Red Hatters get kick out of life in Cranbury
By:Sarah Winkelman
MONROE Driving by the Cranbury Inn on Tuesday gave motorists quite a sight. Passers-by were surprised to see a throng of women decked out in flamboyant red hats and purple outfits walking into the restaurant and they weren’t hallucinating.
The women were members of the Monroe chapter of the Red Hat Society, known as the "Purple Gems in Red Hats."
"For Red Hatters, old age is about silliness and frivolity," said member Mary Dineen of Monroe.
According to the Red Hat Society Web site, the society was founded by California resident Sue Ellen Cooper. She read the above poem, which depicts an older woman in purple clothing with a red hat, and decided to give a friend a copy of the poem and a vintage red hat for her birthday. The friend got such a kick out of the gift that Ms. Cooper decided to gather her friends together and form the Red Hat Society.
Lillian Mortimer of Monroe formed the Monroe chapter with her friend Marie Markheim three years ago. On Tuesday, the ladies were at the Cranbury Inn celebrating the anniversary of their chapter in the same restaurant where they held their first luncheon three years ago.
"I heard about a group of women who wore red hats who had a luncheon at the Forsgate Country Club, and my friend Marie, and I decided to find out about the organization since we’d never heard of them," Ms. Mortimer said.
The women enlisted the help of their children to search the Internet for information about the Red Hatters, and once they had enough information to start their own chapter, they recruited their friends, and the club was born.
Today the group has 20 members who meet once a month at a local restaurant for lunch and conversation. All the group’s outings are recorded by Ms. Mortimer in purple and red albums.
"In three years we’ve been to a lot of places," she said. "I always like to take pictures of the get-togethers so we can look at them later."
The group has been to restaurants all over the state and has taken weekend trips to Wildwood and Washington, D.C.
Ms. Mortimer said one of the unofficial Red Hatter rules is that you never admit your age, although one of the requirements is that a Red Hatter must be at least 50. She said simply that she and the other women are "over 50."
"We are all very proud of our age," Ms. Dineen said. "We’re just grateful for the time we’ve had and we’re happy to have made it this far and still be able to enjoy life."
Mildred Greenwood, the lone South Brunswick resident, said she’s been a member of the society since its inception.
"I joined the Red Hat Society when I found out that you have to be a little crazy in order to be a member," she quipped. "I’m a little nutty so I joined."
All the other club members, save for two woman, are Rossmoor residents. The other two woman, who did not attend the luncheon, live in Spotswood and Milltown.
Nancy Santo said Ms. Mortimer drafted her for the society.
"Lily told me she had signed me up for the Red Hat Society," she said. "I figured it would be fun to go out and have a good time."
Dolly Gardner said she joined the society for the companionship.
"Sometimes you have things that go wrong in your life and these ladies are very supportive," she said. "It’s good to get together and get out of the house and not talk about illness or grandchildren."
Everyone said they look forward to the monthly lunches and the chance to wear their red hats and purple outfits.
Lorraine Schwarz said the Red Hatters always flirt with the male waiters when they go to lunch.
"High school boys seem to really like us, too," she said. "I think they get a kick out of the group of old ladies in funky hats."
She and Ronnie Starace said they joined the group a year and a half ago. Ms. Schwarz said she also belongs to a society in Florida because she lives there for part of the year.
"I’ve met some wonderful friends, people I never would have known, even though most of us live in Rossmoor together," Joan Jennings said. "I never would have met them if I hadn’t joined the Red Hats. I lived in Rossmoor for 11 years before joining the Red Hats, and I never knew half these women lived there. It’s been so great to be a part of this group."
She said having a good time is the whole point of the organization.
"We are all about relaxation and fun," she said. "We just want to have a good time. The whole purpose is not to have any rules or regulations and just enjoy life. We don’t raise money, we don’t do good deeds. We did all that when we were younger."
Ms. Mortimer said age is the only qualification to wear a red hat.
"Women over 50 wear a red hat and purple outfit with red shoes and carry a red purse," she said. "Younger women can participate as guests, but they have to wear pink hats and lavender clothing until they turn 50. Once she turns 50 she gets her first red hat and becomes an official Red Hatter."
Kay Blonsky said her niece is very excited about forming her own Red Hat chapter.
"She and her friends just recently turned 50, and they are very excited to form their own club," she said.
The next Red Hat gathering is scheduled for July 22 to 25. The Red Hat Society Birthday Bash will be held in New York City to honor the birthday of the Exalted Queen Sue Ellen Cooper, the founder of the Red Hat Society. Ms. Mortimer said thousands of Red Hatters will march down Lexington Avenue, all decked out in their red hats and purple outfits.
"We’re just happy people enjoying the life we’ve been granted," Ms. Dineen said. "Sure we have a few aches and pains, but we are just happy to be together. We took care of our families, and now we’re taking care of ourselves."
For more information about the society, visit www.redhatsociety.com.