While surgery on patients of advanced age almost always is classified as major and risky, a nurse practitioner whose specialty is geriatric patients told thefrontpageonline.com that different dynamics each case. “Older people are entitled to aggressive care if they want it,” she said. By telephone, Mr. Kronenthal sounded slightly less than his usual spirited self — but just as anxious and impatient as ever. “I feel okay,” he said. “But I need to get going because I have a lot to do.” In the next days, Mr. Kronenthal was planning to attend the wedding of his grand-niece. One weekend away, on Labor Day weekend, comes, Uncle Syd’s Barbeque, one of Mr. Kronenthal’s favorite days of the years. For 16 years on the Saturday preceding Labor Day, through the auspices of the Therapeutic Living Center for the Blind, 150 blind ladies and gentlemen, with numerous other handicaps, are treated to an afternoon-long picnic at Vets Park.

Postscript

At Hollywood Kaiser Hospital, the telephone number for patient information is: 1.323.783.4011.