Retired airline captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger is writing letters for his granddaughter while continuing Alzheimer’s treatment, sharing how family, exercise and purposeful work fill his days.
“I can control how I choose to live my life every day,” Sullenberger told PEOPLE in a recent interview.
Sullenberger received his diagnosis in August 2025 and publicly announced it in July 2026. In the months since, he has heard from people who decided to share their own diagnoses with relatives and friends.
In his July 14 statement, Sullenberger explained that speaking publicly offered another way to serve others after a career in aviation and safety advocacy. He hoped other families who felt unable to discuss the disease would find the courage to speak, too.
The former pilot found fame on Jan. 15, 2009, when he made an emergency Hudson River landing after a bird strike caused both engines to lose thrust. The story later reached movie audiences in SULLY, starring actor Tom Hanks.
Right now, though, his focus is much more personal: writing a book for his granddaughter, Eleanor, built around lessons he hopes she will carry into her own life. The project takes the form of letters about courage, integrity, empathy and teamwork, values he says have guided him inside the cockpit and beyond it.
Related: Capt. Sully Reveals Small Changes That Led to Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
“These are the principles that have guided me throughout my life, in the cockpit and beyond, and I hope they’ll guide her too,” Sullenberger said.
There’s plenty of time with Eleanor in the meantime. Sullenberger said he and his wife, Lorrie, watch their 22-month-old granddaughter a few days a week, describing a little girl who keeps them busy and brings them joy.
He also offered a grandfather’s playful observation: Eleanor seems to prefer him, much to Lorrie’s chagrin. He doesn’t mind that arrangement one bit.
Another happy family moment came when their older daughter recently married at Lake Tahoe. Seeing his children so happy, he said, has been especially satisfying.
The update also included a look at his treatment. Sullenberger said he continues monthly infusions, tolerates them without side effects and has experienced a significant reduction in brain plaque; he emphasized that the treatment would not reverse the disease but could slow symptoms.
His day-to-day account also includes ongoing projects, two-mile runs several times a week and weight training with a trainer, a former Marine with whom he enjoys comparing military experiences.
At home, Lorrie is his main source of support, while their daughters live close enough for regular visits. Support has also arrived from people who know him through the emergency landing that made him famous.
“Their kind words really do have an impact,” he said of the passengers from Flight 1549 who have reached out since his announcement.
Alongside medical care and family support, Sullenberger is making room to pass along the things he most wants his granddaughter to know.
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