Remember the days when regardless of industry, the theme was, “out with the old, in with the new?” Whether it was television (entertainment or the news), movies, politics or business, once the first sign of wrinkles or gray hair hit, the quicker that person could be replaced with a younger and fresher face, the better. Or perhaps they were allowed to hang around, but in a more supporting role, rather than a starring one. The message was load and clear to anyone who was nearing 60. If you were offered a package, you better take it! Your services were no longer needed now that your replacement, who was less than half your age was on the scene.
But something changed in the early 2000s. Maybe the execs themselves realized that with age does indeed come experience, and with experience comes wisdom. Ding, ding, ding! Give that 7-figure income bonehead a prize! Whether it is sitcoms, dramadies, network or local news, movies or CEOs at the helm of some of the top US companies, swapping out gray for “green” and a few lines on the face for that doe-eyed look is a trend that has finally seen its hey day.
Numerous boomers made the news in 2011 and unfortunately narrowing it to just ten is quite a challenge. Regardless of industry, one thing is obvious: We’re a formidable bunch!
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Whether or not you agree with her politics, in her role as the US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton represents the US in one of the most important roles of this country. As she herself admitted when she took office the day after President Barack Obama was inaugurated, “we have a lot of damage to repair.” She has worked tirelessly to re-establish once fractured relationships with many heads of state. Hardly seen as just the former President’s wife who famously and with dignity weathered a major domestic storm, Hillary Rodham Clinton has long since made a name for herself. On many levels, one might argue that she has had more of an impact on politics and certainly foreign relations than her husband. At age 64, Clinton continues to reign as one of the most admired women in America.
Steve Jobs
Although he died at the young age of 56, in October 2011, Steve Jobs is one of the most beloved and brilliant technologists of our time. Co-founder of Apple, Inc, he twice served as their CEO and is credited with taking a once-fledgling software and hardware company and introducing the world to such products as the iPhone, the iPad, the iPod, and Mac OS. His genius literally simplified the way the average person views a computer or hand-held device. We will never see an apple quite the same again and we will forever think of him when we see the logo, “Think Different.”
Meryl Streep
Many fans believed that nothing could ever come close to topping her role in the Deer Hunter, until she starred in Manhattan, and then Kramer vs. Kramer, and then Sophie’s Choice. After a point, we just assumed that Meryl Streep was simply unstoppable. With 16 academy award nominations and two wins, two Emmys, seven Golden Globes and countless other accolades, at age 62, Streep remains one of the most sought after actors, ever. Cast as Margaret Thatcher in 2011’s “The Iron Lady,” don’t be surprised to see more love thrown her way as award’s season gets underway.
Alan Rickman
Although the youngin’ may think Daniel Radcliffe and his under 25-year-old buddies are the stars of the Harry Potter series, any woman over the age of 40 is going to see the films to drool over Alan Rickman. Talk about a BILF! As sexy as he was in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Die Hard, Hollywood (and his female fans) can’t get enough of him. The Deathly Hollows may be the final Harry Potter, but fear not, ladies! Rickman, aged 65, is already filming Gambit, which is due out in 2012.
Oprah Winfrey
A career that spans almost three decades, few people in the world, let alone the United States are unfamiliar with Oprah Winfrey, aged 57. With many “job titles” to her name, including media proprietor, actress, producer, editor-in-chief, philanthropist, as of September 2011, one we can sadly eliminate is Talk Show Host. Owning daytime television for 25 years, the Oprah Winfrey show is the highest-rated talk show of all time. With her unique style of making us feel as though she were in the living room with us as she interviewed heads of state, actors, CEOs, artists, therapists, or regular Joes and Janes, one thing was clear: she made us feel as though we actually knew her.
Ray Chambers
You have no doubt heard the expression, “put your money where your mouth is,” well, that’s exactly what Ray Chambers has repeatedly done with his fortune. The former chairman of the private equity holding company, Wesray Capital Corporation, Chambers has literally made money hand over fist. How? Leveraged buyouts of corporations like Avis Rent a Car, Gibson Greeting Cards, and myriad others. His payouts are exceedingly large, and unlike many in his line of work, at the end of the day, Ray Chambers doesn’t sit on a lump of cold hard cash ordering people around. If you live in Newark, New Jersey, you are probably most familiar with his philanthropy. Among the many charitable things his money has purchased: college education for at least 100 of Newark’s otherwise indigent students, a massive endowment to the Newark Boy & Girl’s Club, and another to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
Geoffrey Canada
For Geoffrey Canada, there is one goal: to see the graduation rate of high school and college students increase in Harlem, NY. One might assume this to be an easy task, were one to live in an affluent area, such as the suburbs or Los Angeles, Washington, DC or most of New York City. But in Harlem, NY, where the majority of the kids are poor, Black and have only one parent – usually mom – who works two or three jobs to support her family, this is usually an insurmountable task. Today, Canada is the CEO of Harlem Children’s Zone and much of his work is, “walk two, slip back three.”
His model has been lauded by such notables as Charlie Rose, Oprah Winfrey, President Barack Obama and New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg. So impressed was Barack Obama that he is working to adopt the model to 20 cities in the US. Michael Bloomberg went so far as to offer Canada the position of New York City Schools Chancellor. Canada politely resigned, who at 59, flatly suggests that his work is only just beginning. Coming off a 2010 Audience Award for best documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, in 2011, Canada received his Doctor of Humane Letters from Tufts University.
Warren Buffet
By now it’s grating on our collective nerves. The recession that began in the 2008 is ceaseless, unmerciful and downright scary. The poor have been accustomed to roughing it; after all, some things never change. The middle class in the US is experiencing something that not since the Great Depression have they seen: No hope and no end in sight.
Well, a Robin Hood has risen from underneath his bankroll of billions, at least long enough to share his views. Perhaps nothing will be done, maybe something may get done, but that isn’t the point. Sometimes people do things not to effect change, but to be that lone voice of reason. When someone whose net worth as of 2011 is $50 bn says, “folks, enough is enough,” it’s time for Congress and the IRS to stop coddling the rich, it’s time. In 2010, he admits that his tax burden was a mere 17.4%, which is well below the percentage of the average middle class income earner, the median of which is 35%. Little will likely come from it, but it was certainly a heroic move on the part of Robin Hood. If only his merry men and women felt similarly.
Dame Annie Lennox
Songstress both as a founding member of the band Eurythmics and as a soloist since 1992, Annie Lennox is one of the most recognized names in the music industry. A career that has spanned over 30 years, Lennox has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. For someone who grew up quite modestly in Aberdeen, England, had she not been accepted to the Royal Academy of Music in London, we might not ever have known of her talent. But like a great many people who have experienced a great measure of success, at 57, Annie Lennox is more than just a pretty “Little Bird” with a “Precious” voice. Today Lennox is known as much for her AIDS activism (she’s lost many a friend in the music business to AIDS), both globally but especially in Africa as she is for her music. Indeed in 2010, Lennox was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for AIDS. For her tireless and selfless efforts, on June 28, 2011, Annie Lennox was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, and is now a member of the Officer of the British Empire.
You!
You are a wife, husband, sister, brother, widow, parent, grandparent, friend, community leader, the first to graduate from high school, the first to get a degree from college, run your own business, worked what seemed like a hundred years for someone else, struggle to make ends meet, can’t wait to retire, have already retired, have seen your fair share of ups and downs and have been there when someone needed you. These nine fascinating and seemingly incredible boomers and seniors can’t come close to competing with your awesomeness!
