SMUD Director Heidi Sanborn and husband Brad have immersed Heidi’s octogenarian dad, Dr. Alexander Clark Kahn III, in their lives.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Wither Heidi or Brad Sanborn goest, Pops goes, too.

Heidi Sanborn is an elected SMUD director; husband Brad Sanborn is a real estate broker and community leader.

The high-profile couple has set an example for elder inclusion. Eight years ago, they brought Heidi’s dad to Carmichael from Kalamazoo MI and immersed the 88-year-old in their busy community lives.

Retired scientist and company-owner Dr. Alexander Clark Kahn III has become almost as ubiquitous as his daughter in SMUD’s Ward 7. Carmichael Chamber of Commerce members call him ‘Pops.’

“If Dad’s with us, people flock to him,” said Heidi Sanborn (63).  “When we're at civic events, I have to move around and meet others. That’s when friends give Dad the best chair in the room and sit and talk with him. They bring him food and make sure he’s comfortable. He always feels at the center of things. That connection is great for any senior.”

Because Heidi Sanborn is often on the road, husband Brad (64) is Pop’s frequent minder.

“Dad goes everywhere with me,” noted the realtor and Chamber of Commerce director. “He’s fun. We watch football together. He loves my cooking. And he enjoys our local restaurants. I just say: Dad, let’s do sushi today. And off we go for lunch.

At Carmichael Chamber of Commerce meetings, Dr. Alexander Clark Kahn III (seated) is a popular fixture. ‘Pops’ is joined by chamber director Brad Sanborn (left), SMUD directors Heidi Sanborn and Gregg Fishman and ACR Solar company owner Al Rich.

“He’s up for anything. He doesn’t treat me like an in-law, I feel more like his son.”

Pops’ big move West was achieved with careful finagling. “My brother Alex and his wife Susan were a great support to dad in Michigan,” explained Heidi. “But we all worried about him, living alone in his big house with a staircase. His mobility wasn’t good. He'd insist he was fine, but we worried about falls, especially with the ice and snow in winter.

“Eventually, my brother and I exchanged the baton. We agreed I'd look after dad in California.”

Dr. Kahn ran a Kalamazoo environmental consultancy with ten employees. “Moving to California meant selling my house and closing down the business,” explained the scientist. “It was a big decision.”

The move was planned strategically. “Brad and I brought dad out here for increasingly longer stretches,” recalled his daughter. “We took him everywhere with us. Soon, our community knew him. By the time he agreed to live with us permanently, he had dozens of friends here.”

In the couple’s two-story home, Dr Kahn has a ground-floor suite and scoots about with the aid of a walker.

“They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” beamed the scientist. “A new life, with people I love. It’s the best decision I ever made. My son and his family can visit us from Michigan, any time they like.”

For the Sanborns, Pops is a domestic asset.  “He gives good advice,” said Brad Sanborn. “If a disagreement occurs, he never takes sides. He loves us both. He supports our marriage.”

Kahn’s humor is also a balm for a two-profession household.  “Dad’s a pun-meister – he makes us laugh,” reported his daughter. “He’s always in a good mood. He says happiness is a choice and he chooses to be happy. He’s showing us how to age gratefully.”

At events casual or formal, Pops is an essential part of the Sanborn entourage. Invitations include him. The senior is generous to causes; he recently donated a mobile phone to replace the Chamber of Commerce’s worn-out model. He’s an easy mark for fundraiser raffle sellers – usually eschewing single tickets to shell out for the whole card.

“Wherever we bring him,” marveled Heidi, “Dad’s immediately surrounded, like he’s holding court. If he doesn’t arrive with us, people want to know where he is.”

The Sanborns consider bringing up Pops a privilege best shared. “They say it takes a village to raise a child” says Heidi Sanborn. “It’s the same with caring for our elders. It takes us all.”