Worcester Native Begins New Career in Retirement

From a Worcester Patch reader:

For many people today, retirement is no longer just about sitting on a beach, playing golf, or tending a garden.

An example is Worcester native, George R. Ingham (Randy to friends and family). After over forty years working as a clinical social worker, including twelve years as Executive Director of a large, Central Massachusetts human service agency, Mr. Ingham decided to devote his retirement to earning a doctorate degree in history, and writing books and articles.

Mr. Ingham’s first book, Irish Rebel, American Patriot: William James Macneven, 1763─1841, is the first full biography of the Catholic leader of the 1798 Great Rebellion in Ireland, the leader of the Irish American community in pre-Civil War, New York City, “Founder of American chemistry,” and a pioneer of American medical education. His next book, Love of Having: Compulsive Buying, Spending, and Hoarding, is the first book to examine all of these harmful consumer behaviors using the tools of psychology, neurology, sociology, marketing research, history, and political science. This work draws on his many years as a therapist; but, also, on his current membership on the Central Massachusetts Task Force on Hoarding. One of Mr. Ingham’s articles, “The Road to Carrowholly: A Personal Journey” (printed in Cathair Na Mart: Journal of the Westport Historical Society, 2014) tells of his paternal family’s journey from County Mayo, Ireland to the mill town of Clinton, Massachusetts, and of the strong immigrant ties between Mayo and Clinton.

In this political election season, he is hard at work on a political book, which will be called, Libertarianism: Pro and Con. He notes that all previous books on the political viewpoint behind America’s Tea Party have been written either by true-believers or those who wish to berate them. His latest book will be a much-needed attempt to encourage objective understanding and honest dialogue at a time of extreme polarizing rhetoric.

All of which goes to show that, in this age of longer living, life now begins at retirement.

Mr. Igham’s books are available through Amazon Books.