Arlington resident Eugene Kahn turned 100 in November, but that hasn’t changed his three-day-a-week exercise habit at the Ballston Sport and Health Club.
Kahn joined the Sport and Health Club at Skyline in 1980 after retiring from his job at the Pentagon. However, in 1995 he transferred to the Ballston location, which is closer to his East Falls Church home, after he stopped driving.
Kahn said he owes his longevity to “incredible good luck,” perhaps in addition to some healthy life choices.
“I quit smoking pipes at 60 so maybe that’s one of the secrets,” said Kahn.
Sport and Health has become something of a second home for Kahn. The entire staff knows him and treats him like gym royalty. Customers show deference too — getting up to allow Kahn to use his usual machines, if need be.
Kahn performs his workouts alone but occasionally consults with trainers at Sport and Health Club to change up his weekly routine.
“I am very impressed with this facility, the people are wonderful. They are friendly and they greet you when you walk in,” he said.
While Kahn doesn’t consider himself much of an athlete, he has been exercising since starting his job at the Pentagon in 1961. During his lunch breaks at the Pentagon, he would swim for an hour and half in the Pentagon’s gym.
These days, when Kahn isn’t at Sport and Health, he’s typically at home doing chores around his house — except on Mondays, when he plays golf.
Although originally from New Jersey, Kahn and his wife of 74 years — she’s also a centenarian — have been living in the same house in Arlington since 1961. He plans to be there, still keeping up on chores, for the foreseeable future.
“I’m on my second pacemaker and this one is going to last for 12 years, so I’m not worried,” he said.