Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, 103, sits in his Rio de Janeiro office. Ralf Hirschberger / Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Famous centenarians still active in arts, science are in no mood to retire

BERLIN - "Those who stand still, die," is one of Manoel de Oliveira's favorite phrases.

He knows from experience what it means, as the Portuguese film director has reached the age of 102 and is still active in his profession.

Every year, De Oliveira shoots a film and is currently working on his next project.

"You have to work, work, work in order to forget that death is not far away," he said.

Along with the architect Oscar Niemeyer (103), Nobel laureate Rita Levi-Montalcini (101) and director Kurt Maetzig (100), De Oliveira is one of those people of whom it would be very wrong to think are members of a listless elderly generation.

Being both mentally and physically fit in old age is partly a matter of luck, but it also has something to do with character.

Not every white-haired person is wise and social skills, openness and the ability to train the brain are essential for senior citizens, according to Professor Paul Baltes, a psychologist who studied the elderly. Baltes died in 2006 at the age of 67.

When asked about his age, De Oliveira said with some humility: "It's down to mother nature. It gave to me what it took from others."

Another master in his profession is the architect Oscar Niemeyer.

The 103-year-old Brazilian is best known for his futuristic-looking buildings in Brasilia, but he also speaks out on behalf of the poor.

"The role of the architect is to struggle for a better world where we can develop a form of architecture that serves everyone and not just a privileged few," said Niemeyer recently.

He spends almost every day working in his office in Copacabana, and even when he falls ill he keeps working on ideas: After a gallbladder operation he composed a samba tune in the clinic.

Another man who could sing a song about age is 107-year-old Johannes "Jopi" Heesters.

The Dutch-born opera singer spent most of his life performing in Germany, where he still works.

Recently Heesters said: "I want to be at least 108-years-old." He also plans to keep performing.

"Should I just sit at home and wait until they come and pick me up?"

Heesters has not given up trying to add to his tally of awards and is looking for a "good stage role".

German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, who is in his 70s, is another person who continues to work into ripe age. In a recent interview he said: "If you start recalling everything you have done, then you are ready for the dustbin."

Italian scientist Rita Levi-Montalcini has described the force that keeps driving her on: "Progress is created through imperfection."

Montalcini is 101-years-old and is still active in her field of neurobiology. In 1986 she and her lab colleague were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for their work on nerve growth factor.

She's convinced that the "history of humanity and of science teaches us that humans grow on challenges".

Montalcini can speak from experience. She was forced to flee the Nazis due to her Jewish background and she continues to contribute to the understanding of multiple sclerosis.

The past also has many examples of elderly people who stayed very active into old age.

The British philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) translated Homer's Odyssey into English at the age of 87 and then one year later the Iliad.

American inventor Thomas Edison (1847-1931) applied for his last patent at the age of 83, and the British conductor Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) negotiated a new five-year contract with his record label at the age of 95. However, three months after signing it Stokowski died.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur