Justin Fanizzi

Remember Fonzie's popular catch-phrase on the old Happy Days sitcom, and his knack for how to start a jukebox? The Fonz was his own sort of hero.

Actor Henry Winkler travels to Rochester on Thursday to share his insights for Lifespan, a Rochester-based organization that provides support and resources to senior adults and their caregivers. Winkler, who played Arthur Fonzarelli, is now a 70 years-old and he has a message to share with others who are aging, enjoying life and serving others.

More than 1,600 people are expected for his keynote speech during the 20th installment of Lifespan’s “Celebration of Aging” luncheon at the Riverside Convention Center.

“The goal of this event is to highlight people who have made a successful transition to the second half of their lives and Mr. Winkler is a perfect example,” said Mary Rose McBride, a vice president and spokeswoman for Lifespan. “He recently turned 70, and he has never stopped helping others.”

The actor/writer/producer is known across generations, including for his humorous turns in several Adam Sandler movies. Winkler’s appeal, McBride believes, is a good way to promote Lifespan’s goals.

“This event is all about upending the stereotypical notions about people turning 60, 70, 80 or even 90, and our honorees are doing that every day,” said McBride. “The definition of longer life has really changed over the last 30 to 40 years, so we really have to work on changing the way people look at aging.”

According to the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity, Winkler grew up with undiagnosed dyslexia, but he managed to overcome it and graduate from the Yale School of Drama, and ultimately find fame. This inspired him to spend his entire adult life giving back; working with AIDS charities, various health organizations and children’s rights groups, among many others. Winkler is still actively involved with acting and philanthropy, and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Hero awards

The event is also headlined by the presentation of the “Eli Rudin Second Half Hero Award” to five area residents over 60 who are doing everything from hiking mountains in South America to launching music and art festivals. They are: Winnie Wong of Avon, Bruce Rychwalski of Rochester, Justin Vigdor of Pittsford, Svetlana Shales of Rochester and Geri Dolan of Pittsford.

Wong travels annually to the mountains of Bolivia and Guatemala on mission trips. Dolan was nominated for her work overseeing the refugee tutoring program through Saint’s Place. Rychwalski overcame a near-death experience with cardiomyopathy in 2011 and now does 5K races nearly every weekend. Vigdor is a local attorney who organized and oversaw the launch of Rochester’s Fringe Festival. At age 90, Shales still travels the world on her own.

More

Visit lifespan-roch.org to learn more about Lifespan and its wide range of support systems for older people and their caregivers. The group’s services and programs are available on the site, as well as links to register for them.

Read more about Henry Winkler’s triumph over dyslexia, and how he helps those in need today at dyslexia.yale.edu/Winkler.html.