95-year-old Swiftie leads retirement home pop takeover

ASK Frank Uryasz Jr what his favourite Taylor Swift song is, and the 95-year-old will tell you about the one that makes him cry.

- 

REMINGTON HEIGHTS activities director Becky Schindler made a cardboard Taylor Swift ticket booth. BECKY SCHINDLER TAYLOR Swift fans have mailed bracelets and cookies to Frank Uryasz Jr in Omaha. SARAH ZAJIC REMINGTON Heights made a cardboard tour bus. SARAH ZAJIC

(BECKY SCHINDLER SARAH ZAJIC SARAH ZAJIC)

Timeless (Taylor's Version), about a love story that transcends time, reminds Uryasz of his own seven-decade-long love story with his wife, Ann “Peach” Uryasz, who died in June 2019.

It was his 32-year-old occupational therapist who introduced him to Swift’s music during a therapy session. At first, he mainly knew Swift by seeing her on TV broadcasts of Kansas City Chiefs games. But after he heard Timeless, Uryasz identified as a Swiftie.

Uryasz bought his occupational therapist, Sarah Zajic, a white pin that says “I ‘heart’ TAYLOR” in August. Soon, everyone at Omaha’s Remington Heights independent and assisted living community — where Uryasz lives — wanted a pin.

Now, the retirement community has its own fan club, led by Uryasz, who decorated his walker with an orange sign that declares his love for the pop star and a colourful licence plate that reads “Taylor Swift.”

Residents listen to Swift while playing chair volleyball, wear Swift pins over their hearts and dance to Swift's Shake It Off during physical therapy.

Despite many of them not knowing the names of any of Swift's songs three months ago, they’re determined to convince Swift, 35, to visit for a round of bingo.