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In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors.

Zipper-maker Robert Eisenberg, who retired at age 103, dies

Thursday October 02, 2003

LOS ANGELES (AP) Robert Eisenberg, who last retired from a zipper manufacturing company at age 103 after being honored as the country's oldest paid worker, has died. He was 105.

Eisenberg died Tuesday after being hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center due to a fall at his home on Monday.

He was named the country's oldest paid employee in 2000 by Green Thumb Inc., a nonprofit now called Experience Works. The Virginia-based group offers job training for older workers.

Born in Central City, Colo., Eisenberg moved with his parents to New York when he was 2 years old. He attended New York University, served in the Army during World War I, and joined his father's business as a garment maker.

Eisenberg first retired in 1970 when the Los Angeles zipper company where he worked was sold.

He went back to work at age 82 and put in a 30-hour week at Zabin Industries, commuting to his downtown offices by taxi. He retired two years ago after falling in several minor accidents away from work.

Eisenberg told People magazine in 2001 that he was remained energetic even late in life because ``I eat anything and everything. ... And I have a gin and tonic each evening.''

Eisenberg is survived by two children and three grandchildren.

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