Ken Wolfire – A Multifaceted Man
Most days, at 9AM, the voice of 82-year-old Ken “The Wolfman” Wolfire can be heard on loudspeakers throughout Parker at McCarrick, delivering the morning announcements. “Good morning Parker at McCarrick family!” The Wolfman intones. “The weather today is…” followed by community news and birthday wishes. To amuse his audience, Ken makes sure he adds a bit of humor to his announcements, such as inviting his fellow residents to attend “mind-boggling bingo.”
Chat with Ken, and you will learn that he is a multifaceted man with many interests. Ken has written a play and a novel, collects coins and diecast cars, bowie knives and blank-firing guns. He has a huge music collection from the ‘40s and ‘50s, including recordings made during the musicians’ strike of 1942-1944, during which the background music was performed solely by singers. Ken also owns a record on the Edison label, one of earliest studios that pioneered sound recordings. At home, Ken loved making plastic painted figurines, including statues of Venus, red apples, pen sets, and praying hands. He also enjoyed creating jewelry with laboratory-made gems. Generous to a fault, he gave most of his hand-made objects to friends and family.
Ken moved to Parker a year-and-a-half ago after spending seven years in a series of nursing homes that he considered to be subpar. “Parker at McCarrick is the best of all,” he attests. “Any feedback or idea is welcome and they really listen to you. You can meet with staff and make changes.” As open as he is outspoken, Ken continued: “The staff is 100% much better here,” he continued. “They are not interested in pleasing the administrator – they want to please the residents.”
Ken was born in 1934, in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, to Irving and Esther Wolfire. His mother was a concert pianist who played at Carnegie Hall and won medals in competitions. His father was a sugar broker on Wall Street. Ken attended Eastern District High School, was a signal core radio relay and carrier operator in the Army, and graduated from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor of Science in Physics. On November 27, 1957, on his 23nd birthday, Ken met his wife Roslyn (Rhoda) on a blind date. They saw April Love starring Shirley Jones and Pat Boone in the local movie theater. They were engaged by January and married on Labor Day, 1958.
His education in physics and his Army background gave Ken an edge when he applied to work as an engineer with Bell Systems. In November 1963, Ken received his most daunting assignment – to ensure that newly-sworn-in President Lyndon Johnson’s ranch was fully connected to the outside world. Ken managed the installation of 300 telephone lines, including a phone at the President’s dining room table, and a 70-foot phone cord built so that the Commander-in-Chief’s phone would reach the pool. All this work was completed before Christmas, when President Johnson planned to return to the ranch.
“Participate in all the activities you can, and go to Resident Council meetings, because the administration here listens,” Ken says, when asked to offer some words of wisdom for people who will soon be moving to long-term care. This will help you meet many people, both staff and residents, so that you can “get to know them, keep busy, and make a lot of friends.”
Ken’s intellectual curiosity, enthusiasm for new experiences, and love for people are some of the many reasons that he is Withit, and why he is much-adored at Parker.
I love to dance and keep moving all the time. Rock and Roll, slow dancing, any kind of dancing.
I don’t believe in focusing on age; Don’t let age determine what YOU CAN and cannot DO 
I’ve learned that most of what I thought I knew about the aging process was wrong. That staying in the dark serves powerful commercial and political interests that don’t serve mine.
Aging does not cripple you. Aging will change your philosophy on life if you’ll accept that it’s different, accept it gracefully and don’t be ashamed of yourself.
