By Bob Simon

Where do professional managers, high-tech engineers and educators go when they retire? Many local retirees spend part of their newfound free time as active members of Sons in Retirement (SIR). Branch 35 of SIR, with close to 350 members, is among the largest in the state and meets at the Palo Alto Elks Lodge.

Their monthly luncheons blend stimulating conversation, exceptional speakers and musical interludes featuring the Trail Birds, a vocal group from the SIR Mission Trail Branch 35, another name for the Los Altos branch.

SIR membership includes retired and semi-retired men who want to stay involved and in contact with other like-minded retirees. Members participate in biking, hiking, bowling, tennis, travel, computer club gatherings and golf.

Golf is the most popular group, with more than 30 percent of members participating regularly. They play on a variety of courses, from municipal to upscale, at venues ranging from Bay Area locations to Carmel Valley.

The Trail Birds introduce the monthly speakers with a unique parody suggestive of the speaker’s background and topic.

Town Crier publisher Paul Nyberg addressed Branch 35 a few years ago, and the Trail Birds introduced him with a parody to the tune of “My Heart Cries for You”:

Paul came from Minnesota, as farm boy grew,

Earned journalistic BA and master’s, too.

He’s now in California to tell what’s new,

Los Altos Town Crier’s purview.

When Dave McElhatton, KPIX news anchor at the time, addressed the group, he mentioned an old tune, “If I Had My Life to Live Over, I’d Live Over the Corner Saloon.” The founder of the Trail Birds, Emmett Fitzpatrick, wrote the song, as well as more than 200 others. The Trail Birds promptly began singing it, to the speaker’s amazement and pleasure.

The eclectic roster of speakers includes sports reporters, a Benedictine monk, non-profit CEOs and a best-selling author.

For more information, contact membership director Damon Simpson at 941-4464 or simpsondnj@sbcglobal.net.