Meet Lou – An Inspiring Resident Living Life to the Fullest

When Lou first joined our community, he arrived in the Skilled Nursing neighborhood, unsure of what the future held. Over time, he transitioned into our Assisted Living neighborhood and eventually made his way to Independent Living. That kind of journey—moving through all levels of care in reverse—isn’t typical. But then again, nothing about Lou is typical. His story is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the boundless possibilities of aging.

Lou grew up on the streets of South Philly, a self-described risk-taker who thrived on adrenaline. He met his beautiful wife, Fran, when they were just kids. He joked that they couldn’t stand each other at first, but eventually, they grew to admire one another. At 16 and 18 years old, Lou took one of the first of many risks in his life—he asked Fran out on a date. Much to his surprise, she said yes, and from that day on, they were inseparable.

Lou later joined the Army, serving in Germany during the Cold War. Fran waited faithfully for his safe return, and during his time overseas, she sent him photos that became cherished treasures. Lou laughed as he told us how his Army buddies couldn’t believe a guy like him landed a girl like Fran. Not only did he land her—he married her on August 24, 1957. Together, they built a life, raised 3 beautiful daughters, and shared nearly 64 years of love before she passed away. Lou shared, “When I was leaving the house to go skydiving, racing, or to a boxing match, she’d just say, ‘Be careful.’ But she always supported me.”

While in the Army, Lou also played football. After his service, he became a union stone setter in Philadelphia, helping to build iconic buildings like the Cigna and IBM towers. He even showed us a newspaper photo of himself climbing a beam to the top of the IVB building in 1968—just another day at work for Lou. He grew to became Vice President of the Philadelphia Stone Masons Local 3 Union.

Lou trained as a boxer in South Philly. One of his favorite stories is about how “Rocky Thompson” was born. He was attending a match at a local fight arena called The Cambria when a man approached him and said they were short two fighters. Lou and his friend were offered the chance to fight—Lou accepted when they offered him $40. Dressed in borrowed, ill-fitting gear, Lou entered the ring. The announcer called out, “In this corner, Rocky Thompson!” The cut man turned to him and said, “That’s you—put your hands up.” Lou would go on to fight 11 or 12 matches under that name.

In his free time, Lou chased thrills—literally. He raced motorcycles, which he says offered more of an adrenaline rush than cars, and he loved to skydive. Over his bed hangs a piece of art depicting two skydivers mid-jump with the words: “Everything will kill you, so choose something fun.” That’s how Lou has always lived—and continues to live—his life.

On March 23rd, at 89 years old, Lou made a bold decision: he wasn’t done living. He completed his first skydive jump since 1980.

When asked why he chose to go skydiving for his 89th birthday, Lou said something that stuck with me:
“Do I have aches and pains? Sure. My back’s killing me today. But I’m in pretty good health for an old man. It’s hard for me—I don’t accept old age well, you know?”

That sentiment echoes what many people feel when considering senior living. There’s a misconception that moving into a community means life is winding down. But here at The Fountains, we see the opposite. With the right support, residents don’t just live—they thrive.

Lou’s journey is living proof that getting older doesn’t mean the adventures stop. While not everyone is jumping out of planes, they are still finding joy, passion, and purpose in new ways every day.

Want to discover what adventures await you? Schedule a visit to The Fountains today.