in America, we spoke to some members of the list to reflect on aging, work, and life in their ninth decade and beyond including the man who inevitably snagged the list’s top spot: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, leading member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, and America’s foremost model of calm, competent pandemic leadership. Slate talked to Fauci about the vaccine rollout, Zooming with his daughters, and how he plans to celebrate his 80
th
Advertisement
Molly Olmstead: Do you approach your work any differently now than you did when you were younger?
Do you find yourself dwelling more often on the thought of your own death?
The idea of death is very anxiety-provoking. As you get fame, people say, “Oh, look at your great life that you’ve had.” And you know deep down you’re human just like everybody else. And that I’m scared there, because I don’t know what’s on the other side. And you can say I’m this famous person, and look how I’ve helped these executed people and all that. But then there’s the human Helen standing on the limb. And I’m the last one to want to go, because I’m scared.