Keyport celebrated the 100th birthday of one of its “special” residents.
Complete with strawberry cake, gifts and blue decorations, Dorothy Poling celebrated her 100th birthday early at the Keyport Senior Center.
Keyport Mayor Harry Aumack II read a proclamation and presented her with an honorary plaque, which was to be read at the Borough Council meeting later that night of Feb. 20.
Poling was born on Feb. 21, 1918, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and moved to the borough as an infant, according to Keyport Senior Center Director Madeline Costello.
“It’s a special occasion, even though more people are living longer. To be here on earth for 100 years is very impressive. Poling is deserving of a special party from the senior center she has been coming to for so many years and has so many friends here who truly love and appreciate spending time with her,” Costello said during the early birthday party on Feb. 20, during which 45 patrons attended.
Poling worked assembling parts at Lavoie Labs, a radar for the U.S. Navy. She worked for Landau Manufacturing Company, which made sweaters and women’s undergarments, and she was an Avon representative for many years, according to Costello.
Seated at a table surrounded by friends and blue decorations, Poling said, “I never thought I would make it.”
Poling has three sons, seven grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren.
An active member of the center, her favorite activity is bingo.
“I am happy she is still here. All our life we always counted on her [and] she has always come through, never had a problem. Whenever we went a little off the right, she was there to put us back on the right track,” her son Frank said during the party.
“I wrote something in a card and I said, ‘Well, the first 100 [years] didn’t seem to have been very hard, but I am sure the next 100 is going to be really something,’” her son James Poling said during the party.
Poling’s third son Bob was unable to attend due to a recent surgery, Frank Poling said.
Since her favorite flower is a rose, Costello presented Poling with a rose corsage and a photo album as early birthday gifts.
Aumack said his mother just turned 100 years old and she and Poling were friends when they were children. Currently, his mother lives in Florida and she still goes to work two days a week.
“My thoughts were, and I said this to a couple of people, Ms. Poling is in great shape, the same as my mother. It must be the Keyport water. … My thoughts were … it’s great to be here with her on her 100th and … maybe we will see her on [her] 101st,” Aumack said.
For more information about the Keyport Senior Center, visit www.keyportonline.com/content/4031/4050/4247/5032/default.aspx.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].