Special Project: City Budget Cuts
Seniors and people with disabilities fight down to the wire to save programs that serve them
As Yogi Berra once said, "it ain't over till it's over." The baseball legend was referring to sports, of course, but the adage...
Life in the Later Lane
Following in the footsteps of heroes: My visit to the cradles of Civil Rights
SF SENIORBEAT COLUMN – March 17, 1886. A date you probably never considered. Carroll County, Mississippi. A...
Nonprofit director is happy to bug you, whether you’re 2 or 92, about saving the wild
If you grow up in Los Angeles, where do you find the wild? Norm Gershenz is not...
Bass playing lawyer takes on the landlords when seniors call for help
During the day, you’ll find Thomas Drohan in court or at his law office on Mission Street....
Former SFSU teacher shifts to helping union workers build leadership abilities
Like some people need coffee, Joan Wong needs to walk – and talk. Mornings, she puts in...
Joe Edley, a three-time national champion, has been racking up great Scrabble scores for decades
Joe Edley tucks his co-authored book, “Everything Scrabble,” under his arm and surveys the room. Around him,...
Robert Wachter, the doctor who is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence to treat patients
Robert Wachter is the doctor who oversees all the other doctors at the University of California, San...
Couple beat ‘fast furniture,’ pandemic and other challenges to keep upholstery shop going for nearly 50 years
J & G Upholstery stretches back farther than it looks from the sidewalk on Balboa Street. Stacks...
As the city’s older population swells, seniors who can no longer live at home face high costs, limited choices
EDITOR'S NOTE: See full profiles of the seniors interviewed by clicking links within the story. A panoply...
Stephanie Ernst-Scott runs the last tackle shop in San Francisco. It’s been in her family for 60 years.
Walk through the doors of Gus’ Discount Fishing Tackle, and you’ll likely be greeted before you even...
All Posts
Feistiness and array of support services keep senior active and independent despite damages of diabetes
Diabetes has ruled Marlene Hunn’s life since she was diagnosed at age two. But not wanting to become isolated or housebound, she has made a point of getting support from her friends – and the wide range of services available to her in San Francisco. She may have her bad days and crying jags, but ...
Smart phones and devices offer seniors new skills to thrive in the digital world
Tindy Lee, 66, learned how to use YouTube to connect to the TV so she didn’t have to pay to stream shows anymore. And now she’s an avid user – connecting with Facebook, calling family and friends on WeChat, checking the weather, taking photos and using calendar alerts to help her keep track of her ...
Chronicler of ’60s rock still nurturing a passion born at age 5
Richie Unterberger was only a child when the counterculture ‘60s were blossoming. But he had three older brothers who introduced him to the music. By the age of five, he was a Beatles fan, asking for their records at every gift-giving opportunity. He was seven when Woodstock took place. At eight, he bought his first ...
Chasing down the family tree: tripping over software, relatives’ impatience – and longevity
Rose Mary Mitchell decided to trace her mother’s family tree; someone had already done her father’s. Little did she know the challenges she would face. And not just the genealogy research. Over eight years, she struggled to find the right computer software on which to build the tree. Family members she asked to do research ...
As actor ages, more roles come in for moms and grandmas in commercials
Maya Mahrer says she “popped out of the womb wanting to be an actor.” She is still popping, finding herself at an age when “Ma” and “Grandma” roles in commercials are coming her way. While many in their later years are finding jobs elusive, Mahrer, 81, said, “Aging is providing me with more work.” For ...
S.F. Deputy marriage commissioner: a busy job basking in the happiness of others
Officiating weddings at San Francisco City Hall can be a busy, busy job. But the reward: basking in the happiness of others. City Hall marriages are performed by trained volunteers, called deputy marriage commissioners. Last year, about 30 performed over 9,000 weddings. Ceremonies start as early as 9 a.m. and continue through 4 p.m. weekdays, ...
