle myself pretty well yet," he said and sat back, taking a good look at 104 years.
If anyone deserves so much life, Gilbert Dewey Judy does. His mother would have attested to that. She was an honest woman who herself was put on hold until the age of 107.
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
