Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 20, 1995 TAG: 9505220081
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Eitelberg, 82, will become the oldest known graduate of the University of Virginia when he picks up his diploma at commencement ceremonies Sunday, school officials say.
``I'm older than their parents. I'm as old as their grandparents,'' Eitelberg said of his classmates.
Growing up in New York City in the 1920s, Eitelberg always assumed he'd go to college to become a lawyer or accountant and join his father's investment business. But the Great Depression changed all that. His father's company went bust, and Eitelberg had to quit high school at 16 to get a full-time job.
He eventually finished high school by taking night classes. He attended some classes at City College of New York in 1932, but work as a traveling clothing salesman and service in the Army during World War II put a crimp in his plans.
Eitelberg retired from the clothing business and moved to Charlottesville in 1978 with his wife, Helen. He started taking classes at Piedmont Community College, just to keep himself busy, and found an interest in art history.
``I didn't want it to interfere with golf too much - I was playing five times a week then,'' he said.
After six years, at age 73, Eitelberg had earned enough credits for a two-year degree in art history. He was 78 in 1992 when he entered the College of Arts and Sciences at UVa. It took him three years of going to class part time to reach his goal.
``I forget words at my age,'' Eitelberg is fond of saying. ``These young kids - they go through something once and they get it. But for me, I have to put in an A-plus effort to get a C-plus.''
The octogenarian's presence in classes full of students barely old enough to drink beer legally sometimes came as a shock, even to his teachers.
``It's always a surprise when a student refers to you as `young man,' especially when you have a gray beard,'' said UVa art history Professor Lawrence O. Goedde, who taught Eitelberg in two large lecture classes.
Classmate Jamie Eisner, 61 years Eitelberg's junior, said he took inspiration from the man with whom he studied Rembrandt and Rubens.
``You always hear about life after college being over,'' Eisner said. ``That's inspiring, because he's out doing what he wants, and he's 82.''
Helen Eitelberg, his wife of 54 years, says she's not surprised he finally reached his goal.
``When he sets his mind to do something, he gets it done,'' she said.
Eitelberg says keeping your mind active is the way to stave off old age.
``Too many people retire and do very little,'' he said. ``You can take out nursing home insurance, but that will only help you financially; it won't prevent you from going to a nursing home.''
He says he's getting ready to live the rest of his life as a college graduate. He plans to start by taking more art history courses at UVa.
``When you get a bachelor's degree in art history,'' he said, ``it's just about enough to be dangerous.''
by CNB