The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

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Birthday and Mother’s Day Wishes for 107-year-old Bristal Resident: Marian Henry

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Armonk, May 5–Marian Henry, on the occasion of her 107th birthday, was enveloped in love and good wishes from family, friends, staff and residents of the Bristal Center for Assisted Living. Everyone gathered inside the beautiful main lounge to sing Happy Birthday to her and later enjoyed a delicious spread of fruit, sweet treats, and slices from the giant birthday cake.

Cutting the cake!
Cutting the cake!

The petite centenarian offered a shy smile or a wave for the many cameras snapping away while also holding a bouquet of lavender flowers and before receiving laudatory comments from Bristal staff. “We were very excited to celebrate such a fantastic milestone yesterday at our Armonk community,” said George Solano, Executive Director at The Bristal at Armonk. “Marian is very outgoing and one of our most active residents. We congratulate her on her 107th birthday!”

Area public officials declared May 5, 2016, Marian Henry Day. A representative from the County Executive’s office called Marian “a role model that everyone adores…you have a great family and everyone is blessed to have you here.” Additional honors were bestowed upon this centenarian, a former Wall Street broker who began her career there at age 49 and who kept working until she was 99! “The secret to a long life is hard work,” Marian shared. Marian has lived through two World Wars, the Great Depression and the Great Recession, 19 U.S. presidents, Lindberg crossing the Atlantic, and men landing on the moon.

Marian with the staff at The Bristal Assisted Living at Armonk, an assisted and independent living community that offers memory care support as well as enhanced levels of care.
Marian with the staff at The Bristal Assisted Living at Armonk, an assisted and independent living community that offers memory care support as well as enhanced levels of care.

Barbara DiGiacinto, councilwoman of North Castle, extended good wishes on behalf of the town board and told Marian: “You are an inspiration to all of us. North Castle is so proud to have you as one of our very special residents. I’d like to wish you a happy Mother’s Day.” And turning to all the moms and grandmothers and great grandmothers gathered, DiGiacinto added: “I’d like to wish you ALL a happy mother’s day.” — Grace Bennett

Esther Miller Turns 100

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Article and Photos By Marianne A. Campolongo

What do Esther Miller and Bill Clinton have in common? They both live in Chappaqua and share a birthday, August 19, although Miller has a few years on the former president. She just turned 100.

Feted by over 100 friends and family at a party at the New Castle Senior Center the weekend before the big day and honored at a New Castle Town Board meeting where she was presented with a Proclamation from the Westchester County Board of Legislators announcing that August 19, 2015 is Esther Lopatin Miller Day in Westchester County, the spry centenarian enjoyed a busy time leading up to the big day.

Esther Miller
Esther Miller

Keeping busy is second nature to Miller. She plays bridge two or three times a week. “I love to commune with nature,” she said. She particularly enjoys bird-watching at the home she shares with her daughter Carol Glassman and son-in-law Morris, who built the many bird feeders and birdhouses that dot their property. On a recent visit, woodpeckers, cardinals, mourning doves, and sparrows were among the flock. “You have to appreciate the wonderful value these birds have to offer,” Miller said. She also enjoys relaxing by the fish pond at the Chappaqua home of her daughter and son-in-law, Roxanne and Ed Socolow.

A champion and captain of the tennis team at Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Connecticut, Miller played tennis well into her 80’s. “I still love sports. I spend many hours watching tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball on television,” she said.

Miller raised her two daughters in New Haven, Connecticut and both women attended the same schools as their mother, just as Kevin, HGHS class of 2013 and Katie, HGHS 2016 have attended their father’s alma mater and grown up in the same town. Kevin has followed his grandmother’s footsteps too, teaching as well as playing tennis.

Family and friends came from around the county and around the country to help Esther Miller celebrate her 100th birthday.
Family and friends came from around the county and country to help Esther Miller celebrate her 100th birthday.

Miller was also an avid golfer throughout much of her life, taking up the game so she could play with her late husband, David, who was a champion amateur. The two won many tournaments together as well. She taught her grandsons the game and made many friends on the golf course after moving to town.

Miller moved to Chappaqua from New Haven in 1980. At first, she missed Connecticut, having lived in New Haven her entire life, but soon she fell in love with her new home. “It’s so beautiful here,” she said. Not long after her move, she made an indelible mark on the community when, at age 66, she rescued a gunshot victim.

On September 24, 1982, Rev. Bob Butler, pastor of the Bedford Community Church in Bedford Hills, was writing the final sentence of a sermon about his future being in God’s hands, when, Butler said, a stranger walked into the rectory and shot him three times, once in the head. Blinded and delirious, he managed to make his way out to the street just as Miller was driving home from a round of golf. A man flagged down her car, hustling Miller into the passenger seat before leaving her to drive Butler to Northern Westchester Hospital Center on her own. “I kept telling him, ‘I’m not going to let you die. You’re too young,’” Miller said she told the 34-year-old Butler.

“She was certainly a good Samaritan,” said Butler, “I owe my life to her.” Butler eventually recovered most of his sight, and the two became good friends, going to dinner each September 24 until Butler moved to a parish in the midwest.

Roughly a decade later, in 1991, Miller fulfilled a life-long dream and graduated from Mercy College with a degree in criminal justice. Age 75 at graduation, she is Mercy’s oldest alumna.

Much of her family lives nearby. In addition to her two daughters who live in Chappaqua, her grandson Brian Socolow, his wife Pam and great-grandchildren Kevin and Katie also live in New Castle. In all she has five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, “including a set of triplets” who live in nearby South Salem, and most of whom were on hand to help her celebrate the big day.

“What prolongs my life is the love I have of all the people I have known,” she said. She also credits her longevity to “good luck” and “living close to family,” adding, “finally, the good Lord has control.”

Marianne A. Campolongo is a freelance writer and photographer from Chappaqua, New York. Her website is www.campyphotos.com