PIX11– He’s been walking through these same doors off Fifth Avenue almost every day for 80 of his 101 years. Bert Askwith doesn’t have to worry about job security.
He’s the founder of Campus Coach lines, a charter bus company he started in 1931 when he was a student at the University of Michigan.
He says had the solution for fellow students who couldn’t afford the 100 dollar train ticket to New York, “I did it for 30 dollars, and I made my whole four years tuition by running the buses back to New York.”
The widowed great grandfather commutes to work from his home in Harrison where he lives on his own.
He says he doesn’t need glasses and doesn’t pop any pills, “I try to think young and don’t worry about retirement just live day to day and the challenges and the different problems that come up keep me on my toes.”
How’s Bert as a boss? We asked. The answer: “he’s very tough.”
Just ask Bert’s daughter Patti. She’s president of the company which runs about 50 large and small buses, and employs 30 people. “My father likes to keep his eyes on everyone so we had to put up glass so he could see us all, keep his eyes on us.”
But for Bert, today is not just another day at the office, he’s about to greet his nearest and dearest who’ve come here to his office to celebrate yet another milestone.
Tomorrow he turns 102. What also keeps this adorable workaholic going, is giving
“Bert has been giving to United Way of Westchester and Putname for 70 years on our board.”
He cares about everyone from the smallest child to the most senior adult.
He really cares about the whole community, “ I’ve been blessed in so many ways, and I just appreciate what happened to me.”
“When you blow out you 102 candles this weekend what will you be wishing for?”
His answer? 103.
