Wyoming Valley Interchange's Ed Babiarz is making history as the Turnpike's oldest toll collector.   Ed, who will be 78 years old in February, exhibits more energy and vitality than most men half his age. Babiarz is a shining example of the positive influence work can have on keeping an individual young. He doesn't look at himself as a 77 year-old man but just as a man. "I never gave it a thought, I just go about my work with a youthful approach."          The year is 1978, after many years as a factory laborer, Ed finds himself out of work. "When I lost my job, I was 56 years old and four of my five children were in high school. I was up against the wall. How would I take care of five children, without a job," commented Ed. Preserving hearth and home spurred Babiarz on through tough times. He applied for a position at the Turnpike but there were no openings at the time. "For two years, I worked for the local township doing odd jobs," continued Babiarz.

         In June 1978 Ed started as a temporary toll collector on the Turnpike, by September he was a full fledged employee. "That was a blessing," remarked Babiarz. Ed, who put all five of his children through college working as a toll collector, believes that you have to be grateful. "When you're grateful, your job becomes easy and you're more motivated," said Ed. "You should give 110% of your effort and do more than what's required of you." It's evident Ed's positive attitude and strong work ethic influenced his children, who are all successful professionals. Mary is a dietician, Edward heads up a social service agency for the city of Philadelphia, Andrew is a pharmacist, Florence is a counseling psychologist and Anne is registered nurse.
         I asked Ed what keeps him young. "My wife can't understand why I haven't aged," said Babiarz. "Activity, you must be active. It overcomes obstacles in your life." Ed's prescription for staying young and fit also includes a healthy diet, no smoking or drinking, a positive attitude, daily meditation and prayer and a sense of humor.
         "Many Turnpike customers I meet make me chuckle, noted Babiarz. "I often regreted that I couldn't take pictures of the many Turnpike travelers who passed through my toll booth and made me feel good. I would have a lot of them."
         Babiarz has fond memories of Scranton's former Bishop O'Connor (now Archbishop of New York) and former Pennsylvania Governor Casey waving and stopping to chat while passing through his toll booth.
         Many of Ed's friends have passed on, the others can't understand why he's still working. Babiarz commented, "I have made many friends on the Turnpike. I start each day by saying, 'Who am I going to meet today'? People add something to me, they become a part of my life. At the end of every day, I ask myself, What have I done this day. I don't want to waste a day. I can always help people with what I do."
         Babiarz believes that every person he is dealing with has some sort of problem. Ed remarked, "I'm not going to add to their problems. I'm going to smile and go out of my way to help them as best I can."
         Ed's children are always after him to retire but his wife Florence can't imagine him functioning without work. I have a hunch Ed Babiarz, a trim, outgoing man with a gift for helping people and making them laugh, will be working as long as he is fit and healthy.