“Wait and see.”
Walter Müller is born in Zurich in 1922 into a family of very modest means. He remembers a childhood without prospects: ‘I started at the very bottom of the ladder,’ he says. His parents decide that he must start working at a very young age in his godfather’s locksmith’s shop, with a view to taking it over later. He has to complete an apprenticeship at the Lerch locksmith’s shop without question, as was customary at the time. After completion of the training, however, he starts working for the Zurich public transport company (VBZ).
Walter Müller marries in 1945, but in 1947 his wife suffers from heart valve inflammation, which was inoperable at the time. Eight difficult years followed. In 1955, he has to go to work and wants to say goodbye to his wife, who is lying in bed. ‘She let out two piercing screams and was dead,’ he recounts. He will never forget that moment. But fate is kind to him: he remarried in 1959. His second wife brings a daughter and a son into the marriage, whom he accepted as his own. Still at 101, he sees his son and his family several times a week.
Walter Müller works as a conductor for VBZ for 13 years and spends 11 years in the operations office, where he is responsible for driver reports and assigning shifts. The atmosphere was very poor, with arguments breaking out almost daily. He suffers greatly as a result and has a breakdown in 1969. His neighbour advises him to apply to the social services department, where he works as a field agent. When an employee unexpectedly dies, Walter Müller gets the job. He is extremely grateful, because the work is very interesting and varied, and he has contact with all sections of the population, which greatly broadens his horizons. Walter Müller says: ‘I’ve finally made it to the top.’ He spends 15 wonderful years there until his retirement.
Walter Müller considers reaching the age of 100 to be a gift. Even though he has had to contend with health problems along the way (pulmonary embolism and various operations), he is doing well. He says his secret lies not in any special lifestyle habits, but in a relaxed attitude to life. When asked how he managed to live to such an old age, he replies with a smile: ‘Wait and see.’ Despite his age, Walter Müller remains active and full of joie de vivre. Household chores keep him busy, and he is often invited to visit friends or family. He also enjoys playing Sudoku, although he needs a strong magnifying glass, or watching an interesting film. He particularly likes visiting other centenarians to play cards and share stories.
Despite the blows of fate, Walter Müller is a man who spreads a lot of humour and looks back on his life with satisfaction. He is grateful for all the experiences he has had and that he still feels well.