LOS ANGELES (AP) Robert Eisenberg, who last retired from a
zipper manufacturing company at age 103 after being honored as the
country's oldest paid worker, has died. He was 105.
Eisenberg died Tuesday after being hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center due to a fall at his home on Monday.
He was named the country's oldest paid employee in 2000 by Green
Thumb Inc., a nonprofit now called Experience Works. The
Virginia-based group offers job training for older workers.
Born in Central City, Colo., Eisenberg moved with his parents to
New York when he was 2 years old. He attended New York University,
served in the Army during World War I, and joined his father's
business as a garment maker.
Eisenberg first retired in 1970 when the Los Angeles zipper
company where he worked was sold.
He went back to work at age 82 and put in a 30-hour week at
Zabin Industries, commuting to his downtown offices by taxi. He
retired two years ago after falling in several minor accidents away
from work.
Eisenberg told People magazine in 2001 that he was remained
energetic even late in life because ``I eat anything and
everything. ... And I have a gin and tonic each evening.''
Eisenberg is survived by two children and three grandchildren.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)