Scottsdale TOWN CRIER 10-year-old says longevity due to attitude ‘Ben Sutz is the patriarch of a very. Appreciative family of five children, 16 ‘grandchildren, the years this 100-year-old | gentleman has provided his family and oth- ers with some very sage advice he calls RMA, the Right Mental Attitude. ‘One grand- son, Jon Sutz, said when he asked his grandfather how he felt about turning, 100, he responded: “Well, the way I fig- ure it, just like an odometer, when I reach 100, Ijust start all over again. His family is convinced he has dis- covered the “elusive fountain of youth.” Son Richard Sutz of Scottsdale Says his father’s long life is due to “a combina tion of RMA, being a modest person, taking care of his health, having a won- erful amount of that mast uncommon asset — common sense — and the wis- dom and guts to take advantage of opportunities, something the foolish call good luck.’* This very alert centenarian struck ut on his own at an early age. In 1907, ‘when only 12, he left Bialystok, near Poland’s border with Russia, was smug- gled to the German border with a ticket McFarland |. to America in his pocket and an identi- Community News Tuesday, November 7, 1995 fication tag around his neck. The instructions, written in Polish or maybe Russian, asked authorities on board a rickety ship in Bremen, Germany, to ‘see that he reached Baltimore, Ma. “There, he boarded a train for Chicago where he was met by a delighted grandmother who had paid for his safe Passage. Ben believes his long life might be credited to overcoming many adversi- ties. In Russia, he witnessed the perse- Ccution of Jews, was in constant danger from the Czarist regime, learned to work as a very young teen in a shoe polish company, followed by an apprenticeship in a garment factory that made bathrobes. In 1915, he began ‘a 45-year career in the grocery busi- ess, Ben’s love for Bertha Or, pethapsit was Ben's good for- tune o meet Bertha Goodheart while night school in 1914. Ben Joaned Bertha a book to read and when: he asked for it back, she told him she had: ‘returned it to him. This Started a lifelong dispute between the fouple with nether one admit being wrong, Their mariage lasted 70 years. {During the last 10 years of her life, Ben, from age 82 to 92, cared for his, ‘wife, who suffered from Alzheimer's. In 1984, he credits Bertha with saving his life when he collapsed from a heart attack at home. Although she couldn't remember his name, somehow Bertha had “an unexplainable, incredible moment of clarity and saved my life,” Ben said, She ran to a neighbor's house, pounded on the door and shout- 4, *I can't wake up Ben!” The neighbor ¢alled 911. By the time the ambulance arrived, Bertha had reverted to her own world of swaying, mumbling, and folding and unfolding her towel” (Ber- tha died in 1987) ‘After he became @centenarian Oct. 25, Ben was honored at a two-day birth- day celebration Oct. 27-28 at Scottsdale's Best Western Thunderbird Inn, where 56 family members gath- ered to pay tribute. “Marvelous” is how ‘Ben described the event that brought relatives from California, Oregon, Ili- nois, Maryland, New York, Florida and even Paris. He had not seen his cousin, Charles Zabusky, in 66 years, not since 1929, when Ben visited Bialystok. Charles was accompanied to Scottsdale by his wife, Simone. “Ben has the strength of a much younger man and gives all those he ‘meets a big bear hug or hardy hand shake. He's 6 feet tall and weighs Solid 190 pounds. “I's a combination ‘of physical exercise and mental attitude ‘that has Kept Ben so healthy all theseAttitude From Page 81 years,” Richard says, “He swims 10 laps two or three times a ‘week and walks about a mile a day. When it’s too hot or rainy ‘outside, he'll walk back and forth in his enclosed patio.” Eats and eats Ben loves to cat. He can put away more food than two peo- ple. A plate of bacon, sausage, ham, eggs and buttered toast are his favorite foods; he devoures them nearly every Sunday at the Camelback Country Club's buffet. Ben doesn't worry about cholesterol. “He just eats whatever he wants Centenarian andenjoysi Ben Sut, front, ‘The birthday celebrant also Pes See realizes how lucky he is. 'm son, Richard, looking forward to enjoying my and Richard's golden years,” he told those wife, Wink Blair gathered at the Thunderbird of Scottsdale Inn, athis birthday “He has a keen mind? Rich- party fast ard added. *His memory is, ‘month, impeccable. He's busy all the time, He lives with my brother irk. Robert, 66, of Chicago, is ourselves. Frank in Sun Ciy.Frankis 75. Evarist who as exhibited in “Other people have bil our He gaveus the genes of good Scottsdale at Elaine Horwitch furniture, our houses. .. . Other health. Galleries while daughter, June people have built the trains, Ben ahd Bertha raisedone, _Brott, 60, of Oakland, Calif, is a planes, and ships that take us daughter and four sons, includ- writer and college instructor, _ from where we are to where we ing three engineers: Frank, 75, who is publishing herfather’s want tobe. is a retired tool and dye design: memoirs. “Other people have made the cer; Roy, 70, is retired from “Lam thinking and writing of clothes we wear, and raised the Polaroid Corp.; and Richard, 63, how thankful we should be for food we eat. All these things is an engineer in the area of’ what other people did forus,” __ were brought about without our water development andcom- Ben writes inhis Attitude of participating. Thanks to all the puter software with offices Gratitude, “without our having other people who have done so located at the Scottsdale Air- any part in bringing it about much to enrich our lives.”