5 Americans Who Did Great Things After 65

There’s a popular saying that goes, “Youth is wasted on the young.” With age comes wisdom, experience, and the realization that you’re never too old to pursue new passions and interests. So if you feel like you’re letting your age hold you back, here are five inspiring Americans who did great things after they turned 65.

Grandma Moses. Born Anna Mary Robertson Moses in 1860, she started painting at the age of 78 when her arthritis no longer allowed her to continue her embroidery work. She had no formal training as an artist and painted scenes depicting happy childhoods, including vacations at various rural locations. An art collector from New York City came across her paintings, purchased them all, and started exhibiting her work in museums.
Frank McCourt. Born in New York City, he split his childhood between the U.S. and Ireland. Frank didn’t start writing until he was 65. You may recognize him as the author of the hugely popular novel Angela’s Ashes, which won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. The novel depicts the extremely deprived conditions of Frank’s childhood, was also made into a film and is considered a global success.
Duncan Hines. A pioneering restaurant critic and food reviewer, Duncan was born in Kentucky in 1880. While working as a traveling salesman, he started keeping records of restaurants he came across during his travels to share with family and friends. This morphed into his famous American restaurant guide, and Duncan expanded his reach into bread and other baked goods. It wasn’t until age 73 that he successfully licensed his name to the company that created Duncan Hines cake mixes still available today.
Julia Child. The iconic chef didn’t get her start in the culinary world until she reached 50 years old, and her global success didn’t come until some years after that. After a career in media and government, she and her husband moved to France and Julia decided to pursue her passion for cooking. She went on to publish many cook books, hosted a successful cooking show, and became the first woman to be inducted into the Culinary Institute of America’s Hall of Fame.
Laura Ingalls Wilder. Author of the classic American series Little House on the Prairie, Laura published her first book in 1932 when she was 65 years old. Her writing is now considered an important part of American historical fiction and is still read by people around the world. Her writing has also been turned into movies enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Independence in senior living

While the phrase “senior living” may conjure up preconceived notions of strictly regimented routines day in and day out, at our continuing care retirement community (CCRC) Bristol Glen, these preconceived notions are certainly not reality. Our residents are free to continue living their lives, while retaining their independence. At Bristol Glen, we pride ourselves on fostering an environment in which they can pursue their hobbies, passions, and interests.

For more information about UMC at Bristol Glen, our CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey, please contact our team today. Discover why so many people choose us as their trusted senior living community.