100 and Thriving: He Still Works Out, Drives, and Lives With His 98-Year-Old Wife
People talk about slowing down when the years start piling up, but every now and then, someone shatters that idea. You catch a glimpse of their routine, hear a piece of their story, and wonder how on earth they’re still living life on their own terms when most have long given them a seat on the sidelines.
Here’s how one man did it.
A Lifetime of Moving
Image via Unsplash/Nathan Dumlao
Joseph Caminiti knew being active was important before gym memberships and cardio machines. He wakes up every weekday, gets dressed, grabs his keys, and drives himself to the gym. He is a regular 100-year-old who still lifts weights and uses the treadmill.
His routine, which includes cardio, strength training, and a hydro massage finish, has been part of his life longer than many people have been alive. As a child, he had a paper route. By 17, he was in the U.S. Marine Corps. There’s arguably no better example to use when preaching about consistency and health.
Joseph fought in World War II and Korea, survived the Battle of Iwo Jima, and saw the American flag raised on the island. After the war, he worked in manufacturing for General Motors and built bearings for decades.
He lives in Bristol, Connecticut, with his wife of 78 years, who is 98. Their home is a regular apartment, and his daily routine doesn’t rely on outside help. He maintained his own house until age 95 before deciding to downsize, simply because it wasn’t worth the upkeep anymore. He would climb ladders to paint and still cooks with his wife.
His son William, 77, says his dad never needed a trainer, that he’s been working out since his Boys Club days in the 1930s. Joseph believes motivation isn’t as important as routine. It’s how his day starts.
A Balanced Approach to Life and Health
Image via Unsplash/Bjarne Vijfvinkel
Clearly, Joseph is a health-conscious person, but that doesn’t restrict his diet in any way. He enjoys lobster, shrimp, spaghetti and meatballs, and steak. Salad shows up regularly, too. For dessert, he has a standing date with ice cream, cookies, or cake. There’s no meal plan stuck to the fridge. He eats what he likes and eats enough to feel good.
These days, he’s had to slow his eating a bit. An esophagus issue makes swallowing harder, so he chews longer and has to pick meals that work for him. It hasn’t changed his appetite for sweets, though. His son says his dad always had a healthy relationship with food.
As for supplements, aside from vitamin D and B12, he doesn’t take any regular medication. He’s never had cancer or heart disease. His family’s genetics indicate longevity, with multiple siblings living into their 90s and his sister still going strong at 92. But Joseph is quick to point out that health hasn’t been a passive experience; he didn’t smoke, and he kept alcohol to a minimum.
His advice, when asked, is short: Don’t smoke, move your body, and avoid pills when possible. The advice lines up with medical studies from places like the National Institute on Aging, where regular activity and avoiding tobacco remain key recommendations for older adults.
Joseph and his wife go to the casino once a month. They play slots for fun and have been going for 70 years. His wife treats it like therapy.
Others Like Him Out There
Joseph isn’t the first centenarian sticking to a fitness routine. In 2022, Les Savino, another 100-year-old from Pennsylvania, made headlines for working out for three hours a day, five days a week. He kept that schedule from 1983 until he passed away in May this year. Les split his time between weights and cardio and had two martinis every night. Like Joseph, Les said movement is better than medicine.
Both men credit their habits for helping them live independently. In 2024, the city of Bristol made October 13 “Joe Caminiti Day.”