Sam Geller would have been 111 today...

Had he not died in 2004 at the age of 92, today my dad would have turned 111. While he is very much missed, in some respects I am glad he is not around to witness things happening in the world today. For one thing, he would be horrified at what the Russians are doing to Odessa, his family birthplace, and elsewhere around the Ukraine. He would also be upset by the daily news about Donald Trump, who exemplifies everything he detested - especially dishonesty. 

In recognition of what would have been his 111th birthday, my family has gathered in Vancouver and will be attending a Kiddush following Shabbat services at Beth Israel synagogue.

Below is an excerpt from an article from the Jewish Independent written eight years ago following an event held by the Jewish Seniors Alliance at which I was invited to talk about my father.

After some opening activities Moderator Gloria Levi, a social services consultant, was then introduced. Levi has a master’s degree in public policy and is the author of Dealing with Memory Changes As You Grow Older and a series of booklets, Challenges of Later Life.

She introduced Michael Geller, an architect, planner, real estate consultant and property developer, who serves on the adjunct faculty of Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Sustainable Community Development. The talk was conducted in an interview format.

Geller’s topic was Lessons My Father Taught Me. He acquainted listeners with the unique and collaborative relationship he shared with his father, Sam Geller, who was one of the first members of the Jewish Senior Advisory Council (the original name of the JSA). He passed away 11 years ago at the age of 92.

Sam Geller was born in England and was a soldier in the Second World War who had survived being a prisoner of war. That occurrence colored his life. The very fact that he had survived made him happy and grateful to be alive and he never sought material things for happiness, often saying that things could have been so much worse. He moved to Vancouver from Toronto and enjoyed life at Langara Gardens, his grandchildren visiting him, doing Sudoku, crosswords, swimming and exercising daily. Then, after an emergency life-saving surgery, Geller said his father attempted to live each day to the fullest, saying, after all, it could very be his last.

Geller said his dad was a stoic, truly enjoying what he had rather than accumulating more items just to impress others who he may not care about in the first place. The lesson he received from his father was “Do what you enjoy, what makes you happy and continue contributing to the happiness of others, as that increases one’s own inner joy.” Geller recommended the book The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy by William B. Irvine.

The love and respect that Geller said he felt for his father was reflected on his face throughout the talk. Thoughts of his father swimming are with him as he does his own laps in the pool.