May 14, 2003
Elias provides care for elderly
90-year-old volunteers six days a week at Grand Traverse Pavilions
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Starting his tenth decade surrounded by family and friends, Michael Elias reveled in the love.
Surrounded by three generations of his family plus staff and residents of the Grand Traverse Pavilions, Elias blew out the candles on his oversized birthday cake in between entertaining the assembled. While he is old enough to live at the Pavilions, Elias was celebrating his birthday there last Thursday as a volunteer.
Ninety years young, Elias has volunteered six days a week at the facility for the past five years. The Interlochen resident drives himself there every morning after attending Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church, ready to dispense his trademark wit and caring with style.
"They just totally enjoy him," said Lynn Heidt, a registered nurse on the Birch pavilion where Elias volunteers. "A lot of them are much younger than he is."
Elias helps residents in many ways, from setting up the dining room to taking them to BINGO to passing out beverages at lunch.
"He sure is a wonderful person," said Roberta Harrand, a resident at the Pavilions for three years. "He's always taking people back to their rooms or helping out. He sure is a gentleman, I'll tell you that."
"He's just a big kid," added Florence Valovick, another Pavilions resident. "He's a really nice guy."
Elias' daughter, Pat Littlefield of Traverse City, is proud of her father's dedication and enthusiasm for helping others. She said his gregarious nature and sense of humor are assets to his volunteer work.
"He started when he was 85, pretty late in life, and he's pretty dedicated to it," she said. "He sometimes sings with the patients and prays with them, he always has a story to tell."
"When one of them dies, he says he lost another friend," she noted. "If he misses a day, the patients call him, it gives him purpose."
For Elias, spending three hours a day at the Pavilions helps him get through days left empty by the loss of his wife, Pat, five years ago. The two were married 64 years and Elias helped care for her before she died of Alzheimer's disease.
Spending part of his day surrounded by friends who need him gives him purpose and inspiration. It also helps offset the loneliness that creeps in despite having a dedicated family of four children, 14 grandchildren and three great grandchildren, many of whom live in the area.
"Being here helps me a lot, too," Elias said. "They are so kind and thankful for everything you do. Mass is a good way to start the day and then I come here."
Elias grew up on a farm near Mt. Pleasant. He dreamed of a professional or business career but wound up as a tool and die maker, working 25 years for Chrysler. He was also a semi-pro catcher for a Triple A baseball team when he was a young man, playing on a company team in the Detroit area.
Not one to let age slow him down, Elias continues to be active and plays 18 holes of golf when he can.
"He gets around 18 holes better than I do," joked grandson-in-law Bill Dungjen of Cedar. "He shoots his age."