Gene Hackman dead at 95: Iconic actor and wife, 63, are found dead with their dog at Santa Fe home. #2

[Ghostwheel]

It's sounding like Gene's health may not have been as "good" as his daughter stated. From family friends of the couple:


Source

Isn't "Good" subjective, though? Was he riding his bike? Maybe not anymore, but if he was walking around the house, able to do what he wanted around the house and he wasn't in and out of the hospital several times a month, he was probably "good" to his daughters. My mom was "good" at 84, able to take care of herself, go out with me to shop, occasionally visit with the family somewhere other than her house. She couldn't garden anymore, but that didn't mean she wasn't "good", if you see what I mean. For her, downhill was in and out of the hospital several times a month and each time she came back, she was less able to care for herself. She only lasted about 5 months of that, three months past 85.

 

[Ghostwheel]

so just checked and looks like their house gets full verizon coverage for cell service despite being isolated.

I was wondering if maybe cell phone service was inconsistent but looks pretty solid and consistent in the area
source
View attachment 568070

Personal anecdote. I look like I get full Verizon coverage. I live in a large city in a large suburb. Except when you turn the corner to where I live, it's the only almost dead zone in the neighborhood. 3 houses. I get maybe one bar. If I go out and turn the corner and go a half block, solid coverage. Only people who knew them or tried to use their phones at their house might know for sure how the coverage really was. Again, just my own personal experience.

 

[Cedars]

Don't forget that loss of dexterity makes it harder to do things on a phone keyboard, and personally I'd far rather use a big laptop screen than a tiny phone screen.

Yes, phones can be intimidating, etc.

But phones make it as easy as possible to dial 911. If you were facing an emergency, IMO you would put aside your hesitancy and be smashing those buttons, repeatedly.

And if he somehow didn't get through, LE'll find evidence he tried, and it would help them with the timeline.

JMO

 

[MassGuy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1897027022196810201

 

[iamshadow21]

Personal anecdote. I look like I get full Verizon coverage. I live in a large city in a large suburb. Except when you turn the corner to where I live, it's the only almost dead zone in the neighborhood. 3 houses. I get maybe one bar. If I go out and turn the corner and go a half block, solid coverage. Only people who knew them or tried to use their phones at their house might know for sure how the coverage really was. Again, just my own personal experience.

Well, we know the 911 caller was using a mobile phone and was looking in a window at one of their bodies. So, he could get signal.

MOO

 

[Fabled Automatic]

Isn't "Good" subjective, though? Was he riding his bike? Maybe not anymore, but if he was walking around the house, able to do what he wanted around the house and he wasn't in and out of the hospital several times a month, he was probably "good" to his daughters. My mom was "good" at 84, able to take care of herself, go out with me to shop, occasionally visit with the family somewhere other than her house. She couldn't garden anymore, but that didn't mean she wasn't "good", if you see what I mean. For her, downhill was in and out of the hospital several times a month and each time she came back, she was less able to care for herself. She only lasted about 5 months of that, three months past 85.

Good is subjective, yes. But it's stated his health was declining:

Daniel and Barbara noted in the "last couple of months," the late actor “was really slipping there.”

It doesn't seem to gel with his daughter's original statement:

"Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition," she shared with the outlet on Thursday, February 27. "He liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he continued to do that several times a week."

"So, he was in good health," the daughter emphasised. Source

Good for a 95 year old? Maybe. Good in general? Not sure yet. Granted, riding a bike comes with greater risk of injury, I have a hard time believing that someone who had to give up riding a bike a year ago still did pilates and yoga several times a week. His daughter also admitted to not speaking with him months before his death (that's their business), so I'm not sure she could give as good a picture as a family friend who may have been closer.

 

[Sunshynn]

Sheriff's office makes error about Gene Hackman's dog in initial death report

Authorities are still unraveling the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife. Equally puzzling were reports their German shepherd had died. He hadn't.

www.usatoday.com

This story has a picture of Betsy and Zinna, reportedly.

I can see how Zinna would be misidentified as a German Shephard.

 

[Cherwell]

Yes, phones can be intimidating, etc.
But phones make it as easy as possible to dial 911. If you were facing an emergency, IMO you would put aside your hesitancy and be smashing those buttons, repeatedly.
And if he somehow didn't get through, LE'll find evidence he tried, and it would help them with the timeline.

No, my point wasn't that phones can be "intimidating" for older people.
I'm saying that many people don't use them so much because of physical limitations. That it's a preference.
Not that he wasn't capable of dialling 911.

I think that it's likely that if/when he fell, the phone wasn't within reach.

 

[Fabled Automatic]

Also worth noting from that same People article that Betsy's friend stated she was in "perfect health". (Observationally, at least, as I imagine her friend is not a doctor).

 

[Tower]

That’s great! My dad lived to 98, but sadly had deteriorating health issues that prevented him from continuing to operate a phone in the last years. But until that happened, he was great at creating fun PowerPoints on his pc that he’d send me, then talking and texting on a flip phone. He wanted to move up to a smartphone, but by then his glaucoma had gotten so bad he had trouble with even the flip phone, plus dementia became a factor, as well in figuring out how to use it.

All this to say, that Mr. Hackman was about 5 years younger than my dad, so I think he could very well have had the ability to use and therefore have a cell phone of his own if his health allowed it. JMO

My grandma, age 101, texts with me on her iPhone. Sometimes she mixes up my daughter and I and sends us texts meant for the other, but she usually realizes it before we do. I probably mess up my texts more than she does, honestly. I think fear of technology or learning something new is much more of a hindrance than age.

 

[iamshadow21]

Sheriff's office makes error about Gene Hackman's dog in initial death report

Authorities are still unraveling the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife. Equally puzzling were reports their German shepherd had died. He hadn't.

www.usatoday.com

This story has a picture of Betsy and Zinna, reportedly.
View attachment 568073
I can see how Zinna would be misidentified as a German Shephard.

Looks a bit dingo to me. But that's not uncommon for kelpies.

Kelpies are working dogs, high energy, high intelligence, and can be incredibly destructive if bored or neglected. They can be escapologists - it's not uncommon to see kelpies climb hurricane fencing. You need very good fences if you're keeping one as a pet.

Out here, they are very often used as sheep dogs used for stock control and herding. They can be very successful agility competition dogs because of their energy and intelligence.

MOO

 

[Izzylizzy]

It's sounding like Gene's health may not have been as "good" as his daughter stated. From family friends of the couple:


Source

IMO:
GH's daughter's comments were contradictory.
Sometimes it's best to remain silent and this was one of them.

 

[technicallymissing]

Sheriff's office makes error about Gene Hackman's dog in initial death report

Authorities are still unraveling the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife. Equally puzzling were reports their German shepherd had died. He hadn't.

www.usatoday.com

This story has a picture of Betsy and Zinna, reportedly.
View attachment 568073
I can see how Zinna would be misidentified as a German Shephard.

This article is SO helpful in answering all the dog related questions… which one was where when etc. Hearing what a close bond Betsy and Zinna had makes me so sad! That poor pup must have been frantic in her crate. I’m so glad the other dogs are in the care of Mr. Padilla, someone they are familiar with and who clearly cares deeply for them.

 

[Maat99]

The only scenario that makes sense to me so far is that Betsy had a catastrophic health event. Probably in the morning while taking her medicine and before letting the dog out. Gene awoke at some point later and either due to some existing mental decline, health limitation, or shock of finding Betsy was not able to reach out for help.
The dog in the crate removes the possibility of anything intentional by Betsy or Gene. Neither would have left the dog like that IMO. If the door was open maybe Gene had some intent to go for help but wasn’t able to.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Unless I haven't caught up, the 2 phones, some medical records and a calendar were taken from the home as possible evidence. Nowhere has it been stated (AFAIK), these items were next to/near/on either of the deceased. These seem like fairly harmless items - the phones could indicate the last contact with people outside the home, the medical records could indicate medical conditions to follow up as to potential cause of death, and the calendar also could show their last movements/possible appointments to help piece together their movements and what lead to their deaths. Nothing odd or weird to me.

 

[JDG]

Don't forget that loss of dexterity makes it harder to do things on a phone keyboard, and personally I'd far rather use a big laptop screen than a tiny phone screen.

Correct.

I use an iPad for almost everything.

No data on my phone.

 

[Morag]

I have several relatives in their 80’s and 90’s. They go to various doctors, dentists, opticians, testing centers frequently. It seems that surely GH would have been seen by a medical professional over the last several months. Although they could have some sort of concierge medical plan, and the doctors went to their home. For the benefit of younger folks here, that used to be called house calls, and they were common!

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Everyone is different, My mom refuses to have a smart phone, or learn how to turn on Netflix on a smart tv, or use a debit machine. She likes it the way it was when she could do everything for herself. Seriously how automated everything is these days, who has the patience. press 1, 2, 8 for this 9 for that. It bothers me because I wonder if they consider there are seniors that are used to the yellow pages and speaking to a live person for customer support.
Gene was an actor, a famous one, probably had assistant's. Technology changes faster than people do.

My mother is in her 80's and does not even own a microwave, let alone latched onto technology like mobile phones or tablets. Many of her age are the same.

 

[Quill]

Looks a bit dingo to me. But that's not uncommon for kelpies.

Kelpies are working dogs, high energy, high intelligence, and can be incredibly destructive if bored or neglected. They can be escapologists - it's not uncommon to see kelpies climb hurricane fencing. You need very good fences if you're keeping one as a pet.

Out here, they are very often used as sheep dogs used for stock control and herding. They can be very successful agility competition dogs because of their energy and intelligence.

MOO

Thank you for this. As a dog lover, I've heard of the breed but know little about it. Not commonly found in my region of the US, so very informative.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Well, those who fail to keep up will just miss out.

I’m rather vintage myself but really appreciate the time saved by technology.

At first, it wasn’t comfortable, telephone banking was my ‘fear factor’.

Companies won’t pay people to do customer service when they can do it automatically.

The place I purchase groceries from uses robots to fill orders.

Please encourage her to learn the new ways, answer any questions and show her how to do various things.

It can be a huge adjustment but then you are set free.

I hope Gene Hackman was able to use technology, seems he used Zoom for his classes, a good indication he knew a fair bit about computers.

It's not easy, especially as you age and may have some mental decline as well. Many older people get set in their ways, and are tired of learning new things every step of the way, only to have them super seeded in a short amount of time.

How would you go if it was decided one day that the universal language of the world would be German? Or French? Not everyone has the same IQ or ability to learn new things. Learn it or get left behind isn't a very nice way to live.