Jamie’s Corner

Welcome to Jamie’s Corner, a bi-weekly series for our Something Beautiful newsletter that will run when Jim’s not blogging.

You may wonder who the “Jamie” behind the series is. I am Jamie Towey, Aging with Dignity’s Vice President for Advocacy. I joined this great organization in January after previous careers at a government intelligence agency and later at a Big Four accounting and consulting firm, picking up an MBA along the way. I also co-wrote a musical that got picked up by a Tony-award-winning producer, but that’s a story for another time.

So, why Aging with Dignity, after a background distinctly unassociated with this subject? It’s simple: I care about the mission and its legacy.

The legacy angle is pretty straightforward – if my slowly receding hairline wasn’t a giveaway, then my last name surely must be – I’m Jim’s son. I recall playing on the floor in the old Aging with Dignity office (we still have the same conference table, 28 years later) and I remember seeing some of the original employees, all of whom were so kind to my siblings and me. I watched how Dad, Paul Malley, and many others intrepidly built this great organization.

But I was drawn here by more than just fraternity and family. When Patrick, my wife’s (Carolyn) and my eldest son, was born, I was struck by how perfect, yet fragile he was. No one needs a reminder to treat an infant with tender care, it’s self-evident that their lives are precious and must be protected. Then, when his younger brother, Gabriel, was born, I became acutely aware of the fact that I was getting old! It feels like yesterday Patrick struggled to find animals in picture books; now he’s inventing whole new species of animals in his imagination. And Gabe’s now biking, incredibly. We’re always changing, always aging.

Our culture tells us that aging is a curse. But I think it’s a blessing, in every stage of life. At Aging with Dignity, our motto is, “Your Right. Our Mission.” Every person, regardless of age, health condition, race or creed, has a right to have his or her dignity respected and protected. Who can’t get behind that?

I’ll see you next time at Jamie’s Corner, the intersection where young and old meet, and share with you our plans for the future. I’m so glad to be part of the nationwide community that is Aging with Dignity!

So long for now,

Jamie