Greybeard Journal's PEER Awards
Recognizing those ageless wonders
By Greybeard Journal
As Greybeard Journal’s About page says, the blog is dedicated to the premise that one can get older without “getting old,” that “those of a certain age” can remain vital and relevant in this next stage of their lives. Greybeard Journal’s contributors refuse to let age define them and believe the journey of getting older, and all that it entails, is a common, shared experience.
For that reason, we wanted to recognize those ageless wonders who defy their chronological age, who have done something significant that flies in the face of what society may think an older person can do. We are doing that by beginning a new monthly feature. Every month, we will recognize "those of a certain age” - that we define as 50-years-of-age and older - who have achieved something significant. We have decided to primarily honor those who are “regular” people rather than celebrities, but may include a famous person occasionally (Thanks to reader Jim Iannone for making a strong case for honoring regular people). We will also be honoring -with tongue firmly planted in cheek - those who may be bringing more dishonor than credit to those of us “of a certain age.”
We will also remember fondly some of those of a certain age who have passed during that month.
Our honorees will win (again, tongue firmly planted in cheek) the virtual and venerated Greybeard Journal PEER Award.
We are calling this award PEER, an acronym for:
Positively Aging
Engaged in life, maintaining social connections, contributing to their community
Ever-evolving, a desire to continue personal development
Resilient, an important trait as one ages
If any reader of this blog knows someone 50-or-older who should be recognized for a significant achievement, please let us know by email us at: greybeardjournal@gmail.com
October 2025 Peer Award Winners
Natalie Grabow (80). Grabow, from New Jersey, set a world record by becoming the oldest woman to finish the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. She completed the grueling triathlon in 16 hours, 45 minutes, and 26 seconds. Read more about her achievement by following this link: NPR
(Posthumous) Sister Jean Schmidt of Illinois, 106, A Catholic nun and the chaplain for the Loyola- Chicago basketball team for more than 30 years. She continued to attend games until 2024 when her health began failing. By all accounts, she was an endearing woman who made many friends of all ages.
There is a nice summary of Sister Jean’s life in this Wikipedia entry: Wikipedia
You can also read more about Sister Jean by following this link: Loyola Today
Don Akchin, early 70s. Don is the writer of the Substack blog The EndGame (there is also an EndGame podcast). Don’s book The AfterWork, Finding Fulfilling Alternatives to Retirement was recently published and is an excellent guide for those wanting to continue staying relevant after retirement. Read more about Don, and The AfterWork, by following this link Don Akchin and The Endgame by following this one The Endgame.
DISA-PEER Award (awarded to those who are dishonoring growing older)
Bill Belichick. Belichick, formerly the NFL New England Patriots longtime coach, now coaching UNC’s football team. Bill, 73 years of age, is dating a 24-year-old. Not quietly and unobtrusively, either. The two receive as much notoriety as Harry and Meghan. Or, Ben and Jerry.
Now, of course, his romantic partner is a consenting adult, but dating anyone who could be your granddaughter - and here we are going into full judgmental mode - is, well, just icky. Bill, you are making all of us older gentlemen seem lecherous and shallow.
RIP (50-years-of-age or older)
These are just some of those we lost in October:
Diane Keaton, actor. We remember her fondly in Annie Hall, a movie we watched for the first time as an 18-year-old freshman.
Jane Goodall, primatologist and conservationist. We always admired her passion, bravery and commitment to primates.
Ace Frehley, Kiss guitarist. Do we need to say more? Ace was a Kiss guitarist!
June Lockhart, actor. June was most known for starring in the television series Lassie and Lost in Space. Lost in Space aired when we were six years old and ended when we were nine. We remember watching it on our black and white television, the one with rabbit ears. We were big fans of Lost in Space here at Greybeard Journal.
Again, if anyone knows “someone of a certain age” who should be recognized for an achievement later in life, please let us know.
Wow! Thanks for that lovely shout-out. Honored to be in your inaugural batch of awardees.
Don Akchin's *The EndGame* is absolutely terrific. As someone looking down the aging tunnel from my early sixties, I value his tips and advice. (Oh, and I met him once, and he's lovely!)