What is the best way to contact someone after they retired for a recommendation?

I am applying to med school and was hoping to ask a doctor that I shadowed a few years ago for a recommendation -- but I found out that he is now retired! I contacted the office he used to work at - they said they could forward anything that I mailed to his home address, but I am not sure how long this will take. Should I try to contact him at home by phone or just send a letter? Any other suggestions?|||To make the letter reach him quickly, provide a prepaid envelope for overnight delivery to the office that has offered to forward your mail. It is much more respectful than trying to get his home phone, and you do want a good recommendation.|||Make a brief phone call and ask him if he is able to write the recommendation for you. This would be the quickest and most courteous.|||send the letter it should take what three days to reach cali from newyork or from maine to florida so outside its maybe ten days or take the next day mail involope to the old office with you dont ask to find out his new address just send a next day envolope inside the nextday envolope with your letter and be effusive with the thanks and add you e-mail address on the letter with the other adress and also a phone number se he could E-Mail the letter or fax it to the nearest Fax like at a copy max you do the math remeber this is another favor so be effusive and pleasant