By Adam Kramer
For many Americans exercising and staying in shape are relatively recent obsessions, but for Robert Cardozo, fitness has been a lifelong passion that recently won him an award in All Metro’s annual senior essay contest.
The 75-year-old Queens Village resident — who has been physically active for more than 50 years — is the picture of health. He swears that because of exercise and diet his life has been happier, healthier and he has been better connected to the world around him.
“I’ve been exercising all of my life — it is a wonderful thing,” Cardozo said. “Right now I am in perfect condition. My cholesterol is 120, I run and can carry my groceries. The only thing I have not found is an exercise for gray hair.”
His essay “Coping with Loneliness — How to Stay Connected During the Golden Years” focuses on senior citizens’ need to stay active to lead happy and productive lives.
He said that staying active and joining senior organizations help the elderly meet people and participate in a wide variety of activities which, he said, represent “the fountain of youth and happiness.”
Cardozo learned about the essay in a story in Senior News. He decided he would enter the contest with the hopes of winning and donating the $200 first prize to the SNAP Center of Eastern Queens at 80-45 Winchester Blvd. in Queens Village, where Cardozo and wife of 53 years, Trudy, are members.
“By going to senior centers and finding companionship,” he said, “you will stay connected to people so love and hope will fill your life.”
In recognition of National Senior Citizens Month in May, the health care provider All Metro Health Care, based in Lynbrook, L.I., held the senior citizen essay contest.
“We are thrilled that Robert won the All Metro’s essay contest and appreciate his generous donation,” said Elaine Fleishman, program director of SNAP. “Our center needs some new equipment and Robert will help us decide what to purchase.”
As an advocate of exercise, health and sports, Cardozo — a member of the Flushing YMCA and the Cross Island YMCA in Bellerose — works out between two and four hours every day. He attributes his excellent health and quality of life to such exercises as walking on the treadmill, weight lifting and stair climbing.
The retired designer for Military Insignia, who is called “Super Senior” by his friends, said he started to exercise before he joined the Army more than 50 years ago.
“I tended to be overweight,” he said. “I wanted to keep my weight down and it sure helped with basic training.”
Cardozo, a vegetarian who eats dairy products, has won numerous awards for his exercise exploits. But he is most proud of being recognized with the Presidential Award for Sports and Fitness in 1992 by former President George Bush and receiving an accompanying letter from actor and seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Starting an exercise program is much easier if you get into the habit as a young man or woman than at 50, 60 or 70 years old, he said. He also does not understand why people are not more health conscious.
“Some people take care of their car better than their body,” he said.
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
