“Be satisfied with what one has.” BARUCH AZIZA, 91
Life in a nutshell: A lifelong teacher, Aziza was born in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1926. He trained to be a teacher in Paris, France, then returned to Morocco to teach high school for many years. On a 1949 trip to England, Aziza met his future wife, Vera. Though it was an instant attraction, the couple wrote letters to one another for two years before they got married and Vera moved to Morocco. In
1957, they immigrated to North America, first to Boston and then to Montreal, where Aziza, who speaks four languages — French, English, Moroccan Arabic and some Hebrew — easily found a teaching position. For the next 35 years, Aziza, who with Vera had three children, taught and held leadership positions in Montreal high schools.
When he retired, Aziza and Vera drove across Canada and the U.S., spending their nights tent camping; the couple says this is the best way to experience the beauty of North America. In the spring of 2017, the pair moved to Toronto from Montreal so they could see more of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Advice for aging well: “Lead a good life. That means avoid smoking, avoid drinking and have a very nice life at home with your wife and your kids. Also, not be after possessing things; be satisfied with what one has. Be physically active. Read a lot and be aware of what’s going on in the world. Have good relationships with people and have good friends. We have been lucky to have many good friends.”
Always walking: When they lived in Montreal, every morning Aziza and Vera went for a two-hour walk that included the climb up Mount Royal. “We maybe have walked so much that we have walked the equivalent of five times around the globe.”
New Year’s resolution: “Live very happily until the time comes to leave this world.”