Employment for Older Adults

In your Column One “age 95” story (May 5), you overlooked one of the most energetic 95ers alive.

I refer to Hal Wright, editor and publisher of the Sierra Booster, a bimonthly paid circulation newspaper (one of the oldest in the state) published in Sierra County.

Wright has won international attention as the “flying editor.” In addition to his editorial chores, he personally flies his airplane throughout his county, dropping his newspaper, bomb-like, from the air to subscribers at remote mountain homes, ranches and outposts where there is no mail delivery and who have other difficulties receiving the paper. (At the same time, he takes aerial photographs of the county to publish in the newspaper.) His unique delivery service has caught the attention of dozens of U.S. and foreign newspapers, magazines and television stations to date, and the publicity probably has not ended as he shoots for age 96.

ALEX TROFFEY

Glendale

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Thank you for the inspiring article on nonagenarians actively involved in the work world and in life. You have highlighted a beautiful part of the story.

Much of the story of older adult employment is a sadder tale. It is focused on those who would continue to work productively and to make major contributions, but who are forced out of the professional world through age discrimination.

Many 30 to 40 years younger than those over 90 you have identified cannot remain or advance in their chosen field, because they are perceived as “over the hill.” One of the reasons for this perception is that those doing the hiring are the 20- or 30-somethings. They choose peers, not “parents” or “grandparents,” for the workplace.

A terrible waste.

ESTHER LERNER BRENNER

Beverly Hills