‘Best Years’ Expo draws hundreds from wide area

Oct. 22--FOXBORO -- Hundreds of people from their 50s into the early 80s came from across Greater Boston Saturday to Wicked Local's 3rd annual 'The Best Years' Expo at Gillette Stadium. On a gorgeous autumn day, they were eager to learn about new lifestyle options while enjoying some old time music.

Many were drawn by the entertainers as well as the chance for edification on estate planning and retirement savings. The entertainment included folksinger/song writer Don McLean, the Reminisants, Barry Williams who played Greg Brady, the oldest of the three Brady boys on "The Brady Bunch," and George Lyons in his Frank Sinatra Tribute

The event, which celebrates life in the later years, was presented by Steward Health Care, which ran a series of nutrition and cooking demonstrations. Steward staff from Norwood Hospital, Morton Hospital in Taunton and Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton participated.

As the event opened with The Reminisants on the entertainment stage, Bob Jose, 80, of Taunton danced with his wife Mary, 78, to "In The Still of the Night," both smiling and moving energetically. Connie McGaffigan, 77, and his wife Bobbie, 72, from Holliston were also drawn by the music and the chance to pick up travel information. Accountants Bob Marks, 58, and his wife Susan of Canton were eager to check out the seminars on financial planning.

"Age is just a number," Bob Marks said. "Of course that could be the accountant in me speaking."

The fast-paced day began with a wide variety of seminars and exhibits geared to people 50 and older. Designed for an engaged and active audience, other activities included the celebrity appearances, interactive demonstrations, and book signings.

GateHouse Media New England's South Unit Publisher Mark Olivieri of Scituate welcomed everyone; Lisa Strattan, Senior Vice President and Executive Editor and Publisher of Wicked Local was also on hand.

A popular morning interactive activity was the Chair Yoga with Maureen Delaney of Foxboro.

The North Shore of Boston was well represented. Barbara Haight and Jane Broderick of Salem and Ann Chandler and Jean Salvo of Danvers came from the Polish Club in Danvers to see the Reminisants, who they follow in the region and have six times a year at their club.

Joan Soltys, 69, of Boxford, was with Rich, 71, and Maggie, 64, Carey of Beverly at the "Estate Planning Basics" seminar. Erin Shea, associate with Surprenant & Beneski PC, an elder law firm in New Bedford, Hyannis and Easton, presented the information and took questions.

Soltys and Maggie Carey still work as nurses at Salem Hospital and plan to retire within a year. Looking ahead, Carey said, "It's all about mindset -- if you rest, you rust, you've got to keep moving."

The onstage interviews with Don McLean and Barry Williams were hosted by Maria Stephanos and Ben Simmoneau from the WCVB 10 O'Clock News on MeTV Boston

The other programs included a seminar on "Scams, Fraud, & Identity Theft" presented by the Better Business Bureau and "Do You Know Your Options for Long Term Care Planning?" with Mark Cardoza.

Tyke Cass, owner of the Cass School of Floral Design in Watertown and two associates were giving out floral jewels for women to wear on their fingers.

Miss Massachusetts Jillian Zucco of Mattapoisett, a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a BS in Nursing, now working as a telemetry nurse at Good Samaritan Medical Center, was at the Wicked Local Booth with her own inspirational message.

Don McLean spoke thoughtfully about how life today has many people feeling they are "on a treadmill. If I can contribute songs and something that makes people feel better, I'm honored to be able to do that," he said.

Skip Tull of Hull and Jeanmarie Ambrose of Jamaica Plain asked McLean to sing a 30-year-old song, "Crossroads." Afterward, Tull said it was special to hear McLean singand especially appreciated hearing him speak about the creative process he went through as a songwriter and how he evolved to where he is now. "Really inspiring," Tull said.

McLean described how, despite his own difficulties in life, he has retained his enjoyment in being with people. When he finished one song, Nancy Pimental of Lincoln slowly rose to her feet from her wheelchair to give a standing ovation. She was with her husband Mike Russell, who said he has followed McLean since his 1971 hit "American Pie" and was also impressed to hear him speak about "what he has been through, how he came to have his point of view, and how he has a similar time line to us."

Mike and Jane Acheson of Pembroke were back for the second year. Jane Acheson said that last year, she learned some very valuable nutritional information from a holistic practitioner that "is helping my heart" and was eager to see what might be offered this year.

Mike Acheson enjoyed the virtual golf and the casino table with poker.

In the afternoon, Barry Williams, who starred as the son Greg on The Brady Bunch, also took a personal tone in his comments about his life.

Recently married for the third time, Williams said life is good, he cultivates gratitude and is active as an entertainer. As a child performer he said, "it was tough but I was very happy, I wanted to be in on it and was leading the charge . . with the right point of view it is a pretty cool world. It has been with me for my life."

Sue Scheible may be reached at scheible@ledger.com or follow on Twitter@SueS_Ledger.

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