Jerry Leener
Chevy Chase, MD
A decade or so ago, I was a partner at a global accounting firm.
Today, in my mid-sixties, I am an Emergency Medical Technician with the Volunteer Fire Department in Silver Spring, Maryland.
My encore “moment” came while attending a baseball game, where my youngest son hit a home run. I said to myself, “I don’t want to miss that ever again.” I wrote my letter of resignation and hesitated to send it. But my son said, “Just press the button.”
I had not decided what to do next, but I knew my themes were giving back, having the freedom of my time, working outdoors and being a part of a community. Not to mention never, ever wearing a coat and tie. All those matched up with the fire and rescue activities available to volunteers.
I didn’t really know what I was getting into. The rigor of the 18 months of training was humbling and I was bounced out once. I work two 15-hour shifts a week as a volunteer, but I can do it because I made good money in my first career.
To me, there is no greater payback and feeling than helping people when they need it most. In addition to that, the firehouse people are a community and it was important to me to be part of that, living and eating together, starkly different from the community I had when practicing accounting.
Older workers have enormous potential, great life experiences and are highly motivated. My advice is to pick and choose out of your daily life what it is that excites you and, at some point, it will all come together and you’ll say “this is it.”
Life has to have meaning and purpose and I will continue to do this as long as I can pass the physical.
(Watch this video of Jerry Leener as an EMT in his encore.)