The Gilbreth Children

As you Little Xmas Monsters know, Cheaper by the Dozen is a desert island of desert island slice of mine, and according to HERE, one of the the Gilbreth children was still alive as of two years ago.  They inherited their mother's gene for longevity; while the father dropped dead at age 55, the mother lived another 48 years (interestingly, I can't but notice the span of years she lived after his death, 1924-1972, is the exact same as that of J. Edgar Hoover's ruling the FBI.  Hmm.)

Of the twelve children, born between 1905 and 1922, incredibly, 8 crossed the line into the 21st century.  THIS ARTICLE places the children's longevity in perspective (excepting a sister who died on 1912, whom they still considered to be part of 'The Dozen."):

We have to recognize that the Gilbreth Dozen bucked the odds in their childhood and throughout their life. Keep in mind that eleven of twelve children went on to grow up, serve in (and survive) World War II and go on to careers and raising families. They grew up in an era before widespread childhood disease inoculation, penicillin or even Dr. Spock. They also survived the Spanish Flu/Influenza epidemic of 1918. With 5 brothers serving in World War II, all came home. I think few of us (and I include myself) could not tell family stories of some brother, cousin or aunt, living at this time, who hadn't died from some prevalent disease or the flu, during this era. There is no question the Gilbreths were of hearty stock.

Fascuinating.  Everybody should read this book once a year.  And it's got one of the best final lines of all time.

Someone once asked Dad "But what do you want to save time for? What are you going to do with it? 

"For work, if you love that best," said Dad. "For education, for beauty, for art, for pleasure." He looked over the top of his pince-nez. "For mumblety-peg, if that's where your heart lies."