Martin A. Janis
Encyclopedia
Martin A. Janis frequently referred to as "Mr. Aging", was an American
politician and gerontologist.
Born in Toledo, Ohio
, Janis was the youngest of four brothers. He was elected, as a Republican, to the Ohio House of Representatives
in 1960 and served one term. In 1962 he ran for a Congressional seat in Ohio's 9th district
which he lost to Thomas W.L. Ashley.
In 1963, Ohio Governor James A. Rhodes appointed Janis Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Hygiene and Correction. He was the first layperson in the United States to hold such a position. During the course of his appointment he created the Administration on Aging
in 1965 which was Ohio's first official program devoted to its elder citizens.
In January 1977, Caspar Weinberger
appointed Janis to the Advisory Council of the National Institute on Aging
. In 1979, the Ohio Commission on Aging named the state's first multipurpose senior center after Janis. In 1981, he headed Ohio's delegation to the White House Conference on Aging
, where he served as chairman of one of the fourteen workshops that comprised that conference.
As Director of the Ohio Department of Aging, Janis was responsible for the creation of the "Golden Buckeye
" card in 1978. The card offered discounts to senior citizen
s and is currently honored at over 20,000 businesses in the state of Ohio. In 1988, Janis authored The Joys of Aging, an instructive guide to growing old gracefully.
Janis died on June 23, 2005, in Sandusky, Ohio
, where he was living with his wife, Anne M. Janis, and daughter, Marlana A. Janis.
Martin had a grandson Martin A. Janis and two great grand-daughters Naya Janis and Montana Janis.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and gerontologist.
Born in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, Janis was the youngest of four brothers. He was elected, as a Republican, to the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
in 1960 and served one term. In 1962 he ran for a Congressional seat in Ohio's 9th district
Ohio's 9th congressional district
Ohio's 9th congressional district has been represented by Representative Marcia C. Kaptur since 1983.This district is in the northern part of the state, bordering Michigan and Ontario, Canada , and includes the counties of Erie, Lorain, Lucas, and Ottawa.-List of largest municipalities:All or part...
which he lost to Thomas W.L. Ashley.
In 1963, Ohio Governor James A. Rhodes appointed Janis Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Hygiene and Correction. He was the first layperson in the United States to hold such a position. During the course of his appointment he created the Administration on Aging
Administration on Aging
The Administration on Aging is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. AoA awards annual grants to State government agencies on aging and Native American tribal organizations to support programs mandated by the Congress in the Older Americans Act...
in 1965 which was Ohio's first official program devoted to its elder citizens.
In January 1977, Caspar Weinberger
Caspar Weinberger
Caspar Willard "Cap" Weinberger , was an American politician, vice president and general counsel of Bechtel Corporation, and Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan from January 21, 1981, until November 23, 1987, making him the third longest-serving defense secretary to date, after...
appointed Janis to the Advisory Council of the National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Aging
The National Institute on Aging ' is a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health , located in Baltimore, Maryland.The NIA leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life...
. In 1979, the Ohio Commission on Aging named the state's first multipurpose senior center after Janis. In 1981, he headed Ohio's delegation to the White House Conference on Aging
White House Conference on Aging
The White House Conference on Aging is a once-a-decade conference sponsored by the Executive Office of the President of the United States which makes policy recommendations to the president and Congress regarding the aged. The first of its kind,the goals of the conference are to promote the...
, where he served as chairman of one of the fourteen workshops that comprised that conference.
As Director of the Ohio Department of Aging, Janis was responsible for the creation of the "Golden Buckeye
Golden Buckeye
The Golden Buckeye program is a free service of the Ohio Department of Aging. Ohio citizens age 60 and over automatically qualify for membership in the program and receive a Golden Buckeye card in the mail. Adults age 18 to 59 years old with disabilities as defined by Social Security also qualify...
" card in 1978. The card offered discounts to senior citizen
Senior citizen
Senior citizen is a common polite designation for an elderly person in both UK and US English, and it implies or means that the person is retired. This in turn implies or in fact means that the person is over the retirement age, which varies according to country. Synonyms include pensioner in UK...
s and is currently honored at over 20,000 businesses in the state of Ohio. In 1988, Janis authored The Joys of Aging, an instructive guide to growing old gracefully.
Janis died on June 23, 2005, in Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
, where he was living with his wife, Anne M. Janis, and daughter, Marlana A. Janis.
Martin had a grandson Martin A. Janis and two great grand-daughters Naya Janis and Montana Janis.