I don’t know if the situation is comparable with gentile fathers, but this is how it works with elderly Jewish dads. They never voluntarily retire. Under any circumstances. Ever.
If you ask them why, they will riposte with characteristic Hebraic forthrightness: “Because if I stop working I’ll die, that’s why. Schmuck.” To which the Jewish Children of America—and I literally mean every single Member of the Tribe in the United States—will curse the intransigence of that generation and its illogical Old World ways.
The passing of Penn State coach Joe Paterno, however, forces us to reevaluate the entire Florida/Arizona/Golden Years paradigm. If there is a labor studies professor or gerontologist reading this that has the relevant statistics, could he or she please answer this question: Is there a correlation between retiring and dying?
Of course, Paterno didn’t retire. He was relieved of his duties amid the tragedy of a sexual abuse scandal that revolted the nation. His complicity or dereliction of duty or innocence in the affair will now be more difficult to establish.
It stands to reason that what led to his death was neither the cessation of work, nor the stress of having the entire country question his judgment and leadership. Rather, it was lung cancer, that old and vicious ravisher of men and women.
Still, the rapidity of Paterno’s demise gives us pause. Three months ago he was coaching vigorous young men in the most vigorous and hyper-masculinist of American sports. Today he has passed away, lending credence to ancient intuitions.
