The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) honored 76-year-old senior athlete Jerry Levasseur of Brunswick with its “Personal Best Award” during the Maine Senior Games kickoff luncheon, hosted by Martin’s Point Health Care.

NSGA governs the biennial National Senior Games, the largest multi-sport event in the world for seniors. The Maine Senior Games is the sanctioned state event for athletes 50 and over to qualify to compete at the national level.

Levasseur deserves his own line under “survivor” in the dictionary.

Seventy years ago, he suffered life-threatening injuries in a circus tent fire in Hartford, Conn. when 168 people perished, including his mother, who heroically shielded his body.

Jerry spent six months in the hospital with severe upper body burns. After multiple surgeries he regained use of his hands.

The presentation recounted how he has made the most of his life and now defines himself as a senior athlete who has won over 1,000 races in his age classes in state, national and international meets.

During the program, many examples were given for how the retired CPA helps others, including serving as a board member of both the Maine Senior Games and the NSGA national board.

For the past decade he has been a volunteer coach with the track and cross country teams at Bowdoin College.

Among those paying tribute were Bowdoin College head track coach Peter Slovenski and two former students, who were coached by Levasseur.

“He never quits,” Slovenski said. “Nothing we ask him to do is below him to do. He has an incredible work ethic as a coach and a teacher. He has an amazing competitive enthusiasm and is a great role model to our kids to continue running after college.”

“Jerry Levasseur epitomizes NSGA’s new definition of personal best that goes beyond a moment of athletic achievement,” NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker told the gathering. “He gives us all an example by his actions on and off the field to strive for fitness and health while inspiring others to be active and live longer, better quality lives. This is what truly represents your personal best.”

An extended profile of Levasseur and other athlete honorees, along with a tour blog of the event, can be found on the Personal Best page at www.NSGA.com.

“This tour and recognition program is intended to send a message out to aging adults to ‘get in the game’ and enjoy an active, healthy lifestyle and the rewards it brings,” said Riker. “These athletes demonstrate that everyone can be their own personal best.”