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IN YOUR PRIME
Computers
When his grandchildren hectored grandfather Kaedy to learn
about computers, these fresh-faced, caring minors had no
idea they, in fact, were about to unleash a force for
progress.
For Jerry Kaedy, 69, a retired IBM corporate officer and a
quick study, is a Johnny Appleseed for computer usage,
carrying his message far and wide:
"Keep reminding the older generation of the advantages of
being part of the wired world," Kaedy wrote here following a
column suggesting the surest way to widen your world is to
become computer-literate.
"Computers changed my life," Kaedy said then, without
hesitation or embarrassment.
Kaedy and I quickly began a dialogue; here is his personal
narrative, which may serve as a life-lesson:
For some 25 years, Jerry Kaedy was the proverbial man in the
gray flannel suit, commuting by train to New York City,
where he worked for the evolving International Business
Machines Corporation. Was he into computers?
"Well, we were all into computers," he said, laughing. "But,
no, I didn't have much to do with personal computers."
A naval veteran of the Korean War, Kaedy and wife Dorothy
had two children (boy and a girl), and lived quietly but
comfortably in Poughkeepsie, NY. In time, their adult
children (a school teacher and a nurse) presented them with
seven grandchildren. Two years ago, a great-grandson joined
the family. It was this boy's mother, Leanne, who challenged
Grandpa Jerry "to get smart."
"I don't think she thought I would ever do it," grandpa
says, "but I bit the bullet. I bought a computer." Kaedy
remembers the relic, a veritable antique, which began his
crusade. What happened then?
"I discovered the magic," he said, "and I soon left my
grandkids in the dust. Now, they come to me for help." Kaedy
describes his present computer, custom built for under
$1,000, as "state of the art, 2.2 gigahertz, with 250
megabytes of memory."
"You've gone from klutz to king," I said, and confessed I
had not understood much of what he just reported.
This was his cue to proselytize: "Once the older adult has
the box in the home and has been given an introductory
lesson or two, she is on her own. But when gremlins
appear-and they will-where do you turn?
"Fortunately, there is an organization standing by to bring
computer technology to our older population. This is
SeniorNet, a national group of volunteers with 200 Learning
Centers, where students can get educated."
Three years ago, Jerry Kaedy, owner of 50 books and manuals
on computers and veteran of numerous community courses,
walked into the Poughkeepsie Learning Center. He was
entering the SeniorNet world.
A member of the board of directors today, Kaedy says,
"We're sort of like the military; you do what needs to be
done." Presently, professor Jerry is staff coordinator for
instruction: "I get teachers and assistants into each
class." Classes, incidentally, draw students ranging in age
from 50-85. The basic course (eight hours) is $20; the
advanced course (graphics, et. al.) is $60 (16 hours).
During a recent visit to Poughkeepsie, the Kaedy's son and
family were photographed again and again. Within 24 hours,
Grandpa Jerry had the best shots on his computer, for
instant messaging to friends and other family members. "I
communicate more now than ever before," he says. "And if one
of the grandkids happens to be on line, we have a chat in
real time."
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Outrageous Associations
