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Saying, “Yes!” to Life

An Interview with Cecelia Hurwich, Ph.D.

By Charli Depner

Photographs by Nancy Rubin

 

Ashby Village member Cecelia Hurwich is a woman with a message:  Despite its challenges, later life can be filled with inner richness and vitality.  At 95, she is actively engaged socially, culturally, and politically and you would know it to look at her.  Dressed in vibrant hues of orange and red, favorite colors reverberating throughout her home­, she greeted me with a big smile.  “I am a playful, joyful person,” she announced, setting the tone for lively and thought-provoking conversation. 

 

It is not surprising that Cecilia and her life partner of many years, Don Ross, were early supporters of Ashby Village’s pioneering efforts to facilitate long-term ties to home and community.  “My home is an anchor.  It represents stability, safety, and a place of continuous nurturing. It expresses who I am.  It’s aesthetics and bright colors offer both stimulation and tranquility,” Cecelia says of her Elmwood house, purchased in 1956 with the aid of a Veterans’ Assistance loan. 

 

Cecelia speaks with gratitude for assistance with technology and home repair, provided by Ashby Village volunteers.  Her primary engagement with Ashby Village, however, has been as “a place to be introduced to new ideas.”  She participated in tai chi classes “to reconnect mind, body, and spirit.”  The “Walking with Poles Class” garnered her vigorous praise, not only because it makes it possible for members to stay physically active, but also because it provides an opportunity for members to experience nature together.

 

In 1990, at age 69, Cecelia earned her Ph.D. from the Center for Psychological Studies at Berkeley.  Grounded in her belief in the capacity for growth, meaning, and vitality in later life, her research brought a fresh perspective to the field of Gerontology, which at that time focused primarily on the negative aspects of aging.

 

Her work’s attention to women’s lives was also unique.  Up to that point, she recalls, “It was almost as if women who enjoyed life and found it meaningful did not exist.”   Cecelia’s research on women over seventy vividly illustrates a capacity to enjoy a fulfilling life into advanced age.  “Vitally engaged” women are optimistic, physically active, engaged in friendships, committed to continued growth and learning, and experiencing life as meaningful.  “Despite setbacks, they go on,” Cecelia observed, “Life is about learning to live successfully with things you cannot change.”

Cecelia did not set out to write another “how to grow old” book.  Instead, her autobiography, 92 and dancing, blends her research with the story of a life guided by an appetite for meaning and new experiences. It is a life grounded in the East Bay and extending to global travel, service as a WAVE in World War II, climbing Mount Everest, a life-long love of the wilderness, and commitment to social and environmental issues. 

 

Cecelia’s passion for philanthropy and social activism is an extension of her willingness to engage.  As she puts it, “We need to show up for each other.  Life has meaning beyond me and mine.”  She has served for several years on the board of the Arkay Foundation, a funder of Ashby Village and other initiatives in social innovation, economic and social justice, and environmental protection. Active in Great Old Broads for Wilderness, she joins activists who bring media attention to wilderness areas threatened by pollution and development.

 

Going forward, Cecelia asserts, “I believe in remaining open to new experiences no matter how old I am.  This is what keeps me young and joyful.”  To illustrate her point, she relates a story.  While enjoying a walk in her neighborhood, Cecelia encountered a man chasing a chicken.  After he retrieved the bird, they struck up a conversation about urban farming and sustainable living.  His parting gift was a fresh egg and an offer to stop by if she ever wants more.

 

“We can’t lock the door to new encounters,” she continues, “We need to allow ourselves to experience new people and ideas, not be fearful and disengaged.” 

 

A member of two book groups and one long-standing writing group, Cecelia recommended several great reads.  Suggesting her current favorite, The Forty Rules of Love: A Novel of Rumi by Elif Shafak, she said, “This book describes what it means to live life fully and joyfully.  That is my philosophy.”

 

The epitome of creative perseverance, Celia continues to reap the rewards of a long life:  “The challenges and changes of aging cannot be erased by denying they exist, and false bravery is a poor tool for coping with the symptoms of aging.  But they are to be faced with guts, determination, and perseverance, if one is to continue to embrace life and find meaning.  I believe in saying, ‘yes’ to life.”

  



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