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Centenarian Happy To Have Lived To See History

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By TONY MARRERO

Hernando Today

Published: January 7, 2009

Updated: 01/07/2009 10:43 am

Winonah Greene

BROOKSVILLE - Winonah Greene admits she never thought the day she would get to witness one of the ultimate fruits of the Civil Rights Movement's labors.

But here it is: Americans have elected a black president, and one week after her 103rd birthday, President-elect Barack Obama will be inaugurated.

"I knew it had to come, but I had no idea I'd live to see it," Greene said Tuesday after the county's sixth annual Centenarian Birthday Party at the SunTrust Bank branch in downtown Brooksville.

Greene was one of 14 centenarians honored at the event. Living for a century, the group has seen 18 American presidents, from Teddy Roosevelt to George W. Bush — and now, Barack Obama.

"It's quite an accomplishment for the country," Greene said. "For everybody."

It's especially heartening for someone who lived through so much racial turmoil, including the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968.

For Greene, who took part in the civil rights movement by volunteering as a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and saw King speak, it was a particularly painful blow.

"I couldn't believe it," she said of her reaction to the news. "It's a feeling that's hard to describe."

As a sorority member, Greene recalls putting together signs and advertisements for meetings and other events.

"I was interested in the work he was doing, and it paid off in so many ways," she said. "He was given a task and he accomplished that. You can see the results now, although he had to give his life for it."

Now Greene reflects on her own life and tasks. God must have a reason for blessing her with such a long life, she says.

"I guess I have a job to do, but I haven't finished it yet," she said. "I know a good bit of it is helping people."

Part of that meant educating youngsters. Born in Petersburg, Va. on Jan. 13, 1906, Greene earned a masters degree in home economics from Virginia State College, now Virginia State University.

Her mother, a teacher, influenced her choice of careers. Greene taught home economics to middle school students in Virginia and Pennsylvania for 20 years and then worked for another two decades as a clerk in the Veterans Administration offices in Pennsylvania.

She continued to tutor for many years through her church, Mt. Carmel Baptist in Philadelphia.

Her husband Ervie Greene died in 1983. She moved to Hernando County in 2006 to be close to family. She now lives with her daughter Patricia in Wellington and enjoys spending time with her two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The family will be glued to the television on Jan. 20, when Obama raises one hand, puts the other on the Bible and takes the highest office in the land.

Greene says she's hopeful young people who watch history being made will make the connection between King's sacrifice and Obama's inauguration.

As for Obama, she is, like King, daring to dream big.

"I hope he'll bring peace to the world," she said, "because the world is in trouble."

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BIRTHDAY PARTY
Hernando's Centenarians

Here is some background about each of the 14 centenarians honored at a birthday party hosted by the county and SunTrust Bank in Brooksville on Tuesday:

Josephine P. Boylan, 101 years old in 2009
Born: Oct. 3, 1908 in Lebanon, N.Y.
Family: married Vincent Boylan. Three children, eight grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
A job she held: seamstress.
Happiest memory: when her son Jerry played the organ and everyone sang during the holidays.
A favorite activity: playing bingo with her friends.
Advice to young people: Have fun and work hard.

Carl Blesser, 103 years old in 2009
Born: June 1, 1906 in New York, N.Y.
Family: married Nadine, no children.
A job he held: certified public accountant.
Happiest memory: visiting the Empire State Building with Nadine and his parents.
If he could live his life over: he would travel more and would like to have met President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
A favorite activity: to go outside and read, and taking in a shrimp dinner at the Golden Corral.
Advice to young people: Don't smoke or drink.

Vera Bryant, 100 years old in 2009
Born: May 7, 1909 in Twin Lakes, Fla.
Family: married Robert Bryant, two daughters.
A job she held: certified nursing assistant for 33 years.
What makes her happy: membership at Bethlehem Progressive Baptist Church, where she is the oldest member.
Greatest pleasure: visiting with family.
If she could live over: She wouldn't change a thing.
Fond childhood memory: riding her father's horses.
Advice to young people today: get a good education.

Lillian Chudy, 102 years old in 2009
Born: Sept. 14, 1907 in New York, N.Y.
Family: married Stephen Chudy, one daughter, four grandchildren and six
Great-grandchildren.
A job she held: Seamstress
A proud memory: met President Jimmy Carter.
Moved to Hernando County: because her brother, aunt and uncle lived here.
Favorite activities: attending church, playing bingo and cards.

Tekla Hampus, 103 years old in 2009
Born: Sept. 24, 1906 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Family: widowed in 1979, two children, one grandchild, two great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Fond memories: picnics with her parents
Famous encounter: met Greta Garbo on a boat going back to Sweden in 1946.
Moved to Hernando County: in 1968 to be with her children.
If she could live her life again: she wouldn't change anything.

Marion Irvin, 109 years old in 2009
Born: July 10, 1900 in Plattsburg, N.Y.
Family: married "Al" Louis Irvin in 1927. They had no children.
Schooling: Marion was a 1918 graduate of Plattsburg High School.
A job she held: staffer at the North New York Telephone Company.
A favorite memory: playing with her neighbor in the woods, the old mill yard and the coal yard.
Advice to young people: Slow down. Spend time with your family.
Moved to Hernando County: to live at Evergreen Woods assisted living facility in Spring Hill.

Barbara Kujawa, 100 years 2009
Born: Dec. 5, 1909 in Ironwood, Mich.
Family: husband Aloysius Kujawa; four children; 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Proudest moment: seeing all of her children get married
Fondest childhood memory: sledding on a big hill in Grand Rapids with her cousins and walking out on the ice to see her father ice fish.
A job she held: assembly line worker.
Moved to Hernando County: in the 1980s because it was a nice place to live.
A favorite activity: reading.
If she could live her life over she: would have traveled the world and gotten a better education.
Advice to young people: work hard, be honest, don't drink or do drugs, and honor your parents.

Bertha Lewis, 103 years in 2009
Born: Oct. 19, 1906 in Georgia.
Family: married Lovorge Lewis, one daughter.
Proudest moments: getting married and having a child.
A job she held: seamstress.
Fondest childhood memories: attending church and Bible study.
Biggest pleasure in life: she just thanks God she's alive.
If she could live her life again: she wouldn't change a thing.

Marie O'Brien, 107 years old in 2009
Born: Jan. 3, 1902 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Family: oldest of three sisters; married Thomas in 1924.
Jobs she held: working at Lit Brothers Department Store and Bell Telephone Co.
A fond memory: in 1917, during World War I as the troops moved through Philadelphia, she waved them on and passed out cigarettes and snacks.
Encounter with famous person: President Eisenhower acknowledged the get well card she sent him during his illness.
Moved to Hernando County: 1971
Proudest moment: her 100th birthday celebration at St. Anthony Catholic Church in 2002.
Favorite activities: read her large print edition of Reader's Digest.
Advice to young people: go to school and watch your pennies, get a good job and be honest with yourself.

Nancy Pasqualino, 102 years in 2009
Born: May 12, 1907 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Family: never married, no children.
Jobs she held: bookkeeper and office manager at Gucci Shops on Fifth Avenue in New York.
Famous relative: Nancy said she and her sister Connie are second cousins to Mother Theresa.
Fondest childhood memories: time with her loving mother & father.
Proudest moment: high school graduation day.
Advice to young people: listen to their parents.
Favorite activities: reading and spending time with her sister Connie, also a centenarian.

Connie Pasqualino, 100 years old in 2009
Born: June 28, 1909 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Family: Never married, no children.
Schooling: attended the Pratt Institute of Design in Brooklyn
A job she held: staffer at BBD & O Advertising Company.
If she could live life over again: she would pursue a career as a fashion designer.
Proudest moment: graduation day.
Happiest memory: celebrating her parents' 25th wedding anniversary.
A historical event she attended: saw Pope Paul at Shea Stadium in New York
Moved to Hernando County: in 1990 with her sister Nancy for the great weather and to live with her sister Margaret and nephew Joseph.
Favorite activities: taking care of and playing with her pet Quaker parrot named Jade and visiting with her sister Nancy.
Advice to young people: listen to parents' advice and get a good education.

Richard H. Reidel, 100 years old in 2009
Born: in Feb. 1, 1909 in Sturbridge, Mass.
Family: first wife Lucille passed away in 1981. His second wife Ann passed away in 2006. No children.
A job he held: vice-president at Linen Company in St. Petersburg.
Happiest memory: sailing into New York Harbor and seeing the Statue of Liberty.
Encounter with a famous person: once met pro golfer Patty Berg when she missed the green and her ball rolled over by him.
Favorite activity: breathing.
Moved to Hernando County: in 1984 to find a retirement community where he could have his dog. He lives in Timber Pines.
Advice to young people: do things in moderation and be conservative.

Lucius E. Young, 100 years old in 2009
Born: May 8, 1909 in Martel, Fla.
Family: married Muriel Young, no children.
Schooling, military service: attended Howard University, Georgetown University and Fessenden Academy, and served in the U.S. Army Infantry, retiring as a commissioned officer.
Happiest moment: graduating from high school.
Historic event: served during World War II.
Encounter with famous person: met Gen. Douglas MacArthur and heard him make the statement, "I shall return."
Proudest moment: making his mother proud by becoming a commissioned officer.
Pleasures in life: says eating, sleeping and reading give him all the pleasures he needs to be content.
Advice for young people: study hard in school including subjects you don't like.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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