NENAD BACH
Parkinson’s and ping-pong are only part of the story.
Albeit, a big part.
The story–that is–of Nenad N. Bach, a Croatian-American recording artist, composer, performer, producer and peace activist.
The Zagreb native, 68, has performed with a wide range of luminaries over the years, including Luciano Pavarotti, Bono & The Edge, Brian Eno, Garth Hudson and Rick Danko (The Band), Vince Welnick (The Grateful Dead), John Malkovich, Ellen Burstyn, Martin Sheen and Michael York.
Quite the gamut.
He took the stage at Woodstock ’94.
Bach graduated as a civil engineer from the University of Rijeka.
His band, Vrijeme i Zemlja, was formed while he was in college and boasted two Number 1 albums in Europe–Vrijeme i Zemlja I in 1980, and Greatest Hits also in 1980.
He moved to New York in 1984, and recorded his first US album, Greatest Hits, in 1987 with the track “You Need A Love,” morphing into a music video, which would be played on MTV.
Inspiring optimism is the fuel that feeds his fire.
And what has allowed him to lead a most impressive life.
As an activist, he was honored by the United Nations for his World Peace in One Hour campaign.
A Parkinson’s diagnosis came in 2010.
After the diagnosis, Bach was invited by a friend to play ping pong.
The next day, he couldn’t believe how much better he felt.
“I see the world that it could be rather than what it is.”
His cognitive abilities improved, his tremors calmed down, it became easier for him to walk and talk and he felt a greater “desire to live.”
He immediately made ping pong part of his wellness routine.
And if he can’t get to a physical ping pong table?
Not a problem.
Quest by Meta allows Bach to play virtually with players around the world.
Only a headset and touch controller required.
“Playing ping pong to me means freedom.
Free of past.
Free of future.
Once you observe the rotating, spinning ball in the air, you don’t think about anything else,” he related.
Bach’s doctors were quick to take note.
“They told me to ‘continue doing what you are doing because it is obvious that you are improving.’”
Nenad Bach, ever the innovator, founded Ping Pong Parkinson (PPP), a non-profit organization based at the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, NY.
The organization believes that playing ping pong increases neuroplasticity in the brain which fosters the creation of neurons and connections through physical exercise.
Around 25–30 “Pongers” show up at the table tennis center in Pleasantville each session, and Bach believes that over 1,000 “Pongers” play across the world.
Every facet of Bach’s life has been underscored–if not defined–by optimism.
Good way to live.
He is now back to playing guitar again.
Think about it.
With a will, there’s a way.
Always.
[Editor’s Note: This piece was written by Mr. Kaplan in August 2022.]
