Older folks challenged to get out, get moving

Club members intent on enjoying golden years by socializing and staying fit

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By Sharon Heilbrunn (Contact)

2:00 a.m. January 24, 2009

Like many people who have suffered a stroke, Bob Abblitt was told when he left the hospital three years ago that he should never expect to be active again. Abblitt had to use a walker to get around and was lucky to be alive.

Today, Abblitt can be found playing tennis, Rollerblading, even Boogie boarding when the weather permits.

“You can become involved with self-pity or you can go out and give it a try,” said Abblitt, 80, a Chula Vista resident. “It's a challenge, especially because I also have Parkinson's disease, but it's fun.”

Abblitt is a member of Get Off Your Rockers, a local organization formed about 20 years ago for active people 50 and older intent on staying physically fit during their golden years, said Sharon Pearsley, president of the organization.

“We go skiing, hiking, biking, golfing, even sailing,” said Pearsley, a Mira Mesa resident. “Whatever comes to mind.”

The organization boasts more than 200 members from throughout the county. They pay annual dues – $40 for an individual, $60 for a couple – to participate in the activities, many of which are held weekly. The group also hosts happy hours, dinners, potlucks and other social events throughout the month.

“It started just for the health benefits, but it's become so much more,” said Sally Rothfus, 75. “Those of us who do things together are really an extended family. When one of us is sick or needs something, all of us come running.”

Rothfus walks and bikes regularly. She also finds time to sail, ski and Boogie board with fellow Rockers.

On a recent Saturday, about a dozen members gathered at the University City Racquet Club for a game of tennis.

“I'm feeling great,” Del Mar resident Charlotte Gumbrell, 83, said as she left the court in a lavender tennis skirt and blue-striped top.

Gumbrell joined the group when it started. When her husband died 14 years ago, she was touched by the support of the other members.

“I looked to the audience of the people who came to the memorial and was so happy to see people there from Get Off Your Rockers,” Gumbrell said. “I realized how much the group meant to me.

“We're just people who love action of any kind. When I was a girl, they didn't have team sports for girls. But I used to play baseball at recess. I guess I always loved sports.”

Nearby, La Jolla resident Bob Milmoe, 81, stretched his arm while readying to serve. The organization is the perfect place for all skill levels, he said – even beginners.

“We're the ideal group to start with,” Milmoe joked. “We don't even remember the score.”

Plus, the accountability from their peers acts as motivation.

“You've told people you're going to be there, so you go,” said Betty Brown, a Spring Valley resident. “It gives you a purpose.”

And if there's interest in a new activity, the group will try it.

“We recently went go-carting,” Pearsley said, laughing. “About 20 people met and went round and round. It's just a zest to life. The people are all inspiring.”

Pearsley and Milmoe were two of a few dozen members who went to the Netherlands last year on a two-week “Bike and Barge” trip.

“We like to have a little challenge, a little adventure,” Milmoe said. “That's what this club is all about.”

He added that they are hoping to bring younger members into the mix, such as Ed Chirumbolo, who turns 65 on Thursday. Chirumbolo has earned the nickname “Scooter” because of his speed on the tennis court.

“It's great,” Chirumbolo said. “It makes me feel like a kid again. A lot of the group is older than me, but they are so energetic. They're not sitting back and waiting for their last years.”

Sharon Heilbrunn is a freelance writer in San Diego.

Sharon Heilbrunn: (619) 293-1370; (Contact)