Amid plaudits from Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and others, Osher Lifelong Learning at San Francisco State Enters its Third Decade

By Joe Castrovinci

If you are 50 years old or older and looking to make new friends and/or kick your brain into a higher gear, now is an excellent time to get acquainted with one of the Bay Area’s treasures, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at San Francisco State.

OLLI just reached a major milestone – two decades of service to people 50 years old and above. The event prompted plaudits from many leaders, including House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who praised OLLI for building “a vibrant community of lifelong learners … where you can live a long, rich and fulfilling life.”

More plaudits came from SF State University President Lynn Mahoney. 

“I am delighted that OLLI calls our campus home and is bringing boomers and other older adults back to our institution,” Mahoney said. “We look forward to seeing OLLI at SFSU continue to grow and innovate in the future.”

As it begins its 21st year, OLLI continues to offer older adults stimulating classes, interest groups, trips, lectures, outings and outdoor activities like hikes and pickleball. It is no wonder that a 2022 Forbes article cited OLLI as a reason why San Francisco is one of the best places in the country to enjoy your retirement.

One item always on the menu at OLLI is in-person and Zoom classes for adults who want to keep learning. 

“In our classes, there’s no homework or outside reading,” said OLLI Director Kathy Bruin, “You’re free to sit back, listen to an expert talk about a subject you love or want to know more about, ask questions, and learn in a fun, relaxed environment.” 

Most OLLI courses are offered over six-week terms throughout the year, but students also have the opportunity to take shorter mini-courses as well. Topics range from politics to travel to the arts to history – you name it, and OLLI probably has a class about it.

OLLI also offers hikes, tours of local landmarks, and has, in recent years, run trips to London and Ashland Oregon for the Shakespeare Festival. OLLI also sponsors interest groups that meet online or in person to practice French, Spanish, German, or Italian, or discuss art, poetry, films, books and human evolution.

OLLI was founded by San Francisco’s legendary businessman and philanthropist Bernard Osher, who was looking for an answer to an important question: How can seniors make the most of the longer lives made possible by advances in medicine, science and public health?

Osher knew at least one answer to that question: lifelong learning. He saw how lifelong learning benefitted many of his friends, not just during their work lives but also when they retired. Eager to see more people benefit from their example, he and his foundation offered a $100,000 grant to an organization able to develop a program that allowed large numbers of people who are 50+ to learn as they aged. 

After reviewing the many applications, the Osher Foundation chose San Francisco State University as the recipient, in part because it was already serving older adults. Today there are OLLI programs throughout the country, but the one here in San Francisco is the “hometown OLLI” since it’s located in the same town as the Bernard Osher Foundation.

OLLI got off to a strong start in 2003 with full classes and lots of members, but there have been some big bumps in the road, including the recession of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic, which presented a huge challenge to an organization designed to encourage in-person contact.

“We got through the recession thanks in part to an outreach effort to local groups serving people who are 50+,” Bruin said. “We learned about them, they learned about us and what we brought to the table, and this encouraged people to join our group. And we got through the pandemic by immediately switching our in-person classes to Zoom, so people could participate from the safety and comfort of their homes.”

By offering classes and discussions on Zoom, OLLI also provided a valuable lifeline to members suddenly cutoff from routine in-person contact, including with relatives, friends and neighbors. 

More information about OLLI at SFSU, including a complete list of 20th anniversary events, and current courses and activities, is available at olli.sfsu.edu/sfnews.

A video message from Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuLtPzipFzc