Beating the Odds at 88

After a serious health scare this summer that put him in several hospitals, renowned bodybuilder Dan Lurie, 88, his family and the American Heart Association have joined together to host a fundraiser for the organization this Sunday.

“Once he got out of the hospital, he told [his family] that he wants to have a party to celebrate life,” Ian Lurie, Dan Lurie’s grandson, told Patch.

Lurie, of North Woodmere, has only been out of the hospital for about a month, but he made putting together the “Health is Your Greatest Wealth” fundraiser — taking place on Oct. 23 at the  — one of his top priorities. With the help of his family and a local branch of the American Heart Association, Lurie will be fulfilling his goal of having a celebratory charity event.

Tickets are $35 and the night includes dinner and raffles. The American Heart Association will check peoples’ blood pressure levels. Those who are interested in attending the event can send an email to danlurieheartfund@gmail.com.

While Lurie has worked with charities in the past, namely United Cerebral Palsy, he has never collaborated with the American Heart Association. After winning several battles with heart problems, Lurie felt that the AMA was an appropriate organization with whom to work, according to Ian Lurie.

The life-threatening event that lead to the inception of the fundraiser occurred this summer, Ian Lurie said. Dan Lurie cleaned an open wound with rubbing alcohol when he realized he ran out of peroxide. The alcohol caused the wound to become infected. After receiving treatment for the infection, Lurie suffered an adverse reaction to antibiotics and his potassium levels drastically dropped. 

The low potassium caused Lurie’s heartbeat to become irregular and his heart actually stopped several times. Thanks to a defibrillator that was implanted several years ago, Lurie received electric shocks to help his heart return to a regular rhythm. However, the potassium levels caused atrophy and Lurie also developed congestive heart failure. He spent most of this summer in hospitals and spent some time in the ICU; doctors did not know if Lurie would walk again.

Lurie is now walking up and down stairs, completing regular daily activities and is full of energy, Ian Lurie said.

Before his recent hospitalization, Dan Lurie has made appearances at schools such as  and  to discuss the dangers of steroid use and promote his “Health is Your Greatest Wealth” motto. Lurie also wrote a memoir about his life, called “Heart of Steel: The Dan Lurie Story.”

Lurie was born in 1923 with a hole in his heart. Doctors doubted Lurie would live a long life — but he went on to become a bodybuilding pioneer. Lurie has been earned the title of "America's Most Muscular Man" four times. With the fame his physique brought him, Lurie formed relationships with celebrities such as President Ronald Regan, Lou Ferrigno and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“If you set your goals high, who knows how far you can succeed in life,” Lurie said of his lifelong winning battle with heart problems.