Dr. Howard Tucker.Photo: St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
Dr. Howard Tucker, a neurologist, has been working in medicine for 75 years, and celebrated his 100th birthday on July 10.
Opening up toTODAYin an interview published last week, the Ohio man credited his long life, in part, to his passion for his career.
“I look upon retirement as the enemy of longevity,” Tucker explained. “I think that to retire, one can face potential shriveling up and ending in a nursing home. It’s fun staying alive and working… It’s delightful work. Every day I learn something new.”
While he recently stopped seeing patients, Tucker continues to teach medical residents at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, the outlet reported. (St. Vincent Charity Medical Center did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.)
While acknowledging that not everyone can continue working into their golden years, Tucker said that a traditional retirement simply doesn’t interest him.
“I don’t understand it. I don’t understand golfing three days a week,” he toldTODAY.
Dr. Howard Tucker.St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
Adding another title to his impressive resume, he said in 2021 that being awarded the title of oldest practicing doctor would “probably be the crowning achievement,” according toGuinness World Records.
TODAYadded that Tucker has never smoked, and drinks alcohol socially — indulging in the occasional Friday night martini. The veteran of both World War II and the Korean War has also always exercised, but stopped skiing after an accident in his 80s. To enjoy the winter weather instead, he took up snowshoeing.
The day after his 100th birthday, Tucker took to the pitcher’s mound at Progressive Field and threw out the ceremonial first pitch during the Cleveland Guardians baseball game on July 11,Cleveland.comreported at the time.
Looking ahead, Tucker said he does not “think of death” and instead prefers to focus on the present.
“I think I’ll live forever, knowing that it’s not real,” he toldTODAY. “But I feel that way. I never think of death. You die once, but you live daily… focus on the living.”
Tucker and his wife, Sara (a practicing psychiatrist at 89) have been married 65 years and share four children and ten grandchildren.
Tucker’s life and times are set to subject of an upcoming documentary titledWhat’s Next?, though a release date has not yet been announced, according to the documentary’swebsite.
source: people.com
