Bob is the father of 6 children and 7 grandchildren. He recently celebrated his 65th birthday, and will soon be retiring from a rewarding and successful career as the CFO of a small New England private school.

When he was 27 years old, Bob began smoking socially; his smoking progressed to a 3-pack-a-day habit. For the next 27 years, Bob smoked about 60 unfiltered Lucky Strikes every day.

When a CDHP was proposed as a solution to his school’s yearly double-digit rate increases for its group health insurance plan, Bob was skeptical. Would this mean he’d have to take his health into his own hands? As Bob became more informed about the CDHP solution, his enthusiasm increased. The school soon switched to the CDHP and Bob enrolled, becoming knowledgeable about what the program had to offer.

The health and wellness component of the CDHP helped Bob consider his own health and make some good changes, but, like a lot of us, Bob eventually let his new habits slide. When he was 54, Bob’s wife took him to the doctor one day when he wasn’t feeling well. Bob expected to hear that he was experiencing indigestion from dinner, but the news he got was much more serious: there was a blockage in his left coronary artery. Bob’s doctor informed him that he was a walking time bomb, and not just because of his clogged artery—he was also overweight, taking several medications for various ailments, and generally not feeling well.

Bob underwent a surgical procedure to correct the problem before his condition worsened, but he knew that it would take much more than surgery to get his health back on track. He made a commitment to change his life. He wanted to live for as long as possible in order to be there for his children and grandchildren. Thankfully, just as the CDHP was there to help him with his medical bills, it had also given Bob a foundation for improving his overall health.

Bob’s youngest son, Tim, enjoyed rowing and often spoke of the day when he would row for his college crew, but like any high school student, Tim was easily distracted by other activities, and his dedication faltered. Bob didn’t want Tim to go down the same path that had led to his poor health. He had an idea. What better way to get in shape than to row with his son? Bob would improve his fitness, and he would help Tim focus on rowing so that he would be able to pursue his passion in college. Bob and Tim committed to rowing together with their ultimate goal to qualify for the grand master doubles division of the Head of the Charles Regatta, a world-class rowing event in Cambridge, MA.

Bob had a lot of work ahead of him in order to qualify for the regatta. Even though he knew it could take months or years to get into regatta shape, he immediately began a regimen of healthy eating and exercise, including rowing every morning on Lake Winnipesauke. In 2009, Bob and Tim qualified to participate in the big event and finished in the top 5 in their class—a memory they will cherish for a lifetime. Now, 2 years later, Bob has lost 80 pounds, has cut his medication by half, and rows every single morning. Thanks to Bob’s determination and the continued support of his CDHP, Bob is healthy, happy, and looking forward to rowing again with his son in the Head of the Charles.