Sam Ezrol turns 107
Yes, you read correctly…107 glorious years old is Sam Ezrol, a beloved resident at Casa Sandoval. Sam was born November 10, 1912, in New York City. After finishing high school, this Brooklyn boy joined the Merchant Marines at 17, learning to operate the ship radio. He aided with locating German submarines and ships in the North Atlantic Ocean in the years between the world wars. He and his family (wife Pauline and two sons) eventually relocated to Pensacola, Florida, where he become a RADAR instructor for the military. Sam remarks that by this technology we won WWII; officers came from around the world for instruction in what was then revolutionary. After WWII, Sam was recruited by California school system to teach high school electronics, where he taught until retirement. He moved to Casa Sandoval a full 20 years ago! By his accounting, FDR was the best president because he created recovery programs that got people back to work during the Depression. The most culture-shaping invention next to RADAR was the airplane, says Sam, because it brought the world closer, faster. In offering advice to young people, he urges you to stay curious, and keep your eyes peeled on the horizon. On the secret to living a long life: Just plain endurance and his Polish heritage. Pictured: Sam receiving a commendation from Hayward Mayor, Barbara Halliday.
