Making a Difference Regardless of Age

By Pamela Schmid


Eric Schnell defies easy categorization. He’s a “techie” and number cruncher who cares deeply about social justice. He’s a dreamer with a record of getting things done. He’s expounded on the potential of self-driving cars and helped kids who designed and built a garden at their school.

Now, the soft-spoken 51-year-old has acquired another moniker: “disruptor”—someone who disrupts stereotypes of aging. It’s the category from which he was selected as one of “50 Over 50” Minnesotans by AARP Minnesota and Pollen, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit that promotes community building. The list celebrates the state’s “most accomplished, inspiring leaders” over 50.

“Having personally benefited and learned so much from elders, [I think] it’s kind of extraordinary that we haven’t brought more attention to the gifts of older adults,” said Schnell, a Shoreview resident who has spent his career helping nonprofit and educational groups improve the way they operate and fulfill their missions. Last year, Schnell cofounded Self-Driving US.org, a nonprofit dedicated to making self-driving vehicles accessible, reliable and affordable to people with disabilities.

The time is right for a list honoring those over 50 who are making a difference, said Chris Farrell, senior economics contributor at public radio’s Marketplace and author of the book Unretirement, which chronicles the evolution of retirement in the United States.

“There is this sense that as you get older, you’re in decline and your best days are behind you,” said Farrell, who served on the “50 Over 50” selection committee. “This list is part of breaking down stereotypes. The science, the economic evidence, the sociology is that people are vital. They’re creative. They can be innovative. They make a difference. They can continue to contribute.”

Bev Bales, 79, of Carlos, fits that description. In her 16 years as a Douglas County commissioner, “I think I’ve missed two regular county board meetings,” she said, despite undergoing radiation treatments for cancer three years ago. Bales—nominated for the over-50 list by seven different people—said her fourth term, which ends Dec. 31, will be her last.

Leaders and unsung heroes
The “ 50 Over 50” winners, winnowed from a pool of more than 300 nominees, reflect a balance of geography, gender, age and ethnicity. They include well-known community and business leaders and “people who are truly unsung heroes,” said Seth Boffeli, communications director for AARP Minnesota.

Along with disruption—those who challenge outdated beliefs and live their life without limits—honorees were picked from the categories of arts, nonprofit, business, disruption and community building.

Among others, the list includes “Famous Dave” Anderson, founder of the eponymous barbecue chain; restaurateur Kim Bartmann; explorer Ann Bancroft; and 91-year-old Fran Heitzman, founder of Bridging, which provides furniture and household goods to the homeless and others in poverty.

For Bales, selected as a community builder, the recognition is especially fitting. Long known for nominating and recognizing county residents for their contributions, she has also won local fame for her 40-year stint as the “birthday lady.” In 1974, she began making daily calls to KXRA, an Alexandria-based radio station, to report residents’ birthdays and anniversaries. Her list ballooned to over 1,300 names before she ended the tradition last year.

As for being recognized herself, “It’s very humbling,” she said. “I know a lot of people do a lot of wonderful things.”

Schnell said he was “really touched” by the honor. He was nominated by a former supervisor, who lauded him for “making a compelling case and building support for the potential of driverless cars to conquer transportation barriers that limit people with disabilities.”

Farrell called the aging population “the most underappreciated asset in the country.” The list, he said, is a way to show that aging is far from synonymous with “decline, frailty or being useless.”

“We have this gift of longevity. Overall, on average, we’re living longer and staying healthier and are better educated. … This is about recognizing that aging is an opportunity.”

Pamela Schmid is a writer living in St. Paul.