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Today’s guest is someone I’ve admired for years and not just because we’ve been longtime friends, but because Steve Suprenant is the kind of guy who throws the traditional idea of retirement out the window.
While most people slow down, Steve has ramped things up with a life full of adventure, creativity and service. From officiating NCAA swim meets and crafting balloon animals, to RVing across the country and even mitigating pickleball noise, Steve proves that life after 50 can be more dynamic and fulfilling than ever before.
Steve may have retired four times from a successful career as an electronics engineer with GE Healthcare. But, in many ways, his life’s most meaningful work began after that final farewell.
Rather than settling into a life of leisure, Steve leaned into his passions and gifts to explore new avenues of purpose.
I think Steve sets a high bar for retirees by showing it is possible for them to have impact in ways they never thought about.
For example, today he officiates at NCAA swimming events and national pickleball tournaments. That gives him front-row access to some of the most elite athletes in the world. It’s a role that combines his technical expertise with his love of sports.
Now, as a sound mitigation consultant for pickleball courts, Steve applies his engineering background in a surprising new way by helping communities balance the fun of the game with peace for nearby residents.
Alongside his wife, Julie, Steve also runs a balloon twisting and face painting business, bringing joy to children at parties, festivals and campgrounds across the country. He’s transformed this fun-filled activity into a shared creative outlet and an innovative way to fund their travels in their RV.
Their seasonal trips have taken them across Texas, Utah, Colorado and Florida, where he is always building friendships and creating memories along the way.
Perhaps most inspiring, is Steve’s commitment to faith and service. As an elder-in-training at his church, he’s mentoring younger men and providing leadership in a growing congregation.
His perspective on aging is refreshing. He sees it not as an end, but as an open door to continue teaching, learning and contributing.
Steve’s motto is to “teach one thing and learn one thing every day,” and it guides everything he does. At nearly 71, he’s still discovering new passions, serving others, and showing all of us that purpose doesn’t retire when we do. It simply shifts into something richer.
People can connect with Steve on Facebook or through their entertainment business at www.paintmyface.net.
If Steve’s story inspired you, please consider sharing this episode with a friend who’s wondering what might be the next move for his or her life. Because, as Steve proves, the best chapters might just be the ones you haven’t written yet.
That’s all for this week’s show. If you’d like to start living a more meaningful life, I encourage you to download our free guide to finding purpose, which is available at www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.