REGGIE HOWZE was named “Athlete of the Month” by the National Senior Games for July 2026. He is 81 years old.
by Renee P. Aldrich
For New Pittsburgh Courier
Have you heard of the term, “Atomic Agers?”
Simply put, atomic agers are those of us who are indeed seasoned citizens, way beyond middle age. But we understand that our lives do not have to be diminished. Even though atoms are small in size, our atomic energy is powerful. And it’s that atomic power that makes the difference in the way some of us age.
RENEE P. ALDRICH
“Atomic Agers” do whatever they want to do. They work if they want to, they travel, they start businesses, they relocate and they find love. They do all this and more. Not like young people, but like who they are as individuals in their 60’s, 70’s or even 80’s.
Here are a few local atomic agers. They have made up their minds that they will continue to live their lives as fully as they ever did—They will do it from a different perspective, not like 35-year-olds, but by embracing where they are, as opposed to where they used to be.
Mr. Reggie and Mrs. Shawna Howze
When 81-year-old Reggie Howze was 50, and already eligible for an AARP membership, he made two disturbing observations that stopped him in his tracks. The first was that he had been smoking since he was 13 years old and “guestimated” that he had already smoked 500,000 cigarettes and it was adding up since he was still smoking three packs of cigarettes per day. He had tried everything he could to stop smoking, everything from hypnosis to patches to acupuncture, but when a co-worker told him in passing one day at work, “you’ll never quit,” it was the motivation that pushed him on to seek God for support.
“I came home one day, locked my door, and got on my face in my living room and asked God to take those cigarettes from me,” Reggie Howze said. “I told him, ‘God if you don’t take this from me, it’s not going to happen.’”
It was also at the age of 50 that he became a runner. After getting rid of cigarettes, he began rapidly gaining weight—at the end of the first month, he had put on 30 pounds. He said, “I knew that allowing that weight to continue would NOT be healthy, so I began walking at the reservoir at Highland Park, and slowly graduated to running. That was 30 years ago.”
Fast forward to July 2025 at the National Senior Games Association (NSGA) competition in Des Moines, Iowa, where at the age of 80, he came in second in the country in the 5K power walk, and named by the National Senior Games as “Athlete of the Month” in July 2026.
His wife, 71-year-old Shawna, currently volunteers as a Master Gardener at Phipps Conservatory; their home is surrounded in the fruits of that skill, with beautiful plants. A gifted creative, she began her health journey four years ago. She had previously stopped eating pork and red meat, but she eliminated meat altogether. She shared that just that change resulted in an extreme weight loss.
“I looked and had lost 40 pounds without even trying,” Shawna Howze said.
She attributes a clear direction from God for many of the life-changing decisions she has made. Mrs. Howze holds both a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in multimedia technology. Mr. Howze holds a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and a master’s degree in exercise science.
Mrs. Howze sees it as a blessing from God that at this stage in her life she still is learning, growing and having the opportunity to create. “I recently took a class in looming, and actually made a beautiful scarf—I have never sewed, but I went and learned to make material,” she said.
The couple definitely sees themselves as an atomic aging couple. They have a brand they promote through their recently created podcast as the tool they use to reach the masses about their journey, and the value of the effort of doing so. Their brand, and the title of their podcast is, “Living Well with Reggie and Shawna—Faith—Wellness—Purpose.”
“If through the podcast we reach individuals all over the country and the world, and if only one person makes the decision to change their life because of something we said, then it will all have been worth it,” Mr. Howze said.
Ms. Elaine Jenkins
Currently 81 years old, she made her Jubilee Year in nursing in 2025, which means 50 years in nursing. In 2008, at age 63, she retired from Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical sales after 30 years. During that time she attained the highest position, “executive professional pharmaceutical representative” and had the longest career of any Black woman in the pharmaceutical industry.
Prior to that, she enjoyed an extensive nursing career that included time at Mercy Hospital, St. Francis and the former Pittsburgh Hospital. At her retirement, Ms. Jenkins believed she’d be at home with her husband (whom she lost in 2024 at age 88) of 35 years, and they’d begin a lovely life of traveling, and relaxing at home.
That was not to be. Soon after she retired, she got a call from a friend who opened a home health care agency and the licensure required that she have an RN on her staff. Ms. Jenkins worked for her for three years when her friend sold her business. Again she believed this would be her time to dig down into her much deserved retirement. It still was not to be.
The Centers for Healthy Hearts and Souls designed to execute preventive workshops, trainings, and classes had been established and the organization needed a Nurse Coordinator/Educator. Ms. Jenkins accepted that position, saying she always had a passion for community nursing.
Ms. Jenkins contracted a serious case of COVID in 2020, and as she recovered, she was invited to become part of a team of nurses who went into various sites around the city giving out the COVID vaccine to seniors.
Ms. Jenkins definitely sees herself as an atomic ager. Even in her current role as president of AARP Chapter 4076, located in the Hill District, she is still serving. Through her profession she has been able to pour into her community, and at 81 she’s not tired yet.
And in the last six months, Ms. Jenkins has traveled to London, Sweden and Antigua.
Ms. Joy Sato
Ms. Joy (as she is affectionately called and it is more because of the joy that emanates from her spirit…) has a spirit that sings like someone in their 40’s, but Ms. Joy is actually 88 years old. Ms. Joy worked as the Director of Special Events at the Pittsburgh Arts Center in Shadyside all the way up to age 81 before retiring after 20 years.
Ms. Joy lived in California for 35 years and relocated to Pittsburgh when she began having grandchildren. She identifies with the term atomic aging. She has always tried to conduct herself in a way that would preserve her ability to function as a well-kept individual.
“I knew I had to take care of my body just so I could work and I kept committed to that,” Ms. Joy said.
As an atomic ager, Ms. Joy starts each day by thanking God for the life she has, and then slips right into 15-20 minutes of aerobics. She recommends that everyday body movement is essential to maintaining a quality lifestyle. At the age of 88, she has very specific advice on how to be sure you are an atomic ager. First, it is important to never lose sight of your usefulness as a person, never stop growing. Second, do whatever it takes to keep your environment peaceful.
“You don’t have to react to everything—everything does not deserve your energy,” Ms. Joy said.
Third, never lose focus on your purpose—your reason for your daily wake up—stay curious and take responsibility for the life God gave you. Nurture yourself and lead with gratitude, and atomic aging will be your result.
