Roger Stabley (Photo by Caleb Robertson/Our York Media)

Roger Stabley: ‘Age creeps up on you’

The key to moving around like Roger Stabley does at his age? Never stop moving.

Presented by: Our York Media
Written by: Anthony Machcinski
Roger Stabley (Photo by Caleb Robertson/Our York Media)

Try guessing Roger Stabley’s age.

“Most people don’t know how old I am,” he says.

The West Manchester man works out five days per week, parks cars for the York Revolution games, and helps plan York’s street rod show every year.

While he loves the lifestyle, he knows he can’t keep it up forever.

“The hardest thing right now is my health,” Roger says. “I have to be careful about what I do. Age creeps up on you.”

***

Things aren’t the same as they were decades ago, Roger says.

He can’t jog his neighborhood like he used to. His balance isn’t the same, and he doesn’t walk as fast as he once did.

I don’t want to sit in a chair. I want to be active.

quotecircle
Roger Stabley

Roger gets frustrated sometimes thinking about it, but he’s not alone. He sees people come to the Silver Sneakers class at the York YMCA disheartened at what they can’t do. He tries to send them encouragement.

“I just tell them to do what they can do,” Roger says. “Nobody is going to look at you and say, ‘How come you’re not keeping up with us?’”

***

The key to moving around like Roger does at his age? Never stop moving.

“I tell my kids that if I ever broke my leg and had to stay sitting, I’d probably die,” Roger says. “I don’t want to sit in a chair. I want to be active.”

Even with street rods finishing up just a few weeks ago, others are already talking to him about the 2020 event.

“What are they thinking?” he says with a laugh. “I’m going to be 90.”

Get Neighbors of Our York in your inbox: Every Thursday at 9 a.m., we’ll email you a full version of the latest “Neighbors of Our York” profile. You subscribing lets us know you like and value what we’re doing.