A TRIBUTE TO TESS

A Tribute to Tess (4-17-27– 12-21-2023)

She may have been tiny in height, but not in impact. Dearly loved, Tess loved to help others. Committed to making a difference in the world, whether big or small, she has been a role model and mentor. One of her greatest legacies is the example she set of not letting fear stop her from taking on new challenges. And in a lifetime of achievement, the success of those she has nurtured, helped and encouraged brought her the greatest joy.

Get Tess’s Amazing Chocolate Biscotti Recipe and Video!

    A Caring Heart

    Beloved camp “Mom,” passionate advocate for services to older Americans, amazing biscotti baker, gifted stained glass artist, published author, and giver of free hugs (with little pecks on the cheek), Tess remained deeply committed to helping others, forever positive and optimistic, and dearly loved by so many.

    Through it all, she was somehow able to fit five different lifetimes into her 96+ years – all of them defined by her tireless drive to make the world a better place through helping others.

    The CFE Adventure

    The success of Camp Flying Eagle was always one of her biggest treasures in a lifetime of achievement. Its enduring legacy of life lessons learned and shared and the deep bonds of friendship and love it created have lasted decades and over generations, and brought her joy, pride, and the satisfaction that comes from knowing you have helped make a difference in the world.

    The adventure began in 1944 when, as a gifted high school violinist in the small town of Canajoharie, New York, she gave up a music scholarship and instead boarded a midnight train to come to the University of Michigan – a school nearly ten times as large as her home town. There she met Alex, an All-American diver and swimmer who had just returned from service with the Army Air Corp in WWII. After marrying in 1947, they spent 56 years together.

    When they decided to buy property on a small lake in Northern Michigan advertised as a summer camp for boys, Tess was only 30 years old and a new mom. They lived on Alex’s teacher’s salary of $6,000 a year. Neither had ever been to camp, but Alex had been an orphan and wanted to give young boys the guidance he wished he’d had and the self-determination he knew they needed to succeed.

    For 27 years Tess worked alongside Alex to deliver an amazing summer camp experience to thousands of young boys and changed their lives forever. They ran Camp Flying Eagle with love, dedication, and the belief that all boys deserve an opportunity to excel and achieve in a caring environment. Over 3,000 young boys were introduced to their “Flying Eagle Formula” – a powerful program designed to give boys a “success mindset” and the positive self-image that puts them on a path to great careers, wonderful relationships, and lives of purpose and meaning.

    Through it all Tess served as surrogate mom, camp nurse, accountant, meal planner, cook, and the glue that held it all together. Alex’s secret when he couldn’t remember a name? He’d say, “Tess! Will you look at who’s here!” as if he knew. He didn’t, but she always did. No matter the occasion, she rose to it. And the wonderful friendships and bonds of caring and respect that were formed during those years continue to endure today – a tribute to Love Itself. Even after selling the camp property, when they continued to spend summers in Northern Michigan on their beloved Crooked Lake, former campers and counselors always dropped by to visit and reminisce.

    A Legacy of Service to Michigan

    In 1957, just after buying Camp Flying Eagle, Tess and Alex moved to Lansing, Michigan, and Tess joined with other moms to form the Child Services League. She sent her two young children to preschool, before that was a popular option and then became the Chair of a women’s advocacy group. Together with her Vice-Chair, Debbie Stabenow, they convinced county commissioners to put a bonding proposal on the ballot to support a state-of-the-art nursing home for county residents. The Ingham County Care Facility on Dobie Road in Okemos, Michigan, continues to offer excellent care today.

    Tess was then hired to start a Legislative Educational Center for the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan (4AM), to help older persons become advocates. She soon became the 4AM Executive Director and went on to train a lobbying force of seniors called the Senior Advocates and organized a state-wide “Senior Power Day” that annually brought 6,000 seniors to Michigan’s capital city to successfully lobby legislators. The 1985 gathering was dedicated to Tess with this recognition:

    “Senior Power Day would not be what it is today if Tess had not had the vision and persistence to create this powerful showing of senior advocacy. Senior Power Day was a small local event when it began in 1974; by 1985 – due largely to Tess’ energy and commitment – it had become a statewide rally with its own staff and status as a non-profit organization.”

    In 1985 Tess was honored by the Michigan Legislature for helping to shape every piece of key legislation affecting older persons in Michigan over a decade of service including Dial-A-Ride, nursing home reform, standardized Medicare Supplemental coverage, and Michigan’s home heating tax credit.

    Tess also traveled across Michigan training advocates on how to pass ballot proposals to establish a millage to support local services to seniors. By 2020, 74 of Michigan’s 83 counties had passed a senior millage.

    Tess also traveled across Michigan training advocates on how to pass ballot proposals to establish a millage to support local services to seniors. By 2020, 74 of Michigan’s 83 counties had passed a senior millage.

    Becoming a National Advocate

    Only a few short years after Camp Flying Eagle closed its doors for good, a newspaper columnist was declaring, “When I grow up I want to be like Tess Canja!” Said another, “Tess Canja is probably one of the most powerful seniors in the United States.”

    That is because, in another of her many lifetime adventures, Tess became the National President of AARP – helping to lead an organization of 35 million members that advocates on behalf of persons 50+.

    Becoming a National Advocate

    Only a few short years after Camp Flying Eagle closed its doors for good, a newspaper
    columnist was declaring, “When I grow up I want to be like Tess Canja!” Said another, “
    Tess Canja is probably one of the most powerful seniors in the United States.”

    That is because, in another of her many lifetime adventures, Tess became the National
    President of AARP – helping to lead an organization of 35 million members that advocates on behalf of persons 50+.

    When Tess and Alex retired and moved to Florida, her retirement didn’t last long! The Governor of Florida reached out to ask Tess to help convince the Florida Legislature to create a Department of Elder Affairs. She made sure it happened and then served five years as the Chair of its Citizen’s Advisory Board. After that she was asked to become the AARP Florida State Director and was soon elected to the AARP National Board of Directors. Four years later she was elected to an 8 year leadership track and became the AARP National Vice President, then President-Elect, National President from 2000 – 2002, and then Past President.

    Tess became a keynote speaker at national conferences, testified often before Congress on issues such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, prescription drug coverage and financial literacy. As AARP President, she wrote responses to reader questions in “Dear Tess,” a monthly column for AARP’s magazine. Through it all, she was as comfortable meeting with the President of the United States (and did many times) as she was sitting down over a cup of coffee with someone she’d just met.

    Tess became a keynote speaker at national conferences, testified often before Congress on issues such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, prescription drug coverage and financial literacy. As AARP President, she wrote responses to reader questions in “Dear Tess,” a monthly column for AARP’s magazine. Through it all, she was as comfortable meeting with the President of the United States (and did many times) as she was sitting down over a cup of coffee with someone she’d just met.

    As National President, Tess traveled throughout the United States and around the world speaking on aging issues and the implications of a rapidly aging society. With Alex by her side, wearing a button that said “Mr.Tess Canja,” they formed lasting friendships with fellow advocates seeking to make the world a better place.

    But she didn’t start out that way. Early in her AARP career, as National Vice President, she represented AARP on a committee of the board of a large national insurer. The insurer was partnering with AARP to provide financial products to AARP members and Tess didn’t think members were getting a high enough return. She dug into the numbers, figured out rates of return and went to their next Board meeting in New York prepared with statistics. She was from that generation of women who typically deferred to men and confided that it was initially intimidating to be in a room full of men in suits – many of whom were executives at finance and other business firms. But because she was committed to making a difference, she pushed aside her insecurities. She vowed not to let fear stop her. And it didn’t. AARP members soon started receiving a better return on their investments.

    That was always a defining theme of her life – pushing through her fear to try new things – especially when it would help others.

    A New Chapter

    Sadly, in 2003, shortly after finishing her term as National President, Tess lost Alex to prostate cancer. But she gathered herself and in 2004 became the President of her local Florida AARP chapter, increasing its membership to 150 and creating strong advocates who lobbied their senators, representatives, state legislators, county commissioners and members of the Florida Public Service Commission. In 2007 she received the AARP Andrus Award, the highest national AARP award the Florida state office can give to a volunteer.

    At the age of 80, she agreed to also help train Michigan AARP advocates and in 2009 received AARP Michigan’s Vanguard Award for excellence. In 2011 she led her Florida chapter through its 50th year and a goal of participating in 50 events of service helping Chapter 80 become Florida’s “AARP Chapter of the Year.”

    At 85 she became a founding member of TEAM Port Charlotte, to help revitalize her adopted home town of Port Charlotte, Florida, and then served as Chair of the TEAM’s Aging in Place Committee and brought together service providers, advocates and residents to brainstorm and create ways to improve neighborhoods.

    You wouldn’t know it, after all that activity, but she was holding herself back! After 56 years of always thinking in terms of a couple, she said she suddenly realized she could give herself permission to do things differently than Alex might have done. She decided her birthday present to herself would be to say “yes” to new experiences. She did and kept doing it. At the age of 85, she pushed past her inner reluctance and threw herself a big birthday party and invited all her friends. What would people think ? They loved it!

    A Published Author at 92!

    Fifty years after starting Camp Flying Eagle, and after hearing so many stories of the positive impact it made on so many young boys, Tess dreamed of sharing its magic. Summer after summer she sat at her computer pecking out memories. Year after year she worked on a book about the Flying Eagle Formula, why it works and how others can apply it. It took nine years! Finally, at the age of 92, she became a published author. Her book, Swim the Lake Before You Row the Boat: Awaken a Boy’s Success Mindset, Unleash His Confidence and Give Him the Foundation for a Great Life, is available on Amazon. It is perfect for parents or grandparents who are actively seeking ways to positively influence the young boys in their lives. Its unique approach to giving boys a success-oriented mindset is told through camp stories and is based on her 27 years of real life experience with over 3,000 boys. Its structured, actionable strategies focus on how children think and perceive success and targets the importance of self-belief. Its holistic approach aligns with principles of positive reinforcement and would be helpful to anyone mentoring, guiding, or supporting boys in their journey toward adulthood, including teachers, coaches, community leaders, youth group leaders and counselors.

    Creative Artistry

    And finally, last, but not least, along with all of that left-brain activity of speaking, writing, testifying, advocating and organizing, Tess also had a right-brain life of creative, artistic expression.

    From sewing beautiful clothing, to creating intricate pine cone wreaths from the Northern Michigan trees she loved, to designing and putting together incredible stained glass windows, lamps and mirrors, Tess expressed her creativity and shared it with those she loved. With her father, an Italian chef, as a role model, Tess taught herself to cook and embarked on a lifelong quest to feed people. Her cooking won awards and fans everywhere – especially her biscotti – unlike any other biscotti and the best in the world (if you believe what everyone says!).

    What’s also remarkable, and something not many people know, is that Tess (and Alex) were forever open-minded and convinced that there is more to life than meets the eye. Long before it was popular, Tess studied the Silva Method of harnessing the mind’s problem-solving abilities while in an alpha state. She read about life after death and UFOs and alien visitors (her mother actually saw one). And after the death of their son, Paul, both she and Alex actively sought and found, in the Seth book The Nature of Personal Reality, explanations for why we are here and why we leave. Both firmly believed that it is our thoughts that create our reality and that our biggest challenges in life are the thoughts that hold us back.

    Creative Artistry

    And finally, last, but not least, along with all of that left-brain activity of speaking, writing, testifying, advocating and organizing, Tess also had a right-brain life of creative, artistic expression.

    From sewing beautiful clothing, to creating intricate pine cone wreaths from the Northern Michigan trees she loved, to designing and putting together incredible stained glass windows, lamps and mirrors, Tess expressed her creativity and shared it with those she loved. With her father, an Italian chef, as a role model, Tess taught herself to cook and embarked on a lifelong quest to feed people. Her cooking won awards and fans everywhere – especially her biscotti – unlike any other biscotti and the best in the world (if you believe what everyone says!).

    What’s also remarkable, and something not many people know, is that Tess (and Alex) were forever open-minded and convinced that there is more to life than meets the eye. Long before it was popular, Tess studied the Silva Method of harnessing the mind’s problem-solving abilities while in an alpha state. She read about life after death and UFOs and alien visitors (her mother actually saw one). And after the death of their son, Paul, both she and Alex actively sought and found, in the Seth book The Nature of Personal Reality, explanations for why we are here and why we leave. Both firmly believed that it is our thoughts that create our reality and that our biggest challenges in life are the thoughts that hold us back.

    One More Adventure

    In her last few years, dementia took a toll. Likely caused by a heart condition that periodically cuts off circulation to her brain, it was a slow, but steady lessening of her ability to control and manage life. Some people find that prospect so frightening that they would rather die than go through it. Others suffer through the change in fear, living life in a state of anxiety and emotional pain. Tess was different. Through it all she kept her happy disposition and continued to light up a room with her smile.