CRANBERRY TWP — At age 97, that number does not define John Bridges. His experiences do.

A resident of the Sherwood Oaks senior community for three years, Bridges has parlayed a career in the timber industry into a lifetime of accomplishment that spans the globe.

Born in England, he was employed by Kopper Industries and was transferred to the company’s corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh years ago. He has built more than 120 wooden boats — including a 14-footer at age 14 — and the 90-foot ship used in the “Swiss Family Robinson” motion picture in 1963.

An author in California is writing a book about that film, and has been sending chapters to Bridges for fact-checking purposes.

“I’m the only person still alive from the makings of that movie,” Bridges said. “He just wants to double-check everything, make sure he’s accurate. I’m fine with that.”

Bridges was working for a saw mill in Trinidad when “Walt Disney called the business looking for someone to build a boat for a movie.”

Bridges took on the task — something he’s done regularly throughout his life.

“We had three months to get it done,” he said. “I had eight or nine shipmates, about another 10 workers … It was chaos. But we were so proud when it was finished.”

“They actually built a second boat for that film, one that was wrecked on the rocks as part of the story,” said Dick Zuberbuhler, director of the Sherwood Oaks wood shop. “The filmmakers didn’t want to bust up the original boat.”

Bridges speaks six languages, as he’s lived all over the world. He’s spent time in Africa, England, Kenya and the West Indies, among other countries. He taught woodwork at most of those stops.

“I’d be teaching a class and I’d be the only one in the room who spoke English,” he said. “I had to learn other languages.”

His interest in sailing came from his upbringing.

“I was born and raised around water,” Bridges said. “I was into sailing since I was a small child and I could work with wood. Building boats almost came naturally to me.”

He met his eventual wife of 65 years, Sheila, on an island overseas.

“He was building boats on the beach and she was teaching a dance class there,” said Bill Paviol, of the Moraine Sailing Club. “She wanted to learn how to sail and went over to talk to him. The rest is history.”

The couple spent much of their early years of marriage on the water. After having their son, Francis, the family spent most of a year living on one of the wooden ships Bridges built while in the West Indies.

Bridges couldn’t help but smile while recalling that period in his life.

“Until my son was 4, he spent more time on that boat than on dry land with a roof over his head,” he said. “There was no electricity on board. We had an ice chest and we caught a lot of fish.

“Every now and then, we’d go into a harbor and would get canned food, flour, things like that. My wife would use a frying pan while wearing a bikini.”

Bridges’ wife died 18 months ago while the couple was residing at Sherwood Oaks.

Bridges found a way to keep going — primarily through the wood shop on community grounds.

“John was a lonely guy for a while, had difficulty coping,” Zuberbuhler said. “Then he got involved in our wood shop. We have 11 (Sherwood Oaks) members in the shop, but John and I are the only two active members.

“He fixes broken items for fellow residents all the time. He makes fun items out of wood and gives them to our gift shop at no charge. He just loves coming in here.”

Bridges says he estimates spending “two or three hours per day” in the wood shop.

“It’s the best part of my day,” he said.

He built the bed he still sleeps in. Most of the furniture in his apartment — desks, chairs, tables — he constructed himself.

“I ran out of practical things to make, so I do whimsical stuff now,” Bridges said. “I craft little items out of wood and hand them out for Christmas, things like that. I like to keep busy.”

Bridges has been a member of the Moraine Sailing Club for many years. He taught sailing classes for the club until he was in his early 90s, and taught young people how to build small boats for themselves.

It was all about getting people interested in sailing at a young age and further promoting the club.

“That was important to me,” Bridges said.

He also served as the liaison between the Moraine Sailing Club and Moraine State Park.

“John is such a personable guy and has been so influential in many people’s lives,” Paviol said. “He’s always been an excellent communicator, and that’s served his teaching well — along with dealing with the park.

“He could articulate what he wanted and had a way of getting it.”

Moraine State Park manager Dustin Drew recalls dealing with Bridges on occasion.

“He wanted to build boat docks with a roof for small wooden boats on site,” Drew said. “He offered to do all of the labor. He just needed a location.

“John Bridges isn’t one to sit around. He’s a go-getter, a doer. He’s an outgoing person who finds a way to get things done,” he said.

Bridges still walks at a brisk pace. He doesn’t use a cane, nor requires any physical assistance that way.

“He reads a lot, he builds a lot,” Zuberbuhler said. “John is still an able man who pays attention to detail. He’s kept up with life.”

But can life keep up with him?

“I just enjoy doing things for people,” he said. “I built maybe 57 puddle ducks (small boats) for the sailing club. I can’t do that anymore, can’t get out sailing much anymore, but I’m still a member of the club.

“There’s always something I can do. Reading those (“Swiss Family Robinson”) chapters has brought back a lot of memories.”

Paviol described Bridges as one of the most interesting individuals he’s ever come across.

“John remembers people’s names once he meets them,” he said. “The man in stoic, intelligent and well-mannered. He’s a master wood-maker who’s traveled the world,” Paviol said.

“What a life … and he’s still not done.”