Gerontology Robert Martorello Is 65

Gerontology

Robert Martorello is 65 years old, a retired electrician with over four decades in the profession. His career even took Martorello to a stint with the United States Army on a nuclear submarine. Now that he is retired, Martorello fulfills his passion by tweaking his Mazda Miata, making it go as fast as possible. His Italian upbringing has undoubtedly instilled in Martorello an appreciation for close families and maintaining traditions. Even within his career, Martorello followed in his father's footsteps as an electrician. Martorello's mother was, in fact, a military contractor too. His father, who grew up in Italy, passed away five years ago from cancer. Martorello's mother became a devout Mormon and he was therefore raised religiously.

Like Martorello, I am also passionate about my family and about the traditions that hold us together. I was raised a Mormon because of my dad but preferred my mother's approach to religion and adopted the Catholic Church as my religion of choice. Like Martorello, I was raised in a deeply devout family but one that offered a lot of flexibility and support. We were encouraged to explore the traditions of both sides of our family and respect our parents and grandparents even when we might not agree with them. Similarly, Martorello notes that he strongly dislikes discussing politics with family members. Doing so is anathema to good family relations because disagreements can too easily become arguments. I am the same way. For example, Martorello and I both avoid talking politics with my brother-in-law because our views differ significantly. We were both taught that respect for others is the bond of love for families. This also translates into respect for oneself.

A positive attitude on life is one of the core character traits that Martorello and I share in common. Some of our fondest memories were us racing dirt bikes together, something that helped me appreciate outdoor and athletic activities throughout my whole life. Martorello loves deep sea fishing, while I cultivated an interest in farm animals. I spent time as the Treasurer of the Campbell Chapter of the Future Farmers of American (FFA). My sheep won the Grand Champion award in the 1985 Santa Clara County Fair, a significant accomplishment. I also developed interest in the martial arts and I earned my black belt in Tai Kwon Do. Thus, Martorello and I share a passion for life that includes a wide variety of outdoor and sports activities.

Both Martorello and I were strongly influenced by his mother, who we called Nana. Nana worked as a contractor for the United States Government and her job allowed her to travel around the world. Martorello remembers the recipes she would bring back from overseas, whereas I remembered the tangible souvenirs. I was also influenced strongly by my maternal grandmother, who was a nurse. It was Big Grandma, as she was known, who inspired me to pursue nursing as a career. Big Grandma was a nurse for 55 years and she taught me the fundamentals about caring and professionalism in the field of nursing.