Bob Vackaro, of Waterford, doesn’t mind when people call him by the nickname “Old Bob.” Not that long ago at the Waterford Recreation Center, a place Vackaro has frequented for 18 years, there were so many “Bobs” in attendance, including “Young Bob” and “Tall Bob,” that “Old Bob” stuck. “Now, I’m the only Bob,” he said. “But I’m still Old Bob.”
Even though he just turned 90, Vackaro doesn’t behave like what some may perceive as a typical “old” person. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Vackaro plays table tennis in the morning and pickleball in the afternoon. He spends his Tuesday mornings shopping, and in the afternoon he enjoys Pinochle. Thursdays are devoted to league bowling in the winter and “odds and ends” in the summer, he said. “On Saturday, I recover from all of that,” he laughed.
Vackaro also keeps busy with his large family. He and wife Michele have been married for 35 years. He has three stepchildren and 12 grandchildren.
After he retired from his 30-year career with the Pontiac School District (he taught elementary through 9th grade at several schools in the district), Vackaro took up a second career in real estate. After about 18 years, at age 72, a health scare prompted him to retire. “I was having heart palpitations and that was due to a blockage, my doctor said, so after that I decided to slow down,” he said.
Shortly later, Vackaro also changed his diet. The one-time cereal and red meat eater gave up all of those foods and has not looked back. Vackaro enjoys a strictly fish and plant-based diet. “I wouldn’t touch a burger or a hot dog,” he said. Diet and exercise have greatly improved his health, so much so that his cardiologist told him he no longer needed to come in for appointments.
Vackaro, who is a die-hard Spartans fan (he graduated from Michigan State University), said he’s in good health, except for a few aches and pains, which are mainly related to his activities with sports and fitness. Those minor pains don’t slow him down. Not only has he maintained his busy schedule at the Waterford Recreation Center, the one-time school teacher is now teaching pickleball to those who are interested.
“He’s an amazing man who is in great shape and is always teaching newcomers the sport,” said Candace Tucker, senior aide with the Waterford Recreation Center.
Whatever Vackaro is doing to keep busy, he’s more than likely doing so with a big smile on his face. Vackaro said he loves life and tries to make the most of every day.
“I’m living on borrowed time. Once you hit 90, your days are numbered. Every day, I think, I hope I make it a good day. At the end of the day, I say to myself, most of the time, ‘This was a good day.’ Because it usually is a good day. I played well. Everyone was nice, I was nice. I didn’t get into any trouble with my wife,” he said.
