I told Roy that the Guinness Book of World Records for oldest competitive pickleball player is held by 95-year-old Joyce Jones of Seattle. I asked if Roy would like to get into the record books, and he said no, “I just play for fun”, chuckling at the idea of tournaments. “I’ve never played that well — maybe I’d get a world record for the worst pickleball player ever.”
These days, Roy plays pickleball in Colorado, where he moved just a few months ago to live with his daughter and son-in-law. “I’m here to stay,” he says warmly, adding that their three dogs—two golden retrievers and a cockapoo—keep him company.
In his younger years, Roy played tennis, softball, and skiing. “I started snow skiing at 30, and kept at it for about 60 years,” he recalls. In fact, until the onset of COVID-19, Roy volunteered as a Mountain Host at Beaver Creek, a position that blended his love for skiing with helping others. “We weren’t the ski patrol, but we assisted them—answering questions, giving directions, even some first aid when needed. I loved that job.” While gearing up to ski has become tougher with age, Roy still plans to make one downhill run this winter: “Just one is enough these days,” he says with a grin.
Born in 1929, Roy grew up in Pittsburgh and attended trade school to become an electrician. His career path detoured when he was drafted into the Marine Corps during the Korean War (1951). “I’d just gotten my first real job wiring a gas station,” he says, “and then Uncle Sam sent me my notice.” Originally assigned to combat duty, Roy’s background in electrical work earned him a safer position: teaching electrical engineering at a base in North Carolina. “Trade school might’ve saved my life,” he reflects.
Roy built a long and steady career in the construction and electrical trades, often working 50 to 60 hours a week. “Those were the best years,” he says. “Hard work, good pay, a home, a boat, and lots of fun at the lake.” Roy has one daughter, twin grandchildren, and recently welcomed a great-granddaughter. “Four generations sat down together for dinner this year,” he says proudly. “That was pretty special.”
When asked the inevitable question: what’s his secret to living a long life, Roy just laughs. “Plain luck,” he says. “I lived sensibly, kept active, never smoked, never drank. Worked hard. That’s all.” His parents lived modestly long lives: his father passed away at 70, his mother at 83. But Roy’s active lifestyle, combined with a lifetime of labor and movement, has kept him strong. “I guess I was just sensible—and lucky enough to still be playing pickleball at 96.”
Roy’s story isn’t one of nostalgia alone—it’s about continuing to do. Whether he’s playing pickleball, skiing a long mountain run, or simply enjoying life in the Rockies, Roy embodies the idea that staying active means staying alive in every sense of the word. “I’m not after world records,” he says with a twinkle in his eye. “I just want to stay moving—and keep having fun.”
