Ira Goetz, who will turn 98 this December, continues to live independently in his Upper West Side apartment despite significant challenges with his sight and hearing. Nearly blind and almost deaf, Goetz relies on regular eye injections to preserve his limited vision and a hearing aid in his left ear, which allows him to follow conversations when spoken to slowly and clearly.
Goetz’s survival story began in Biecz, Poland, where he was the sole surviving member of his immediate family after German soldiers killed everyone during World War II. At 12, he fled into the countryside, enduring days without food while hiding in caves. Eventually, he was captured and interned in concentration camps with other relatives. Goetz credits his fluency in German, which he learned quickly, with securing a relatively safer position in the camps where he was assigned to manage a secured bathroom used by soldiers.
After liberation, Goetz relocated to New York City to live with relatives, grappling with a new language and unfamiliar education system. Despite these obstacles, he earned a high school diploma within two years, followed by a master’s degree in foreign languages from Columbia University. His early adult years involved frequent moves across Manhattan until he secured a job teaching at Columbia.
The search for a stable home led Goetz to a building on Riverside Drive, where a chance conversation in Polish with the superintendent resulted in a rent-stabilized apartment lease signed in May 1966. Since then, he has moved within the building twice, seeking more space and better natural light, but has remained a long-term resident for over six decades.
Throughout his career, Goetz contributed to language education, including directing programs at the New York Association for New Americans that developed English teaching models for immigrants. His personal life has encompassed a marriage and a long-term relationship, both anchored by his stable residence.
Today, Goetz benefits from the support of LILFORE in Later Years (LILFY), a grassroots Upper West Side organization that assists seniors who still live independently but require occasional help. Volunteer Azieb Ghebre, 67, spends several days a week with Goetz, offering company and assistance with daily activities. Ghebre noted his fierce independence; for example, Goetz insists on managing his own laundry.
LILFY operates without charging for its services and without formal office overhead, relying primarily on student volunteers—including many international students—to engage and aid elderly community members. The organization facilitates outings to medical appointments, cultural events, and social gatherings, as well as hosting remote activities like Zoom movie groups for less mobile individuals.
Community outreach coordinator Jonathon Slon, 72, organizes weekly lunches for older men on the Upper West Side. Though Goetz has difficulty following fast conversations at these events due to his hearing limitations, his one-on-one interactions with neighbors like Slon provide meaningful social engagement. Slon emphasizes the importance of preserving seniors’ autonomy and dignity through personalized support.
Goetz’s story underscores the resilience of an individual who has endured profound loss and hardship but continues to navigate life with independence and connection in one of New York City’s historic neighborhoods.