Helen Simos

Emeritus College

“I went to my high school reunion and met all these 17 year olds there. I told ’em, ‘Hey! Listen up! You’re all going to look like this in 50 years!”

She’s one of those people who lights up a room. You just can’t feel glum whenever Helen Simos is around because she won’t let you. “I find joy in so many things, and life is just too short to mope around,” says Helen. “The Greeks had the right idea,” she adds of her ancient ancestors. “Take care of your health, dance, enjoy every moment, and you’ll always be 19 in your mind.” Helen’s philosophy of the good life is something she’s nearly perfected as a volunteer and student at SMC’s Emeritus College, a program for senior citizens.

“I tell ya, this Emeritus College gives us all a new lease on life,” says Helen. “Whatta ’ya gonna do? Sit there and disintegrate? No!” she roars, recoiling at such a thought. “I’ve done gospel singing, acted in plays, taken computer classes...Hey!” she says, her voice resonant with her New Jersey accent. “I’ve studied yoga and I’ve done everything there is to do to keep mind and body together. You get into this Emeritus program, and you won’t have time to feel all your aches and pains.”

Naturally, Helen’s “first retirement” came on April Fool’s Day: life has a way of always yanking her back onto center stage. “I worked at a chemical plant— the only woman there—and I was running it!” she says with a booming laugh. “Then, during my so-called ‘Golden Years,’ I got ripped off in an investment scam and went back to work at UCLA. And I loved being around all those young people,” says Helen. And though Emeritus keeps her busy, she has managed to “escape” back to Greece. “I got everybody dancing every night over there. Should’a charged ’em for all the business we brought in!” And that’s Helen Simos. Life just keeps asking her back to the dance.

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