Purpose Never Retires: Highlights from the 2026 Inspire Positive Aging Awards

The Inspire Positive Aging Awards, presented annually by Sound Generations, honors older adults across western Washington who demonstrate that age is no barrier to making a meaningful difference. It honors individuals age 60 and older in categories ranging from advocacy and lifelong learning to health, wellness, and community service. Through Sound Generations’ Inspire Positive Aging Awards, we celebrate those who show us that purpose never retires. Every generation has the power to inspire, lead, and strengthen community.

Positive aging is not about counting birthdays—it’s about counting the lives you touch. This year’s Inspire Positive Aging Award recipients remind us that life’s greatest chapters are often still being written.

At 102, Dorothy Chin, Defining Inspiration Award recipient, proves that joy is contagious, brightening her community with kindness, laughter, and genuine connection. At 86, Norberto Kaoli, Advocacy & Activism Award recipient, continues to advocate, volunteer, lead organizations, host a radio show, and even inspire others through Zumba—all while demonstrating that service has no retirement age. At 82, John Romero, a Vietnam veteran, dedicates his days to uplifting Native American veterans and connecting them to resources while preserving culture and community through events and community service.

After overcoming life-changing mobility challenges, 75-year-old Maddie Taplin, Health & Wellness Award recipient, turned adversity into purpose, empowering others to stay active, prevent falls, and embrace aging with confidence. Susie Burdick, 74, has spent more than four decades creating opportunities for children, families, artists, and nonprofit organizations, proving that mentorship can ripple across generations. And at 80, Dr. Georgia Stewart-McDade continues to educate, write, mentor, and champion the power of words to inspire lasting change.

Together, these six remarkable individuals show that positive aging is not about slowing down—it’s about leaning in. It is choosing purpose over pause, curiosity over complacency, and community over isolation. Their stories remind us that experience is a gift meant to be shared and that every season of life offers new opportunities to learn, lead, and leave a lasting legacy.

Congratulations to our 2026 Inspire Positive Aging Award recipients for showing all of us that growing older is not the finish line—it’s an invitation to keep making a difference.

To learn more about Sound Generations and how we support older adults in living healthy, connected, and full lives, visit soundgenerations.org.

Contributor Brittany Blue is chief marketing and philanthropy officer at Sound Generations. Established in 1967, Sound Generations supports almost 60,000 people and those who care about them each year, providing food security, transportation, health and wellness, and assistance services to underserved and marginalized populations. She is a Seattle King County Aging and Disability Advisory Council candidate.