Lou Batori, Glen Arbor’s centenarian who was born in Budapest, survived the Russian advance during World War I, immigrated to the United States in 1929, made his career as a successful engineer, and downhill skied and motorcycled into his 100s, has died at age 107.
The Glen Arbor Fourth of July parade, which next Thursday will celebrate half a century of annual patriotic celebrations, has come a long way since fire trucks were wrapped in primitive, spray-painted bedsheets. This year’s parade leaves Glen Haven at noon and typically arrives in Glen Arbor around 12:30. Spectators are encouraged to stake out a spot by mid-morning, as this event attracts hordes of people.
Think you’re in shape for your age? Forget about it! Glen Arbor’s centenarian + 2, Hungarian-born Lou Batori still hits the slopes every winter (and occasionally bikes around the Glen Lakes during the summer).
Today Batori visited Crystal Mountain, and the folks at the Benzie County resort were kind enough to post photos on Facebook. You can view them here.
On Sunday, March 13, CBS featured this video of our Glen Arbor gem, Lou Batori, skiing at 100 years old. Journalist Bill Geist caught up with Lou on the slopes of the annual gathering of Midwest chapter of the 70+ ski club in Nubs Nob in northern Michigan and watched as he hit the racecourse.
Courtesy of Interlochen Public Radio: Last week, a Glen Arbor resident won two medals in a slalom ski race, not so uncommon Up North. But this racer is 100 years old. Lou Batori has been skiing for 90 years. “You have to ski to stay young, or you have to be young to ski. Your choice,” Batori said last week, skiing at Nub’s Nob in Harbor Springs.