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Nominate your favorite senior who is 80 or older, lives in Summit County and leads an active, healthy lifestyle: SummitDaily.com/longevitynomination.
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Kent Willoughby
Silverthorne
81 years old
I am nominating my dad, Kent Willoughby, because he is nothing short of amazing! He had a career in South Louisiana and then retired to Colorado. My father was always an athlete, having played college football at Northwestern State University, and was also on the track team. Once married, he took up fishing with gusto and started running again. He ran countless marathons, including the Pike’s Peak Marathon. He took up skiing along the way and excelled at that as well, competing in downhill races after his retirement. He took at part-time job working as a ski teacher in Summit County and taught a number of children to ski. He also trained a number of children who competed in downhill racing. Also after retirement, he began mountain climbing, and has traveled all over Colorado, the United States and the world summiting many peaks. He has summited the highest peaks in all but one state, and has summitted many of the highest peaks in the world. He has summited all of the 14ers in Colorado once. When he turned 80 last year, he decided to do a second round of summiting all the 14ers in Colorado. He did half of them last season, and he is on track to complete the rest of them this season. During the winter months, Kent and his partner, Doris, get up at 4 a.m. every day to skin up Arapahoe Basin. He does consecutive days of skinning, not missing a day for any reason until his goal is met. He adds one day of skinning each year. Last year, he skinned up 135 consecutive days, and this year, he skinned up 136 consecutive days. He says it keeps him young and happy and healthy. I don’t know anyone with more drive, determination or competitiveness than my dad. He really is an inspiration that your Golden Years can be fun, healthy and happy. He says he has loved every part of his life more than the last, and he truly loves this age! He inspires me to be better and healthier so that I can be as happy as he is when I am his age! I hereby nominate Kent Willoughby as my Favorite Senior!
— Nominated by Suzanne Miller
Kent is a true role model!!!
— Nominated by Terry Petrusky
I dont know too many people over the age of 80 who:
A. are on their second go-around of climbing all of Colorado’s 14ers. Kent, and his companion, Doris, first completed them before he turned 80, and now wants to do it again after age 80. He is currently 81. He has already completed 22 of the 14ers – for the second time.
B. have been skinning up Summit County ski resort for about the past 10 to 12 years, adding one extra day each year. They arrive at 4 or 5 a.m. and are finished before resort opens for skiers.
I am his son-in-law and frankly, just typing that exhausted me. I have no idea how he does this. They also go hiking every day in summer all over Colorado and Utah.
It impresses the hell out of me at least.
— Nominated by Bob Miller
Kent was born on March 26, 1938. Kent is on his second quest to do all the 14ers in Colorado. The second quest started last year when he turned 80 and to this point, he has finished 22 14ers along with the collegiate peaks, part of his quest to do all 54 of the 14ers! Kent is also quite a mountaineer, skinning up A Basin 136 straight days last year. Kent is also a familiar face at the rec. center where he works out at least three times a week, every week! For these reasons, I would like to nominate Kent as one of the more amazing seniors in the area!!
— Nominated by James Wolyniec
Kent is an amazing athlete at 80+ and is still outperforming most young people. As a skier and climber, Kent actively promotes an active, healthy lifestyle. Kent is a longtime resident of Breckinridge and Silverthorne.
— Nominated by Philip Bonner
Kent is 81 years old. He skinned up Arapahoe Basin Ski Area 136 consecutive days last year. Kent goes to the Silverthorne Recreation Center approximately three times a week to work out. Kent continues to summit Colorado’s 14,000-foot-plus mountains. On bad weather days or between summits days, he walks the neighborhood doing approximately 5 miles.
Kent is a former college football player. He has maintained being an athlete all his life. Kent lives a healthy lifestyle. He does not smoke or drink. He eats healthy. He gets plenty of exercise. Kent should definitely be considered for the Longevity Project.
— Nominated by Doris Spencer
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Suzanne Greene
Silverthorne
83 years old
Sue Greene is a remarkable octogenarian at 83. The above photo is from a trip in April 2019 to Sichuan, China. Sue endeavors to visit places around the entire Arctic Circle and so far has completed 3 trips to various areas. More trips are in the planning stage.
Knee replacement surgery in May 2019 has not stopped Sue from hiking, biking, and kayaking this summer. Winter finds Sue at A-Basin as an instructor and coordinator/instructor of Legendary Ladies. Exercise classes and Yoga are included in her weekly schedule.
In addition, Sue proudly grows vegetables in the little green house on her deck where she lives at 9,600 feet. She is an excellent cook.
Sue volunteers at Summit High School as a mentor for students preparing for college in the Pre-Collegiate program. Sue has been on the Board of Summit Public Radio & TV for 20 years, serving as Board President for 13. She has been a member of the Lake Dillon Theater Play Club for more than 5 years.
Most important of all, Sue has been a faithful friend to many people in Summit County and beyond.”
— Nominated by Cheryl Breeman
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Trygve Berge
Breckenridge
87 years old
Trygve needs no introduction. You have to be living under a rock to not know about this former Olympian, founder of Breckenridge Ski Resort, and Skier Hall of Fame member. I am nominating him because I see his longevity as a goal we should all hope to attain. It would help us all to ask him about the literal steps he takes — I hike with him regularly — to keep himself healthy and limber.
— Nominated by P. Walker
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Maesel R. Yelenick
Breckenridge and Denver
87 years old
Our amazing mom, Maesel Reed Yelenick, splits her time between Breckenridge (where she hikes all summer and snowshoes and cross-country skis all winter, and plays excellent Scrabble at the Frisco Senior Center) and Denver. Maesel eats consciously and healthfully; exercises daily; is kind, generous, optimistic, and compassionate; loves nature (including the birds and chipmunks she daily feeds on the back deck); and is called, by her five children and her host of friends, “the Amazing Maes.” Meet her yourself; you’ll be blown away. I am her eldest daughter.
— Nominated by Yelenick
Bill Bergman
Keystone
95 years old
Bill Bergman is an icon in Summit County. He was the co-founder of Keystone Ski Area and continues be a very active 95-year-old legend. Bill still golfs several times a week, and from what I understand he still shows some of that brilliance from when he was on the pro golfing circuit so many years ago. Always very warm and friendly, he is someone I always enjoy talking to. Bill was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, in March 1924. He received his undergrad and law degrees from the University of Iowa.
— Nominated by Debra Pitman