How many hours a week do you work?
I am in the office practicing law at Leon M. Cooper PC and Grupo Deco America (which owns funeral homes in the United States) 40 hours a week.
Why not retire?
I enjoy the practice of law and have been very successful at it many years.
Does your wife want you to retire?
No, because I am enjoying representing my clients and practicing law. She supports my decisions.
Best part of working past 80?
I continue practicing for old friends and clients, and I am now undertaking representation for additional trusts and companies.
Worst part of working past 80?
There are not enough hours during the working week.
Are you up to date on technology? Do you use email, cellphones or social networking?
I have cellphones, email and an iPad. I don’t do social networking because it’s not secure.
What’s the best advice you ever got?
My first big client was developer Ben Winegart, who told me never to retire.
What advice would you give to people who want to work well past 65?
If you want to continue working you must keep up to date in the development of law and all the technologies that exist and what will develop in the future.
What’s the secret to staying healthy and active?
The secret is to have a happy marriage, which I have, and to continue to be active as well as enjoying good food and having appropriate medical advice. I also start each day by reading the funny comic section of the newspaper. I specifically enjoy “Crankshaft” and his advice.
Do you work as much as you used to in your 40s and 50s?
I don’t work as much as I used to. Since I no longer drive, I no longer commute to the office as frequently as I used to in my early 40s and 50s.
How has your work routine changed?
I don’t work nights, although I have a full remote office at my house.
What do you miss most from when you were young?
When I was younger there were more opportunities for me to choose my future practice of law.
What do you see in the future?
Participating in a vital, active and liberally oriented country with a Democrat as president. I believe the United States will continue to be an important country.
