Teacher Still Showing Class--at 89

At age 89, when most people are retired, Louis List is still doing what he loves best--working.

List, a Russian immigrant whose son is the famous pianist Eugene List, has been teaching for 52 years.

He is the oldest teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District and, he says, probably the oldest instructor in any district.

List retired from Riverside High School in 1967, but soon started working again as a substitute teacher because he “was bored.”

“The only thing I’ll retire will be my car. As long as I’m capable, I’ll keep teaching,” List said at his Santa Monica apartment. “I want to die with my boots on.”

When he first came to the United States at age 13, List said, he spoke no English and felt like a stranger.

He quickly got over the language barrier and became fluent not only in English, but in German, French and Spanish in addition to his native Russian.

He specialized in foreign languages and received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from UCLA and a master’s degree from USC.

List was born in Russia to a German mother and Russian father. He embarked on a teaching career after working several years as a translator in a bank.

In addition to high school in Los Angeles and Riverside counties, List has taught foreign languages at Chapman College, the University of California, Riverside, and Glendale College.

List also is the author of textbooks on Russian and Spanish. His “Spanish Heritage” book has been used at Glendale High School for several years.

He said never wants to stop teaching: “I like to be in contact with youth. I want to keep active as long as I can.”

Sam Harvey, principal at Glendale High School where List has been substituting, said the teachers and students frequently request him.

When he is not teaching, List said, he travels, mainly to watch his son perform.

Eugene List made his musical debut at age 6 and, the elder List said, his son has appeared as a soloist with every major orchestra in the world.

“He’s the greatest pianist around,” List said.