"Big Brother" Friendship At 30 Years And Counting

Tender-hearted readers, be warned: You may cry (from happiness) over this. A 95-year-old man has been a "Big Brother" to a 37-year-old man for the past 30 years! In 1979, Chester Ross decided to participate in Big Brothers program in Westchester—skeptically since he was 65 with grandchildren— and met David Loughran, "a timid 7-year-old...being raised by his divorced mother." Though most Big Brother/Big Sister relationships last till the little sibling is 18, they've been friends for much longer: Ross put Loughran through college ("What else was I going to do? By then he was part of my family"), gave him career advice, and served as his best man five years ago. Ross recalled, "Be a best man when you're 90 years old? But I told him I would do it under one condition. I wanted nothing to do with the bachelor party." Loughran, who gave a son the middle name "Ross," said, "I was shy, and he helped me with my self-confidence. He encouraged me to read and get educated. He became a big part of my family, and he accepted me into his family." Awwww. Here's more information about Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

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By Jen Chung in News on April 29, 2009 12:24 PM

Comments [rss]

tsol

This is really awesome, but I doubt such a relationship would be allowed today, let alone promoted. I mean, come on:

"Almost every Wednesday night, they chatted on the phone. Almost every Sunday they had their special visits. Sometimes they'd have lunch. Or go to Shea Stadium. Or even Broadway shows."

A 65-year old man being friends with a 7-year old boy?

If a man that age (or almost any age) tried volunteering for that today he'd be deemed pretty suspicious. Just asking for trouble!

leftylib

the brotherhood of man

Jen Chung

In the article, Ross said, "It's not a one-way deal, it's a two-way deal. I got someone new to love and someone who loved me. Now I go up and see his two kids, and I have the same sort of relationship with them." I am still teary over that.

istolethetv

ack, stop it! my allergies! the pollen!

hotstepper

this warms the cockles of my heart.

Dirk

This is a great story. Thanks.

mocanlagunas

Yesterday's Seinfeld episode was the one where Constanza's sucked into being the Big Bro for a kid that his father is in France...

Yes, I watch Seinfeld...