By Sally Friedman
When he was growing up in New Haven, Conn., Drexel University Professor Fred Abbate read mysteries. He continued reading them, even as he studied history and government at Fairfield College, earned a master's degree at Boston College and a PhD at Columbia University.
Abbate went on to teach philosophy at Rutgers University until academic politics - and the economic realities of raising three sons - led him to the corporate life. "I loved being in the classroom, but the rest of that scene was not for me," he says.
At 67, Abbate looks back on a diverse professional career that has included stints as an executive with Atlantic Electric, the utility serving South Jersey, and most recently, the presidency of the New Jersey Utilities Association.
"My background in philosophy was actually valuable in all my later work because it led me to always ask 'Why?''' says Abbate. "I often needed to address the philosophical underpinnings of nuclear power and engage in pretty spirited debates on college campuses."
Visit to Baker Street
Being on those campuses drew Abbate back to his first love, college teaching. He has retired from his utilities job, and is expanding on his limited summer schedule at Drexel University, taking on regular semester courses in Aristotle and classical American philosophy.
A few years ago, while he and his wife, Rosemary, were visiting the Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street in London ("As a lifetime mystery fan, I felt like I was visiting a religious shrine"), he began to toy with writing a novel set on a college campus, featuring a philosopher detective, Bruno Constantine.
Abbate had written two texts on philosophy, but never a novel, and "there were days when the process was miserable." The effort produced A Perfectly Logical Murder (PublishAmerica, $16.95; which is available through the websites www. amazon. com, www.barnes andnoble.com and www. publishamerica.com).
No ivory tower
Abbate was determined to use his background in philosophy in the book. It is, in fact, the Philosophy Department at the fictional Rawlson College that serves as the setting of his mystery tale about a brutal murder with several suspects, lots of intrigue and some despicable characters. Like the best mysteries, it unravels with quirks, surprises and shockers. Forget all you ever thought about serene ivory towers and "scholarly communities," and you've got this novel's underpinnings. To say more would spoil things.
Some of the characters, Abbate admits, are loosely based on academicians he has known.
He also has accepted suggestions from his sons, "but not all of their suggestions; I didn't want them to feel too empowered."
Writing a first novel in his 60s reminded Abbate, scholar, executive, teacher, grandfather of six, that life itself has its chapters.
"Another book is starting to percolate," he says. "So these may be the most interesting years of all!"
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By Marcia Z. Siegal
More than 500 people are expected to participate in the 22nd annual Philadelphia Senior Games, which kick off May 21. Open to men and women 50 and over, the Senior Games feature track and field events, bowling, miniature golf, chair exercises, yoga demonstrations and line dancing, as well as chess, checkers and other board games.
The Senior Games are coordinated and sponsored by the Philadelphia Department of Recreation in conjunction with Independence Blue Cross, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA), Health Partners/Senior Partners and the Rothman Institute. This year's games will feature an added attraction, Scrabble, says Senior Games coordinator Lynn Spiro, director of older adult services for the city's Recreation Department. "Brain exercises are growing more and more popular," she says.
For an entrance fee of $8 before May 1 or $10 after that date, participants can enter any of the activities, and receive a box lunch, a commemorative T-shirt and a souvenir gift.
The opening day ceremony will be May 21 at La Salle University, with health screenings and a Healthy Lifestyles Expo with vendor displays on resources for seniors.
To register or for more information: 215-685-2736 or www.geocities.com/philaseniorgames. Walk-in registration is available, provided registration is not full.
Monday, May 21
La Salle University, 20th St. and Olney Ave.
Basketball; tennis; horseshoes; darts; clinics and demos; muscle toning; aerobics; stationary bike; table tennis; shuffleboard; horseshoes; line dancing; chair exercises; tai chi; yoga; tennis; health lectures.
Tuesday, May 22
FDR Golf Club, 20th St. and Pattison Ave. Putting, golf and driving contest Pickett Middle School, 5700 Wayne Ave. Candice Hicks Swimming Competition Marconi Plaza, Broad St. and Oregon Ave. Bocce
Wednesday, May 23
Boulevard Lanes, 8011 Roosevelt Blvd. Bowling Thursday, May 24 La Salle University, 20th St. and Olney Ave. Track and Field events Burholme Park, 401 W. Cottman Ave. Miniature golf
Friday, May 25
Center in the Park, 5818 Germantown Ave. Chess, checkers, dominos, pinochle, Scrabble S. Phila. Older Adult Center, 1430 E. Passyunk Ave. Pinochle
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By Catherine Green
Sam and Sandy Rotenberg of Mt. Airy met on a dance floor more than 40 years ago, and they've never stopped stepping to the beat.
Sam, from Germantown, and Sandy, from Bucks County, were graduate students in New York City when they met at a Columbia University folk dance session. They subsequently married (August, 1965) and had two children while still living in New York.
Back in this area, Sam worked 27 years for the Environmental Protection Agency, before retiring in October. Sandy, a social worker, spent 25 years with the Bucks County Intermediate School District, then became program director for the volunteer program Bucks County Family Friends. She stepped down last fall, but remains active on the advisory committee.
Through it all, they never hung up their dancing shoes. They belong to local and national dance organizations, including the Germantown Country Dancers and the national Country Dance and Song Society (Sandy is vice president of the CDSS board).
They spend "dance weeks" at venues all across the country. Most summers, said Sandy, nearly a dozen such programs are offered. Locations include Massachusetts, West Virginia and New Hampshire. In addition to English and contra dancing, they do American Colonial, vintage, Irish and Polish dancing. Sam goes to a weekly ballet class; Sandy does dance aerobics.
Their activity isn't limited to the continental U.S., either. In fact, while Philadelphia was shivering in February's cold snap, the Rotenbergs were in St. Croix in the Virgin Islands for a "Tropical Dance Week."
There's an added bonus to this movable avocation. The Rotenbergs' son and daughter have inherited their parents' passion. Each is a dancer, married to a dancer, and when possible, they get together at the same dance week.
Sam and Sandy have a retirement plan combining their love of travel and dance. They will spend several months in one place, getting acquainted with the area and local dance community.
If interested in dancing, you may try www.cdss.org/newsletter/events.html; or locally, www.phillydance.com.
The 64-year-olds don't limit their physical activity to the dance floor. They play tennis and are veteran bicycle tourists. They've cycled through Ireland and "all over Vermont," said Sandy.
Here is some information bicyclists may find helpful:
www.bicycling.about.com/library/ weekly/aa061998.htm. For tours with senior riders, Senior Cycling, www.senior cycling.com. Locally, www.bicycle
coalition.org. For Europe: www.euro bike.com/index.html. For California: www.napariverinn.com/spec_bike tours.php. For New England and New Zealand: www.summerfeet.net.
The Rotenbergs are not atypical seniors. Older travelers constitute a large and growing percentage of Americans traveling in the U.S. and abroad.
An entire segment of the travel industry is devoted to the needs and tastes of older Americans who have the time and financial resources they may not have had when they were balancing jobs and child rearing.
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By Lawrence H. Geller
When the Phillies headed down to Florida for spring training, Charlie Farrell, 72, headed down to his basement for his spring training.
"After the Super Bowl," said the veteran player of the Philadelphia Senior Softball League, "I start thinking of loosening up by swinging the bat. My wife would kill me if I did it in the living room, so it's down to the basement."
Farrell, a retired Philadelphia police chief inspector, was not alone. Scores of grandparents put down their grandchildren and put away their newspapers to start spring training for another long season on Northeast Philadelphia fields, from mid-April to October.
There are three leagues to choose from:
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The Not Quite Over the Hill League (50+)
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The Philadelphia Senior Softball League (60+)
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The Philadelphia 70+ League
Senior softball was started here in 1992 by George Coady, now 72 and retired, and this writer, now 73, still active.
"It's been a rejuvenation for several hundred men to be able to continue playing," said Billy Krauss, 72, player-coach of the Royals in the new 70 league. His players nodded, recalling how their fathers and grandfathers stopped playing in their 20s, as soon as they started raising families.
"The most they would do is have a catch with us," noted Bill Ming, 73.
"To be able to come out and compete at this age is not something I thought I would be able to do," said affable third baseman Bill Giosa, 71.
Some will be playing in both the 60 and 70+ leagues, at least for starters, like southpaw Paul Graf, 75. "I'll play in both for as long as I can."
A 'big difference'
Others are making decisions to play only in the 70+ league, after many years, first in the 50 and then 60 league.
"Let me tell you, there is a big difference between the leagues," said all-star infielder Don Carroll, 73, one of original players in the 50 league back in '92. "When the ball seems to come at you faster than it did before, it's time to move on." Carroll will be devoting himself this season as a player and assistant coach of the Royals.
But Wally Morrell, 75, player-coach of the Dragons, will be returning to play in the 60 league with the champion Cardinals after a four-year absence.
Nick DeLaurentis, 72, will be watching from the sidelines in his favorite beach chair. "I've done it all, and have enjoyed watching the passing parade from the very beginning in '92," when Nick was a player-coach.
He was the first commissioner of the 60 league (which I founded in '97) and then took over as umpire-in-chief before he retired. "It would be nice to be out on the field," says DeLaurentis, "but the legs say otherwise. I have no regrets." He keeps his hand in, off the field, as treasurer.
Those of you interested in how to get your hands (and feet) in, on or off the field, may contact:
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70+ League: Don Carroll, 215-677-9259
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60+ League: Bill Shanahan, 215-671-9771
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50+ League: Ray McMeans, 215-342-7973
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