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Writings about Irving Salomon
-1951-
October 12, 1951—1) Philip L.
Seman (reviewer), "Retire and Be Happy by Irving Solomon (sic, Salomon),
Greenberg Publishers; New York, 1951, 205 pages), Southwestern Jewish Press, page
2: The longevity of the people of this country has greatly increased in the past
half century. In 1900 the average length of life of our people was 49
years! The average has increased more than eighteen years and is now 67 years.
Mortality has been greatly reduced thereby increasing the chance of survival to
middle and latter life. Statistical students make the observation that according
to the turn of the century less than one half survived from birth to age of
sixty! Under the current mortality, about three quarters of the babies will
attain that age. The proportion of older people has been on the increase. At the
beginning of the century, only four percent of the people in our country were
sixty-five years of age or over! Now over seven and one-half percent are in this
group. Within the past fifty years, the population as a whole has doubled, while
those sixty-five and over are almost quadrupled. There are now about 45,000,000
Americans more than forty-five with retirement problems looming large in their
minds. In the light of the above facts, it is quite understandable why the
author thought a few years ago to make a study of the problem of retirement and
to put his findings and practical philosophy into book form and share it with
the 45,000,000 Americans who will be facing either voluntary or forced
retirement. In the introduction the author says that all men should prepare for
as he calls it, their "second life on earth." Planning for retirement
is as desirable as education and training for a business or professional career.
In the early 1930's our author took a cruise. He reflected on the many older
couples and individuals whose pleasures were exceedingly curtailed. So many he
tells us were physically unable either to participate fully in the interesting
shore excursions or the fun aboard ship. They had waited too long to retire. Our
author then decided this sort of thing must not happen to him. Life he says was
too abundant to wait until decrepitude sets in. The book attempts in fifteen
chapters to answer such questions as "should you retire?" "What
retirement does for you;" "Age you retire?"; "Making your
retirement successful," "Planning your retirement," "The
wife's place in life, after retirement," "The wife's place in
retirement," and a considerable number of case histories of a cross section
of persons sixty-five or eight-even years of age. The author gives us a broad
definition of the word retirement. He defines it as a cessation of working
for gain at one's original or normal occupation. The author interviewed 405
persons in all walks of live and in all parts of the country. A number of pages
are devoted to hobbies in which they have participated; in games and sports,
arts and crafts, reading, sedentary activities, gardening, collecting, civic and
philanthropic work, travel, research and study, writing, photography, etc.,
etc. In the author's conclusion, he says if one thinks one is too old to
enjoy retirement he refers to his data based on his study of the 405 retirees,
indicating that only three men of the 76 who were unhappy were 80 years of age.
Whereas there were 80 men who were beyond 80 and content. As a rule these facts
in a measure would be within a fraction alike in similar studies if made of
other groups. The book is a must book for all men and women for that matter, who
are fifty and over and who are beginning to think in terms of retirement. It is
the only book of its kind in the knowledge of your reviewer. He has before him a
bibliography of 329 books, articles and reports dealing with the subject and is
well acquainted with most of this material and can reiterate that "Retire
and Be Happy" is the only book of its kind dealing with the way to
contentment for anyone now retired or who contemplates doing so. (Editor's
Note: Col Irving Solomon, after a colorful career, is "actively"
retired and resides during the winter months on his ranch in Escondido with his
wife and daughter.)
2) "Personals," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 3: Mr. and Mrs.
Irving Solomon (sic, Salomon) left September 25th for a two week stay in the
East. The Solomons will visit numerous friends, in New York, Boston and New
London, Conn. They will also attend the World Series. On the eve of their
departure they were feted with a dinner party.
-2005-
2005-Visit to Irving Salomon gravesite,
Home of Peace Cemetery, San Diego during 2005