A century of wisdom: Emil’s journey through life and longevity

Video transcript

[Birds chirping]

[Piano music playing throughout the video]

[Outdoor landscape, including trees and the ocean]

[Emil Martin sitting in an armchair, speaking to the camera]

EMIL MARTIN: I wanted to retire as long as I worked, and I've really exceeded that.

[Numbers on the screen, ticking upward and stopping at 100]

I've been retired now for 43 years.

[On-screen Text – Keeping it 100 with Emil, Age 102]

My name is Emil M. Martin. I'm 102 years old, and I'll be 103 on Groundhog Day.

[Emil opening a sliding door to the deck]

You've got to be physically active and mentally active to keep your brain going.

[Emil on his deck, overlooking the water]

I've had my full share of life.

[A decorative balloon on his deck, turning in the breeze]

[Birds chirping]

The most interesting part was the three and a half years I spent in the Army during the Second World War.

[Photographs of Emil in uniform, from the war]

I was in the Pacific. I spent time on eight different islands. There were 16 million veterans during the Second World War.

[A more recent photograph of Emil and a World War II tank]

There are only less than 60,000 still left.

[Profile picture of Emil in uniform]

I'm one of the 60,000.

[Emil pointing out individual people from a group photograph]

Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Great Northern.

EMIL VOICEOVER: I got my work ethic from my dad.

[Emil pointing to his father in the photograph]

Here's my dad right here.

EMIL VOICEOVER: He was an air brake mechanic.

They serviced both those railroads at the King Street Station.

[A piano in Emil’s home, with photographs on top of it and showing a picture of Emil and his wife with an anniversary cake]

My wife was 90 when she passed away.

[Profile photograph of Emil’s wife]

She was 30 when we got married. She asked me, but I think she thought, maybe, time's a wasting, so she says, why don't we get married? So we did.

[Photograph of Emil and his wife]

[Photograph of Emil and his wife and two kids]

When the kids were growing up, we went camping a lot.

[Framed photographs of a mountain landscape hung abusive the piano]

We went all over the state of Washington, British Columbia, Oregon.

[Photograph of Emil and his wife and three kids]

Really enjoyed those camping trips.

[Photograph of Emil and family]

All three of my kids are retired.

[Emil chatting with his son at the kitchen table]

We get together for dinner once every two weeks.

[Emil in his den, typing on a computer]

I don't know, I seem to be busy every day. There's always something to do. I read the paper, I get on the computer. I play bridge twice a week, pinochle on Thursday. And I found out I was the only guy, with about 10 old ladies there, and boy, are they good pinochle players.

[Emil in his kitchen, getting things from the cupboard]

I tell people, eat a balanced diet, as many fruits and vegetables as you can, and exercise. If you lay around and do nothing all the time, you're going to waste away.

[Emil walking up and down the stairs in his home]

I depended on walking up and down these basement stairs as often as I can make myself do during the day.

[Emil on his deck, overlooking the water]

I consider myself so fortunate, being able to live without any worries and without any pain. I've seen a lot of changes in my lifetime.

[Emil smiling for the camera, the image transitioning to a still photograph]

Yeah, I've had a pretty good life.

[On-screen Text – How else are centenarians keeping it 100? Learn more at uhc.com/100at100, UHC]

[Piano music fading]

At 102 years old, Emil has lived a life that spans generations, wars and remarkable changes in the world. Approaching his 103^rd birthday, Emil is a testament to how curiosity, resilience and movement can shape a vibrant, fulfilling life.

“I’ve wanted to retire as long as I’ve worked,” Emil said.

And he’s certainly achieved that goal — retired for 43 years, he’s enjoyed a life filled with purpose and activity. His secret?

“You’ve got to be physically active and mentally active to keep your brain going, “he said.

One of the most defining chapters of Emil’s life was his service during World War II. Spending 3.5 years in the Pacific, he served on eight different islands.

“There were 60 million veterans during the second world war. There are only less than 60 thousand left, and I’m one of them,” he said.

Family, marriage and camping adventures

Emil credits his strong work ethic to his father, an airbrake mechanic, and fondly recalls his family life. Married for decades to his wife, who proposed to him at age 30, Emil enjoyed countless camping trips across Washington, British Columbia, and Oregon with their three children — now all retired themselves. Today, family remains central, with dinners every two weeks.

“I’m lucky,” Emil says. “My son Terry keeps tabs on me all the time.”

Finding purpose in the everyday

Despite his age, Emil’s days remain busy. He reads the newspaper, uses the computer and plays bridge twice a week — plus a spirited game of pinochle on Thursdays.

“I found out I was the only guy with about 10 old ladies there — and boy, are they great pinochle players,” he said.

He also keeps moving by walking up and down his basement stairs for exercise. Emil credits three simple habits for his longevity: avoiding smoking and excess alcohol, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and staying active.

“Eat a balanced diet. As many fruits and vegetables as you can. And exercise. If you lay around and do nothing all the time, you’re going to waste away,” he said.

A life well-lived

When asked how he views turning 103, Emil reflects with gratitude, reminding us that living well isn’t about the number of the years but how we fill them.

“Yeah, I’ve had a pretty good life,” he said.

Watch Emil’s story in our short film “Keeping it 100”— a celebration of purpose, perseverance and the simple joy of each new day.

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