Irving Tragen - Successful Ager Update

by Danielle Glorioso

For the first time in over 10 years of sharing stories of successful agers in our Stein Institute newsletter, we are thrilled to provide an update on one of our past featured successful agers—Irving Tragen. We initially spotlighted Irving at age 99, highlighting his remarkable career in the Foreign Service, his lifelong marriage to the love of his life, Ele, and his transition into a published author. Now, as he approaches his 103rd birthday in May, Irving continues to defy expectations, demonstrating the incredible power of resilience, adaptability, and purpose.

Since we last featured Irving, he has accomplished even more than we could have imagined. In the past four years, he has published two books and is currently working on a third! Irving's passion for writing and sharing his life experiences remains as strong as ever. His autobiography, Two Lifetimes As One: Ele and Me and the Foreign Service, reflects on his life with his late wife, Ele, and their adventures in the Foreign Service. In 2023, at 101, he published Manana is Yesterday, a deeply personal book that he wrote after turning 100. As he explains, the characters in his stories kept speaking to him, which led him to start his third book, Esperanza: Daring to Dream Beyond Borders, which was published in March of this year.

Irving’s third book, Twilight of a Dream, is already in the works, and he hopes to complete it this year. Despite the physical challenges of aging, he has found ways to adapt and keep pursuing his passions, ensuring his days remain full of meaning and purpose. As Irving puts it, “My legs may not be that good anymore, but I think I can still more or less hold my own intellectually.”

But Irving’s engagement with life extends far beyond writing. He captivated the audience as a panelist for our Resilience and Aging panel discussion at the Healthy Longevity Symposium in 2023 (VIDEO: Resilience and Aging - UCTV - University of California Television). He also remains deeply involved in his community, playing bridge once a week, participating in the World Affairs Council, and occasionally taking on a more active role than simply sitting in the audience. He also spends time on the rules committee at his senior living community, helping to write new regulations that foster better community living. As Irving reflects, "It's the sense of being part of a community—listening and learning—that is terribly important too."

Irving’s philosophy of life has always been rooted in kindness and empathy. As he reflects, “The basic tenet of my life was to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Everything I’ve done in my career has been to work with and help other people.” This principle has guided him through decades of travel, work, and, now, his literary pursuits.

For Irving, life hasn’t always been easy. He shares that losing his dear wife Ele was one of the most painful experiences of his life. He noted that grief is a deeply personal experience, but he finds comfort in knowing that Ele, who passed away 20 years ago, is always with him. “There are occasions when I’m confused, and I’ll sit on the bed and talk to Ele, and I find I can hear her talking back to me.”

Irving's journey is a powerful reminder that adapting as we age can allow us to grow in ways we didn’t expect. His story inspires us all to continue growing, learning, and contributing at every stage of life. Even in his 100s, he remains intellectually sharp and emotionally connected to the world around him. 

Thank you for being part of our community and for your continued support as we celebrate the stories of individuals like Irving, who embody the true essence of aging successfully.

You can read our first spotlight on Irving here: Irving Tragen