At age 102, a New York man is still striving for perfection, through pottery

Big Neck, New York — It is remarkable that George Strausman of Great Neck, New York, is so sprightly at the age of 102.

“I feel good,” Strausman told CBS News.

Strausman still works four days a week at his family’s construction business. As surprising as it may seem, that’s not the story here.

Instead, CBS News came to Great Neck because of what Strausman does on his day off.

For 10 years, Strausman has taken a pottery class.

“I’ve always worked with my hands,” Strausman said when asked why. “It’s an interesting thing to do. And it’s a challenge to do well.”

It’s a challenge that her teacher in the Great Neck Free Union School District’s community education program, Rosalie Dornstein, says she has fully embraced.

“And it’s wonderful that at 102 years old he still wants to improve,” Dornstein said.

For Strausman, as for many artists of all levels, creating became a mental compulsion. It is a quest for deeper meaning and greater beauty. It’s a quest that has no end.

Strausman’s wife, Nancy, says that every week her husband brings home another piece he doesn’t like.

Today, there are hundreds of scraps packed in wooden cabinets and boxes. Each bears witness to his unwavering determination and endless optimism.

“Maybe one day I’ll be good enough to be happy with it,” Strausman said. “I’m still not happy with what I’m doing.”

Everyone is always looking for the secret to a long and happy life. But, at least in Strausman’s case, the answer is clear: you can’t leave Earth until you’re done.

And Strausman says that when he finally creates something he thinks is beautiful, it will be “a great feeling.”