Reaching 100 is a privilege. But Van Dyke acknowledges that longevity also carries a price.
He has lived through the loss of:
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his lifelong partner Michelle Triola,
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many of his closest friends,
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nearly every co-star from the early days of his career,
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and countless peers who shaped American entertainment.
He writes not with bitterness, but with a quiet, honest sorrow — the kind that comes from understanding the fragility of life. He describes holidays that feel quieter, birthdays that feel emptier, and the painful experience of remembering jokes that no one is left to share with him.
But then, as he often does, he finds the light: “I have learned that the heart grows by loving. It does not shrink when love is lost. It expands because it has known connection.” For Van Dyke, grief is not a wall that stops you from living — it is a reminder of how deeply you loved, and how fortunate you were to have loved at all.
Arlene: The Love Story Nobody Expected, But Everyone Now Celebrates
One of the most beautiful elements of Van Dyke’s later years is the presence of his wife, Arlene. He writes about her with adoration, gratitude, and almost childlike joy. Their marriage is not defined by age difference, but by companionship. By laughter. By being able to look at each other each morning and choose partnership all over again.
Arlene keeps him grounded. She encourages him to stay active, eat well, move his body, and stay engaged. She challenges him emotionally and keeps his mind sharp. She reminds him that even at nearly 100, life still has the capacity to surprise you, bless you, and delight you.
