To say that Mead Montgomery is a man of many interests is an understatement. He embodies many of the qualities of a person who remains active and engaged, despite his age.
At the time of this writing, Mead had just returned from getting his driver’s license renewed. (And, yes, he passed.) Really not much of an accomplishment when you learn that he skis, golfs, hikes and travels to mountain heights all over the western U.S. and British Columbia.
When asked about his skiing ability, Mead said, “Skiing has a wide range of abilities and I consider myself to be good, but not great.”
But, in saying that, one must consider that Mead took the sport to a new level when he began heli-skiing, a type of skiing that employs a helicopter to access remote, ungroomed mountains, drops skiers off at the top and picks them up at the bottom.
“A Bell 212 helicopter transports 10 people to a mountaintop lodge where the powder snow exists,” explained Mead. “We follow a guide down the mountain, doing five or six runs in the morning, eat lunch and continue skiing in the afternoon.”
Mead just ended his heli-skiing adventures last year at the age of 86 to remain fully active in snow skiing, and the sports and interests he still regularly enjoys.
“I really do enjoy being in the mountains,” said Mead. “I began rock climbing in my 50s and have hiked and climbed in Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and British Columbia.”
Not one to sit idle, Mead loves to golf year-round and hike as well. He is a longtime member of the Skokie Country Club and enjoys the links at the Dunes Club in nearby New Buffalo, Mich., as well as in La Quinta California at the La Quinta Country Club. He plays more than 50 rounds of golf a year.
Mead explained that, over time, the activities he has pursued have been key to his lifetime satisfaction and development.
“There is no question that physically and mentally, I feel a lot younger because I have remained active my entire life.”
Added to that, he enjoys spending time with his family, including his four-and-a-half-year-old grandson in Chicago, who he sees every Sunday.
Despite all his travel, Mead decided to remain in the Chicago area during his retirement. “I’ve stayed in Illinois because many of our friends live here, my grandson and his family are here, and it feels natural,” he explained.
His presence here has also allowed him to get involved in several not-for-profit organizations including the North Shore Senior Center, where he serves as a Board member and treasurer. He is also a director and treasurer for ELEA institute, a prominent foundation that provides grants to groups that look to improve end of life care and expand access to high-quality hospice and palliative care.
“I have really enjoyed my life living at Vi at The Glen,” said Mead. “The opportunities to socialize are terrific, activities, outings and being able to simply relax among friends. I particularly like the bar area where I can sit down to enjoy delicious food from a quick and casual ‘bar bites’ menu with other residents.”
Socialization and physical activity are key to successful aging, and Mead provides a notable example. Those who continue to live a full life are the happiest when they stay active, despite the challenges of aging.