• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

Click to join our weekly e-newsletter

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Hitting the gym — and the century mark

May 23, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Roy Caldwood is a risk taker — a rebel.

And, a humanitarian.

The 100-year-old veteran — who regularly stays fit and active by working out with a trainer at AdventHealth Wellness Center in Wesley Chapel — served as a Buffalo Soldier in World War II, encountering German infantry and Third Reich soldiers in Italy. He was a medic, caring for his brothers in arms in the 92nd Infantry Division Reconnaissance Troop Second Platoon.
“I will say this, it was a hell of an experience, a once in a lifetime experience, and what I learned was how it felt to live in a free society and a colorless society — because in Italy, it was color blind. You never heard the word ‘color’ in the two years I spent in Italy,” Caldwood said.

Roy Caldwood, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, works out with Mike Guerdan, a trainer at AdventHealth Wellness Center in Wesley Chapel, where Caldwood comes to stay active and in shape. The gym gave the New Tampa resident an honorary membership to thank him for his World War II service as a Buffalo Soldier in the 92nd Infantry Division Reconnaissance Troop Second Platoon and, well, also because he’s the only centenarian who works out at the Wellness Center. (Mike Camunas)

Nearly 80 years later, Caldwood has long been retired and has resided in New Tampa now for about a year. His wife of 73 years, Muriel, passed in the summer of 2022.

He stays active by gardening and still does some traveling, and he works out with a hands-on trainer at AdventHealth Wellness Center, in Wesley Chapel.

The gym recently honored Caldwood, for his service and for being its only 100-year-old member, by giving him an honorary membership.

His daughter, Diane Royer, who also works out at the gym, thought it was a good way for him to remain active. But she also knew that this “risk taker” would need some guidance (a.k.a supervision).

“My role is to safeguard him, but if it was up to him, he would go (too) hard because he’s a risk taker, but also a humanitarian,” Royer said. “He’d be in here (at the gym) trying to help other people, which is all well and good, but I would feel bad if something happened to him.”

Caldwood works out with Wellness Trainer Mike Guerdan. The trainer keeps Caldwood grounded, even if the centenarian willingly does more than required.

“It can be tough to make sure he doesn’t do too much given his age, so I just want to make sure he doesn’t do anything too irresponsible and hurts himself,” Guerdan said. “He’s like a vintage automobile — you’ve got to drive him carefully.”

Royer worries her father might do too much — knowing his history as both a soldier and humanitarian.

Caldwood was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions in the war.

While in Italy, with the village his unit was occupying under imminent German attack, he and other medics volunteered to help the Italian villagers, but he also undertook a very dangerous mission.

New Tampa centenarian Roy Caldwood stays active and fit thanks to regular workouts at AdventHealth Wellness Center in Wesley Chapel, where he was bestowed an honorary membership as a thank you for his service in World War II.

He volunteered to escort a group of Italian women to go grocery shopping. They needed to pass through a section called “Purple Heart Stretch” because entering that war zone meant risking death.

“The Germans thought my actions were completely suicidal,” Caldwood recalled.

“That’s just Roy being Roy — always wanting to help somebody somehow, but also taking the road less traveled,” his daughter added. “For him, it’s go big or go home.”

When Caldwood finally did go home to his native New York, he spent more than 21 years in the New York City prison system as an assistant deputy warden and program director at Rikers Island. He worked in that system until 1976.

During that time, he was among six guards who were taken hostage during the 1972 Rikers Island Riot. Caldwood helped negotiate a peaceful resolution.

“Sometimes, you have to take a risk to help others,” said the author of “Making the Right Moves: Rikers Island & NYC Corrections.”

Roy Caldwood, at 100, still works out regularly with weights at AdventHealth Wellness Center, in Wesley Chapel.

The book recounts the story of the 1972 riot. In 2001, he was awarded the New York City Commissioner’s Award for Bravery and in 2016 received the New York City Department of Correction Guardian Association Medal of Honor, Valor & Merit.

Now, as he walks through the gym, sometimes wearing clothing honoring his Buffalo Soldier notoriety, Royer is still surprised no one notices.

“No one said anything when I put the year 1922 on the forms when signing him up,” she said. “I thought maybe they’re used to it — but here’s a 100-year-old Buffalo Soldier at this gym and no one knew! Which is okay because he’s working out and staying active.”

Guerdan agrees.

“It’s inspiring to see his work,” the trainer said. “It’s still pretty amazing to see him in the gym and handing him weights and he’s slinging it above his head and doing more than what I asked him to do.

“I hope I can still do that when I’m 100 or even younger!”

Caldwood — a rebellious, risk-taking humanitarian — doesn’t feel his age.

“I love this gym — and I like Mike (laughs),” Caldwood said. “But I don’t feel 100 — I’ve never been 100 before, so I don’t know what it’s supposed to feel like!

“But I’m going to keep working out and hopefully I’ll reach 101.”

Published May 24, 2023

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

Del Webb Bexley — 70 Years of Experience Building Quality Homes

May 30, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Del Webb prides itself on employing the highest quality build standards. And with over 70 years in homebuilding, Del … [Read More...] about Del Webb Bexley — 70 Years of Experience Building Quality Homes

Discover The Mattamy Homes Difference at Area Communities

May 30, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

With every new home community, Mattamy Homes demonstrates their dedication to providing thoughtful details and … [Read More...] about Discover The Mattamy Homes Difference at Area Communities

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

06/03/2023 – Historical Association

The Zephyrhills Historical Association will meet on June 3 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St. Guests can discover and discuss historical events, places and people of Zephyrhills and Pasco County. … [Read More...] about 06/03/2023 – Historical Association

06/03/2023 – Make a headband

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host “Crafting with Corrine” on June 3 at 10:30 a.m., for ages 9 and older. Participants can make a headband by using glue guns. All materials will be provided. Safety and waiver forms are required — get them at the Service Desk or on the website. For information, visit PascoLibraries.org/makerspaces/the-foundry/. To register, visit PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 06/03/2023 – Make a headband

06/03/2023 – Native Plant Society

The Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will meet on June 3 at 9 a.m., at the Crystal Springs Preserve, 1609 Crystal Springs Road, in Crystal Spring. The preserve is 525 acres of natural wilderness surrounding a spring that discharges 30 million gallons of water daily. The spring is the source for Zephyrhills Natural Spring Water. A meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., followed by a 45-minute tour led by environmental education staff. For information, email Sandy Vanno at . … [Read More...] about 06/03/2023 – Native Plant Society

06/03/2023 – Rum & Seafood Festival

The third annual Summer Rum & Seafood Festival will take place on June 3 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz. Guests can sample rum and rum cocktails from multiple distilleries, listen to live music, and see crab races that will run every hour. Tickets are $10 online, pre-order. VIP tickets available for ages 21 and older. For more information, visit FloridaPenguinProductions.com. … [Read More...] about 06/03/2023 – Rum & Seafood Festival

06/04/2023 – Food Truck Rally

A 52 Food Truck’s Rally & Community Market is scheduled for June 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes. … [Read More...] about 06/04/2023 – Food Truck Rally

06/04/2023 – Kidpreneur Takeover

The Kidpreneur Club will take over KRATE, 5817 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel on June 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event supports more than 70 young business owners ages 6 to 16 selling their products and services to the community. … [Read More...] about 06/04/2023 – Kidpreneur Takeover

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: