It may be that the older man is stubborn, but wishes that someone would open the closed door a crack.  Sometimes you have to make the first move.  If you understand it may not work, but go in with 'let bygones be bygones', you have a chance for reconciliation of sorts.  May not be perfect, but...
Or, as many writers have mentioned, they've cut the ties and are OK with it.  
Figure out which camp you're in, and proceed.