Norbert, 92, has had a passion for dancing his entire life. Though he has faced numerous obstacles, such as losing his home in the Great Depression and being denied opportunities due to his asthma, dance has remained a beautiful constant. Although he is now confined to a power chair, Norbert’s eyes still light up every time he gets to watch a dance performance. His Wish of a Lifetime was to have the wonderful older adult dance group Pam Kay and the Tap Chicks perform in his Brookdale community.
Norbert’s dancing career started as an after-school pastime and evolved into jitterbug competitions throughout Chicago. Although he enjoyed the competitive aspect of dancing, what he loved most was that it brought him closer to his wife. Though their dancing days are behind them, Norbert loves to reminisce about the times he would take his wife to dance; they were never there to show off, but simply enjoy each other.
Norbert’s giving nature is not only manifested in his relationship with his wife, it can also be seen in the way that he is always encouraging others to learn. Norbert was a junior high math teacher for 9 years and later worked at a traffic school. Having struggled with weight gain in the past due to asthma, Norbert is also keen on teaching others how to be healthy. He even started a weight lifting class to help residents at Brookdale.
Thanks to Brookdale and Wish of a Lifetime, Norbert’s Wish came true. Pam Kay and the Tap Chicks came to Norbert’s Brookdale Senior Living community to perform for him and many other residents and family members who took part in the festivities. Norbert said that his wish “was just awesome.” He was even invited on stage to sing with the performers with his daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter all in the audience. “I never had an experience like this in my life. I think about it all the time now that I’m back,” said Norbert.
