‘I’ve Always Been Committed to Old People’

Evelyn Herrman, 68, coordinator for senior citizens’ social programs, the City of San Diego:

“Rally Day is the most important day of the year for seniors. That’s (today) from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Golden Hall. Joan Kroc is coming--she’s wonderful--I’m really excited about that. The seniors dance, have the best time. And y ou know, the media never cover it. But if a senior shoots his spouse with a shotgun, that gets covered.

“The media don’t do justice to seniors. They care too much for the offbeat, the grotesque. I guess seniors don’t qualify. I’ve given my life to seniors. They’re wonderful people.

“Don’t get me wrong, though. Seniors have problems. Housing is No. 1. If you bought a house (in San Diego) 35 years ago like I did, you’ve got it paid for--nothing to worry about. Seniors who own their homes in California don’t pay taxes on them. It’s wonderful. But there’s so many misconceptions about San Diego as a mecca for seniors.

“The American Assn. of Retired Persons came out with a pamphlet a couple of years ago, saying San Diego was the best place in the country for a senior to live. They raved about the Sun Belt. They recommended Buena Vista Gardens, an apartment unit in Clairemont, as being the best place to live--around $150 a month. Do you know it’s up to $475 a month! It’s even higher if you face a canyon.

“Forgive me for going on, but I do love my work. I’ve worked for the city 27 years. I’ve worked with seniors in San Diego for 32 years--I was at the Jewish Community Center before here. I was the first person in the city to have a full-time professional job working with seniors.

“What has commitment meant to my life? A lot. I can tell you, a lot . Every time I see a gray head in a supermarket, I look to see if I know the face. I know everybody. When we go to the store, my husband says, ‘Let’s see if we can do the shopping in one hour instead of three.’

“I’ve always been committed to old people--even in Philadelphia, my hometown. I spent every summer with my grandmother from the time I was 6 years old. Her death was very traumatic. My goodness, I’ve worked with lots of groups--I worked for the Girl Scouts for 13 years. I have two children--a son, 40, and a daughter, 42. Speaking of age, I’ve never hidden my own. Age is a banner of glory--nothing to be ashamed of.

“Commitment has completely enriched my life. There isn’t a day I don’t look forward to coming to work. My job taxes me tremendously, but I always feel I’ve done something for somebody. Homesick? Lonely? Never. Good gosh, no.

“I like to think I help seniors to help themselves. I get upset with social workers. They say, ‘I have a client, where should I send them?’ I say, ‘Don’t send them, bring them.’

“I see some sad problems with seniors. Those who come here just because family’s here always end up with trouble. I remember a woman who lived in Bostonia (near El Cajon). She would call up crying bitterly, saying it just wasn’t what she thought it would be.

“One of the big complaints is, these people lose their stores, their restaurants, their churches. They get out here, and their relatives don’t have time for them. They feel isolated and afraid.

“Some people really dump on seniors. One lady had terminal cancer; lived in a high-rise. She didn’t want to tell anyone (about the cancer), for fear if they found out they might evict her. Isn’t that nice? Isn’t society just great to seniors?

“One lady was threatened with eviction for hiring a kid to do her floors. The landlord, thinking she must be infirm, threatened to kick her out. I usually call those types and, trying to sound officious, say, ‘I’m with the City of San Diego. What is this you’re trying to do to this woman?’ It always works.

“Despite the problems, San Diego is the best city in the country for seniors. . . . I don’t mean the freebies, I mean the programs. Seniors can come here and ride bikes, swim, play tennis, get golfing discounts. People from the East Coast say there’s no culture here. I have neighbors from the East Coast. They wanted to go back to New York for the culture.

“They were back in six months. That is so typical.”