Alkies who lived to a ripe old age
 

Hoping there are some positive and encouraging stories of alcoholics who achieved sobriety and lived to a good age. I think it would be nice to see how sobriety can turn into longevity. So ... Anyone have stories / examples?

Past tense?

I'm still alive at 53 (third year of sobriety).

53? God willing of course but you have decades to go before you are ripe!

My dad turned 86 years young April 18th and celebrated 59 years of sobriety April 25th!

They're out there. I know a couple who are both alcoholics. Met after getting sober. They have to have over 30 years sober and are both close to 80.

My grandfather passed away last June at 85. He'd been sober since 1976. From some of the stories I've heard, he was an extremely heavy drinker for 30-ish years who was at death's door when he sobered up in the rooms of AA. Some of my earliest childhood memories involved playing in the lobby and outside in back of his home group while he was attending meetings.

My great-grandfather lived to be 90-something. And my grandfather is in his 80's. Both were alcoholics who quit drinking. My grandfather has been sober now for about 45 years.

I was thinking about a related topic earlier this evening. I was in charge of handing out coins at the AA meeting tonight, and I was wondering about an "L" (fifty-year) coin. Anybody know someone with an "L" coin?

There's at least two active members here in their late eighties :)

D

Betty Ford lived into her 90s.

My brother went into cardiac arrest at 39 and was lucky to survive. He's been told if he keeps going he won't make 45 so in that light if he stops and has a sober 50th he can consider himself ripe!

Rob Halford got sober in 1986 and is still going strong 29 years later at 63 years old :)
Long may he run .

m

My great grandad died when he was 83, was a big drinker all his life and smoked a pipe. He fell over in the snow coming home from the pub and broke his hip (which he survived), a few days later at the hospital they left the guard rail on his bed down, he rolled out and re-broke the hip which killed him. Tough as old boot s that man but not a good person, didn't see no tears in any of his kids eyes at the funeral.

sorry just re-read the OP and didn't realize it was just stories of the recovered.

My grandfather was an alcoholic until the end and he lived to age 86. Not the norm for sure.

There was a guy in our felly with 60 years , he was the longest I knew of.

Lol I don't think there r a lot of people on here with decades

Eric Clapton is 70yrs old, got Sober in the 80s!! :)

There are a few I know who have over 30 years... I think one of them just celebrated 32 years this past week, and they're in their 70s

One of my AA home group members is in his late eighties and has 37 years sober I think. He is still very sharp and very active. Another one in her early 80s has around 20 years sober same thing. Both of them are also still driving.