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STILL GOING STRONG ness and with families. It was very meaning- ful to participate in a society that honored candor to the degree that the university did. It really set a standard for my life. That's been passed on to my family [including his son, Blazer, who graduated from UVa's engineer- ing department]. "There was a degree of civility during the period in which I grew up which no longer exists," Catzen continued. "It was very decent." UVa's honor code, as much as anything, meant the world to Catzen. "It was in existence when Thomas Jeffer- son founded the university," he said. "It's ad- ministered by students. The policy is you're allowed to fail and be invited back. But if you cheat, you must leave and will not be invited back. "It's a single sanction … black or white and no shades of grey." "Single" does not apply to Catzen's ath- letic endeavors. For example, the photo that runs with this story depicts Catzen wind surfing five weeks prior to his 81st birthday (he was born on June 12, 1928). Former UVa Lacrosse Standout Bob Catzen Has Not Slowed Down A Bit "Once we [my wife Penny and I] were standing under the Golden Gate Bridge and saw people wind sailing," he said. "I only was 59, so I went out and bought one plus a book on how to sail it. I threw myself into it all summer and got the hang of it. "I signed up for a high-wind camp in Cape Hatteras and they straightened out my tech- nique. I placed third in the 1995 National Seniors." "I've always been physically active and need to be. I get a lot of energy from this. I love physical activity and competing." CATZEN Catzen belongs to the Baltimore Area Board Sailing Association and travels to Cape Hatteras in May and October — and not just to catch some "rays." In addition, he used to race sailboats. "I not only raced them but brought them up from the Bahamas and raced dinghies," Catzen, 83 years young, wind surfs every opportunity he gets. PHOTO COURTESY BOB CATZEN he said. "After 30 years of this, my wife sat me down and convinced me that the only good sale was at Bloomingdale's." Catzen, who also played tennis, squash, racquetball and club lacrosse, still rides a bike. And he commenced skiing in 1947 on wooden skis. "I've always been physically active and need to be," he said quite matter of factly. "I get a lot of energy from this. I love physical activity and competing." Not surprisingly, Catzen has spent time on the injured list. "I've had three vertebrae fused and a frac- tured hip," he said. "I was 73 when I came off a bike and broke a femur. My knees have been operated on because of football injuries. "I've always kept busy, physically. But I've had the notion that someday I'll have to stop." As the saying goes, don't hold your breath waiting for Catzen to stop doing what he loves doing. ◆ FEBRUARY 2012 ◆ 23