Brian Eaken I was born in 1935 in Chicago to middle-class, African-American parents. My family had no history of cancer, though my father smoked till he died of a stroke at age 70.
0-19 years I was an inconsistent student excelling in subjects I enjoyed and ignoring subjects that didn’t interest me. I didn’t smoke or drink as a teenager, and, aside from periodic allergies (allergies possibly secondary to my father’s smoking), I enjoyed generally good health. I loved sports, especially baseball, and won a scholarship to play ball for a local college.	20-39 years I was injured during my third year of college baseball and eventually stopped playing. I began to drink and smoke and socialize, was married soon after finishing college, and divorced a few years later. After my divorce, I moved into a small apartment and focused most of my energies on work and success. I knew that I ate unhealthily but really didn’t have time to fuss with meals.
40-59 years by age 40, I was on medication for high blood pressure; by age 46, I was taking insulin to control my diabetes. Eventually, I developed a cough that wouldn’t go away and finally was diagnosed with emphysema. My poor health forced me to slow down, and by my late 50s, I was semi-retired.	60+ years My stroke at age 60 forced my full retirement. An x-ray a year later showed small spots in one lung, which were surgically removed. Brian seemed to be recovering well from the lung cancer, but died at age 63 from a second, serious stroke.