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New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
I'm a grandma of 3 and just graduated from college — now I'm taking a millennial-style ‘gap year' and celebrating with my new Gen Z pals
This new grad is celebrating with a post-college rite of passage — a gap year — only she's doing it in her 70s. At 74, Dorotea Levy de Szekely — grandmother of three and self-proclaimed lifelong learner — just graduated with a bachelor's degree from Hunter College, proving it's never too late to hit the books or rewrite your own story. 'My motto has always been, 'Don't let age be your cage,'' the witty Upper East Sider told The Post, walking in Hunter's 228th commencement at the Barclays Center on Friday, alongside more than 3,300 grads. Born and raised in Argentina, the stylish silver scholar had a decades-long detour before snagging her degree. After a cruel teacher in the first grade told her she'd 'never' finish high school due to a learning disability, Levy de Szekely avoided college entirely, despite an unshakable love for learning and a longing to pursue higher education. 5 Argentina native Dorotea Levy de Szekely longed to learn, so she went to college as a senior student. Stephen Yang 5 She is among more than 3,000 graduates attending Hunter College's 228th commencement on Friday. Stephen Yang 'You always learn, and I worked my life towards that verdict,' she told The Post. 'But every time I walked by a university, I felt this sadness and longing inside, as I wanted to go there and learn. 'Thankfully, here at Hunter College in New York City, this is the only place in the world I think that welcomed me, notwithstanding my age or who I am.' Her college comeback began in 2017, when she enrolled at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and earned her associate's degree in 2019 with a flawless 4.0 GPA as the co-valedictorian of her class. Then came Hunter, where she racked up a 3.98 GPA, triple majored in German Language and Literature, English (with a concentration in Creative Writing), and Studio Art — and made BFFs more than half her age. 5 Levy de Szekely's inspiring motto: 'Don't let age be your cage.' Stephen Yang One of them, a 20-year-old classmate named Babsi, is 'younger than my granddaughter,' Levy de Szekely noted — and yet, they've become such close pals that Babsi came to cheer her on at graduation and even set up a WhatsApp video call so a classmate in Pakistan could watch, too. 'I thought this was very moving,' a delighted Levy de Szekely said. After the ceremony, which would also be attended by her proud children and grandchildren, the brainy besties planned to celebrate with burgers at UES hotspot, JG Melon. Levy de Szekely's passion for people — and prose — shaped her college experience. 'For me, it's so important to look you in the eye and know who you are,' she explained. 'Sometimes it comes across as if you're nosy or curious, but I'm always very interested in the human being who's sitting across from me … being less ignorant about the other person makes you more compassionate. 'I made great connections at Hunter because I'm always asking everyone, you know, 'Who are you, what motivates you, where are you from?'' It wasn't just fellow students who made an impact — professors left their mark, too, especially those who helped nurture her love of literature. 5 She enrolled at the Borough of Manhattan Community College in 2017 and earned an associate's degree in 2019. Stephen Yang 'I love creative writing and history … There's so many things,' she said, revealing the brainy books and subjects she devoured. 'Like, we were reading Franz Kafka in German and studying the problems that arise when translating it to English or any other language,' she recalled. 'That's, I think, something very interesting.' Her literary tastes skew philosophical and are especially inspired by early 20th-century Austrian author Stefan Zweig. 'He said something that stuck in my mind — that history decides for you,' Levy de Szekely told The Post, adding that Zweig's writing resonates with her as it proves that even the smallest choices can shape the course of history. Now, instead of backpacking through Europe like many Gen Z grads, Levy de Szekely is taking a 'gap year' her own way — by devouring books on her own time. Levy de Szekely, who speaks an astonishing four languages — Spanish, English, German and 'some French' — later plans to tutor in Hunter's German department and prep for a master's degree in English at CUNY's Lehman College or Hunter. 5 Levy de Szekely has a particular fondness for the work of early 20th-century Austrian author Stefan Zweig. Stephen Yang 'I would love to pursue a Master's in English,' she said, admitting, 'I'd love for it to be creative writing, but it's going to be difficult.' She's even dabbling in fairytale rewrites — including a fresh take on 'Little Red Riding Hood' that honors 'powerful women.' One thing's for sure: she's not slowing down. Forget Sudoku, too — Levy de Szekely says eternal curiosity and an open mind are all you need to keep the mental gears turning at any age. 'As I say, learning is a journey. It's a life journey. So you have to learn,' she explained with a hint of philosophy. 'In life, you cannot live without learning, even if you don't know that you're learning.' Or, as her father used to tell her: 'The day I cannot learn something anymore, I will be dead.' Clearly, this grandma's just getting started.
Boston Globe
22-02-2025
- Boston Globe
Suspect in insurance CEO killing creates website as support floods in
Advertisement The positive response has horrified many Americans who were shocked by the brutality of the crime of which Mangione is accused: assassinating Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, in Manhattan. But in the nearly three months since the shooting, the groundswell of interest and support has been sustained. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up A rally was organized outside the lower Manhattan courthouse where a hearing was to be held in his case Friday afternoon, with flyers trumpeting support 'for people harmed & killed by insurance industry greed.' In a 15th-floor hallway, about 100 young women lined benches and sat on the floor. Some wore red sweaters with white-collared shirts, an apparent homage to Mangione's outfit during his last court appearance. Among the crowd was Chelsea Elizabeth Manning, a former Army intelligence analyst whose leak of classified documents detailing U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan earned her a 35-year prison sentence that was later commuted. As Mangione's lawyers walked onto the floor, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Mangione has inspired documentaries about his life and remains a topic of interest on social media. The GiveSendGo fundraising page for his defense has reeled in donations and a steady stream of supportive notes. Launched Feb. 14, the website — which includes methods for sending pictures — is the latest development in a story that has gripped the nation from the moment Thompson was gunned down outside an investors meeting at a midtown hotel Dec. 4. Mangione's lawyers said in a statement that they had created it as a way to provide 'answers to frequently asked questions, accurate information about his cases, and dispel misinformation,' they wrote. Advertisement The website has information on Mangione's criminal cases, including the times and dates of hearings. But its muted black-and-white layout appears to be an attempt by the lawyers to de-emphasize the frenzy that has surrounded their client, said Diana Rickard, a professor who teaches criminal justice at Borough of Manhattan Community College. As the public attention swirls around Mangione, the legal cases against him grind ahead. The Manhattan district attorney's office has charged Mangione with first-degree murder, a charge that brands him as a terrorist, as well as weapons charges and two variations of second-degree murder. In addition to that 11-count indictment, he is facing federal charges, one of which carries the possibility of the death penalty, as well as state charges in Pennsylvania. Mangione has pleaded not guilty in all of the cases. His lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, has described her client as 'overcharged.' During the hearing Friday, Mangione sat at a table with his lawyers, chained and wearing a bulletproof vest. Dressed in a dark green sweater with a white-collared shirt and white pants, he appeared engaged, leaning forward to look at an assistant district attorney as he spoke. The proceedings were accompanied by chants from the protest outside. Inside, Friedman Agnifilo raised several issues to the court, including that Mangione's detention at a federal jail while his state case proceeded had created difficulties for the defense team. She also said that a police search in Pennsylvania was improper. 'Our client's constitutional rights were violated,' she said. Advertisement Daniel Medwed, a professor of law and criminal justice at Northeastern University, said that the phenomenon around Mangione's case was unusual. Typically, public attention is focused on the victim of a crime and not the person charged in the killing, he said. However, the New York case has seemingly 'struck a chord in the national psyche,' he said. 'The outpouring of support is not necessarily based on questions about the investigation or about his potential guilt,' Medwed said. 'It's an outpouring of support for a form of vigilante justice.' UnitedHealthcare has long been the target of fury for denying claims and has faced scrutiny for using algorithms to refuse coverage. The company is one of the nation's largest health insurers and covers more than 50 million people. The Justice Department has begun an investigation into the company, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. The probe is a civil fraud investigation examining UnitedHealthcare's practice of recording diagnoses that trigger extra payments to its Medicare Advantage plan, the publication said. Thompson's killing was seen as a blow against America's profit-driven health care system by Mangione's supporters. Prosecutors have said that the killing was intended to send a message. The Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, called it 'a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation.' The story unfolded dramatically beginning around 6:45 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. Surveillance footage showed a gunman walking up behind Thompson outside a Hilton hotel in midtown, lifting a handgun fitted with a suppressor and shooting him several times. Thompson can be seen scrambling behind a wall before the gunman shoots him again and flees across the street. Thompson was shot once in the back and once in the leg. Advertisement Thompson, 50, was a father of two, whom relatives described as a 'loving husband, son, brother and friend.' Authorities said it was Mangione who waited outside the hotel that morning for nearly an hour until Thompson arrived for a UnitedHealthcare investors day gathering. According to police, Mangione immediately left New York — scattering his belongings across the city as he escaped. While authorities immediately began a search, canvassing the city and releasing images of the person they sought, the killing also released a tide of online frustration toward the health insurance industry. Authorities said that shell casings and a bullet at the scene had the words 'deny,' 'depose' and 'delay' written on them — likely references to health insurers and how they respond to claims. When Mangione was arrested five days later in Altoona, Pennsylvania, authorities said he had a handwritten manifesto with him that decried the U.S. health care system and its wealthy executives. After the hearing, Friedman Agnifilo went outside the courthouse, where dozens of Mangione's supporters, many wearing green, chanted, 'Who's the real terrorist? UHC.' Friedman Agnifilo told the demonstrators, 'Luigi wanted to thank his supporters for being here.' Samiah Akhtar, a public school teacher, said she had taken the day off to support Mangione. 'He's getting an unfair trial,' Akhtar, 29, said, adding, 'If you are labeling him as a terrorist, why not label school shooters and other mass shootings that happen in the U.S.?' Diana Umana said she was there because 'there's an innocent young man who's been accused of a heinous crime, and I feel like it's part of my duty to ensure that things go how they're supposed to.' Advertisement Umana, 28, arrived at the courthouse at 9:30 a.m., hours after dozens of Mangione's supporters began lining up in hopes of securing a seat in the courtroom. Mangione's supporter base may have consolidated and intensified in recent months, said Rickard, whose research has focused on true crime. The obsession was fostered by how the killing and the escape were caught on video, she said. 'We are a sophisticated culture now with storytelling, and we don't have clean good guys and clean bad guys,' she said. Those who support Mangione find something 'exciting about him as a vigilante,' she said. 'It signifies a hunger for heroes and excitement and also just a distortion of what is heroic,' she said, adding, 'I see it as disturbing.' As Mangione left the courtroom Friday, he looked directly at supporters who were seated on the backbenches. At least one woman smiled back. This article originally appeared in
New York Times
21-02-2025
- New York Times
Suspect in Insurance C.E.O. Killing Creates Website as Support Floods In
Even when he was just a wanted man smiling in a surveillance picture, Luigi Mangione elicited a fervent response from some Americans. Now identified and charged in the brazen fatal shooting of a health care executive, his influence has persisted, even from behind bars. Supporters, some of whom have championed his anti-insurance-industry message, have deluged him with correspondence in the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. They have sent Mr. Mangione, 26, gifts and at least $500,000 for his defense fund. His lawyers created a website complete with a personal statement from the man himself and instructions on how to contact him. 'I am overwhelmed by — and grateful for — everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support,' Mr. Mangione's message said, adding, 'mail has flooded M.D.C. from across the country, and around the globe.' The positive response has horrified many Americans who were shocked by the brutality of the crime of which Mr. Mangione is accused: assassinating Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, in Manhattan. But in the nearly three months since the shooting, the groundswell of interest and support has been sustained. A rally was organized outside the Lower Manhattan courthouse where a hearing was to be held in his case Friday afternoon, with fliers trumpeting support 'for people harmed & killed by insurance industry greed.' In a 15th-floor hallway, about 100 young women lined benches and sat on the floor. Some wore red sweaters with white-collared shirts, an apparent homage to Mr. Mangione's outfit during his last court appearance. There have been documentaries about his life and the killing, and he remains a topic of interest on social media. The GiveSendGo fund-raising page for his defense has reeled in donations and a steady stream of supportive notes. Launched Feb. 14, the website — which includes methods for sending pictures — is the latest development in a story that has gripped the nation from the moment Mr. Thompson was gunned down outside an investors' meeting at a Midtown hotel on Dec. 4. Mr. Mangione's lawyers said in a statement that they had created it as a way to provide 'answers to frequently asked questions, accurate information about his cases, and dispel misinformation,' they wrote. The website has information on Mr. Mangione's criminal cases, including the times and dates of hearings. But its muted black-and-white layout appears to be an attempt by the lawyers to de-emphasize the frenzy that has surrounded their client, said Diana Rickard, who teaches criminal justice at Borough of Manhattan Community College. The fact that the site has no picture of Mr. Mangione — who has drawn comparisons to Hollywood heartthrobs — is telling, she said. 'They are playing down the sensationalism and the sensation of him, which was very visual, but obviously they're capitalizing on it,' Professor Rickard said, adding that his defense team appeared to be saying, 'This is a professional, not a sensational website.' The site, however, would not exist 'without the sensation,' she added. As the public attention swirls around Mr. Mangione, the legal cases against him grind ahead. The Manhattan district attorney's office has charged Mr. Mangione with first-degree murder, a charge that brands him as a terrorist, as well as weapons charges and two variations of second-degree murder. In addition to that 11-count indictment, he is facing federal charges, one of which carries the possibility of the death penalty, as well as state charges in Pennsylvania. Mr. Mangione has pleaded not guilty in all of the cases. His lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, has described her client as 'overcharged.' Daniel Medwed, a professor of law and criminal justice at Northeastern University, said that the phenomenon around Mr. Mangione's case was unusual. Typically, public attention is focused on the victim of a crime and not the person charged in the killing, he said. However, the New York case has seemingly 'struck a chord in the national psyche,' he said. 'The outpouring of support is not necessarily based on questions about the investigation or about his potential guilt,' Professor Medwed said. 'It's an outpouring of support for a form of vigilante justice.' UnitedHealthcare has long been the target of fury for denying claims, and has faced scrutiny for using algorithms to refuse coverage. The company is one of the nation's largest health insurers and covers more than 50 million people. The Justice Department has begun an investigation into the company, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. The probe is a civil fraud investigation examining UnitedHealthcare's practice of recording diagnoses that trigger extra payments to its Medicare Advantage plan, the publication said. Mr. Thompson's killing was seen as a blow against America's profit-driven health care system by Mr. Mangione's supporters. Prosecutors have said that the killing was intended to send a message. The Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, called it 'a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation.' The story unfolded dramatically beginning around 6:45 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. Surveillance footage showed a gunman walking up behind Mr. Thompson outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown, lifting a handgun fitted with a suppressor and shooting him several times. Mr. Thompson can be seen scrambling behind a wall, before the gunman shoots him again and flees across the street. Mr. Thompson was shot once in the back and once in the leg. Mr. Thompson, 50, was a father of two, whom relatives described as a 'loving husband, son, brother and friend.' The authorities said it was Mr. Mangione who waited outside the hotel that morning for nearly an hour until Mr. Thompson arrived for a UnitedHealthcare investors' day gathering. According to the police, Mr. Mangione immediately left New York — scattering his belongings across the city as he escaped. While authorities immediately began a manhunt, canvassing the city and releasing images of the person they sought, the killing also released a tide of online frustration toward the health insurance industry. Authorities said that shell casings and a bullet at the scene had the words 'deny,' 'depose' and 'delay' written on them — likely references to health insurers and how they respond to claims. When Mr. Mangione was arrested five days later in Altoona, Pa., authorities said he had a handwritten manifesto with him that decried the American health care system and its wealthy executives. To some Americans, the attack galvanized their anger. An anonymous donation for $1,300 made on Mr. Mangione's fund-raising page two months ago carried a message that said it was 'coincidentally the same amount I was charged for my 100% covered medical procedure.' One donor, who contributed $11,000, said he was particularly concerned about the chance of Mr. Mangione facing the death penalty, following an executive order signed by President Trump. The anonymous donor wrote that capital punishment 'should never be politicized.' Mr. Mangione's supporter base may have consolidated and intensified in recent months, said Professor Rickard, whose research has focused on true crime. The obsession was fostered by how the killing and the escape were caught on video, she said. 'We are a sophisticated culture now with storytelling, and we don't have clean good guys and clean bad guys,' she said. Those who support Mr. Mangione find something 'exciting about him as a vigilante,' she said. 'It signifies a hunger for heroes and excitement and also just a distortion of what is heroic,' she said, adding: 'I see it as disturbing."
