Greenwich Time

Greenwich Time - http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/local/scn-gt-a1centenariansmar09,0,7931385.story

Guests gather to honor lives of four womenBy Martin B. Cassidy

Staff Writer
March 9, 2007

As guests ate cake and sandwiches, Myrtle Tate smiled ear to ear, pointing out her family, several of whom had flown in from the South to celebrate another year in her 104-year-long life.
"Take care of my kids," she asked a waiter who offered her cake. "I have three of them here."
Tate, who moved to Greenwich from Clover, S. C., during World War II, had her birthday on Jan. 15, and attributed her longevity to being a hard worker.
"You work hard all your life," said Tate. "I lived in Greenwich for nearly 70 years, since wartime, and I've known a lot of people who lived there."
Yesterday at Connecticut Health of Greenwich, a King Street nursing home, a group of family members, students, and others came to honor Tate and three other centenarians with songs, speeches, and a giant cake.
At the table of honor with Tate were Bertha Miert, 102, Mary Florio, 102, and Mildred O'Brien, 100, all residents of the home.
Director of Recreation Bridget Regan said that the quartet of women deserved very special recognition.
"We've had parties before, but having four centenarians is just amazing," Regan said. "We wanted to do something great."
The Sacred Heart Academy of Greenwich Bell Choir kicked off the party, followed by the school's Madrigal Singers performing songs including "When I Fall in Love" and "The Lullaby of Broadway" from the musical "42nd Street."
The headmaster of Sacred Heart Academy, Sister Joan Magnetti, told the women, "We pray for you every day because you are our neighbors, and we hope that you pray for us that our girls grow up to be the wonderful people you have become."
Democratic Selectman Penny Monahan presented certificates of honor to the four centenarians, and a young woman, Misa Shimato, performed classical pieces on the piano for them.
Florio said the party was fun. "It was very nice," she said. "I'm having a good time."
Rocco Florio, 74, and Josephine Drago, 71, said their mother Mary emigrated from southern Italy as an infant to the Mulberry Street area of Manhattan.
She was a terrific cook and caring mother who had the magic touch with difficult-to-make Italian dishes.
Rocco Florio said his mother said the secret to good health was cooking with olive oil.
"She could make a meal out of grass," said Florio, a Harrison, N.Y., resident. "She would make dishes that are now specialties and she taught my son how to cook."
Tate's nephew, Charles R. Miller, 67, said his aunt always had a curious nature and great head for facts, and still does.
"As long as I've known her, what is amazing to me is she remembers everything from the time she was a little girl," Miller said. "She is a book of knowledge."
Dan Miert, a 72-year-old Byram resident, said his aunt Bertha loves reading and ice skating, and always sacrifices for others.
"We all knew her as Aunt Bert," he said of his years growing up. "She was the kind of woman that if there was a piece of cake left wouldn't split it with you, she'd give it to you."
The Rev. Desmond Hamilton of the Greenwich Chaplaincy Service said that the four women were "a blessing," continually inspiring dispirited or ailing residents of the home with their vitality.
"They still touch lives one soul at a time," Hamilton said.