Jack Rager was the center of attention at the Darien Senior Center on Monday as he celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family. But on Wednesday, Rager, a Rowayton resident and frequent visitor to the Senior Center, turned his attention to something more importanthis afternoon pinochle game.
"He learned at 99," friend and pinochle instructor Ron Heinbaugh says. "Now he plays every day."
Rager was born Aug. 22, 1910, in Detroit. At the age of 22, he met his wife, Maxine, on a blind date. They married a year later and were together for 75 years until her death in 2008. Together, they had five children four boys and a girl. But he can't say how many grandchildren he has. "There's too many," Rager says. "I forget." (For the record, he has seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.)
Before retiring in 1977, Rager worked in the automotive industry near his hometown. While raising his family, he liked to hunt and fish at his cabin in the woods of northern Michigan.
Even now, Rager is very active. He's been coming to the Darien Senior Center every day for the past 12 years. Aside from his daily pinochle games, Rager is also an accomplished pool player. "He's very good," Heinbaugh says.
At Rager's birthday party Monday, state Sen. Bob Duff, D-25th District, stopped by with a special commendation for reaching the century milestone. Gov. M. Jodi Rell sent one along as well, as did President Obama and his wife, Michelle. Although Rager admits he's losing his hearing with age, he says, "I feel very good."
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