College never get old for retirees

Ask Joe Newton and his friends the best part about going to college, and you can plan on spending the next hour listening to a long list of positives.

First, says Newton, he can take as many classes as he likes at the University of Utah for only $25 a semester. Second, he never has to stay up all night studying and if he feels like golfing instead of taking a final exam, none of his professors will care.

Perhaps best of all, adds his chum, Kent Rasmussen, "our wives love it. … It gets us out of the house and out of their hair."

For the past decade, Newton, 85, Rasmussen, 70, and almost a dozen other retired Salt Lake City doctors, engineers and businessmen have spent several days a week at the U., auditing classes under the "House Bill 60" program for Utah residents age 62 and older.

They've taken art history, geometry, astronomy, political science, economics, music, introduction to Shakespeare — just about everything short of ballet and basket weaving. Although there's little chance of the men donning tights for dance class, sitting behind a pottery wheel or making a basket is still a possibility, says Newton.

"At our age, we're open for about anything," he says. "That's part of the fun of it all."

A retired pediatrician, Newton coordinates signing up his friends each semester while Rasmussen, a former obstetrician, picks up everybody for class each week in his eight-passenger Suburban. "If there are nine of us," jokes Newton, "I squeeze into the luggage compartment."

Newton's wife, Betsy, suggested that I get together for a Free Lunch at TGI Friday's with the pair because "they have such a good time at their age, it's almost disgusting."

"When the teacher and other kids in the class see us walk in, their jaws usually drop," says Rasmussen. "Most of them seem pretty supportive of what we're doing. We try not to be disruptive, but sometimes, we really can add a little insight."

Newton digs into his plate of barbecued ribs and laughs. "Yes, that's true, Kent. Especially when it comes to ancient history."

It was 1946 when Newton graduated from the U. medical school, while Rasmussen received his degree in 1967.

Returning to college, they say, is like stepping back in time, except now the textbooks are thicker (and costlier), the classes are larger and students wear flip-flops and T-shirts to class instead of Oxfords and neckties.

"It's much more fun this time around," says Rasmussen, "because the pressure is off." Even so, "we usually take the exams, just for the fun of it," adds Newton. "And if we don't feel like it, we just skip class and go out to breakfast."