Storied lives of five centenarians in the spotlight

Pleasant Pointe Assisted Living residents Susan Sturgill, Dolores Engler, Margaret Nahacky, June Brindley, and Lucy Daffner celebrated milestone birthdays. The movie theme included a local car club bringing a 2000 Corvette and 1967 Country Sedan, a red carpet, popular tunes and candy from decades ago, and fun movie snacks like popcorn, nachos and snow cones.

By CHRISTINA McCUNE
BGNN managing editor

BARBERTON  A movie theme and red carpet treatment seemed ideal for June Brindley, Lucy Daffner, Dolores Engler, Margaret Nahacky and Susan Sturgill. After all, the five remarkable women were born in the 1920s when silent films transitioned to “talkies” and stars like Charlie Chaplin and Greta Garbo were on the big screen.

For one big birthday party April 10 for the five centenarians and their family and friends, Pleasant Pointe Assisted Living went all out with themed decorations, popular movie snacks, a singer crooning the classics, a red carpet in the lobby and fancy cars parked outside.

Still, other themes made their way into the spotlight that afternoon.

Shining brighter than the lights of Hollywood, values of generosity, kindness, resilience and serving others before themselves materialized as Barberton Mayor William Judge read proclamations highlighting the ladies’ lives, and other details were listed on display boards outside the dining room.

The good works of each woman and the positive impact they have made and continue to make on the lives of those around them emerged as important themes.
Teresa Morris, administrator of Pleasant Pointe, said typically residents celebrate their birthdays and turning 100 gets special recognition.

When she realized all within a few weeks in March and April, a handful of residents had milestone birthdays marking 100 to 103 years, she decided this was worth a party to celebrate them all.

Activities director Ashley Lamp took off with the idea. Not only did she want to treat the residents like Hollywood movie stars but she noted how the theme was appropriate because the lives of these inspiring women are like movies. She said something that stuck with her is she knows the women as they are today: cheerful women with positive attitudes. After speaking with family members she learned they all have overcome great hardships and challenges in their lives.

“They all have such upbeat personalities about them,” Lamp said. “They’re the movie stars. We’re telling their stories.”

Lamp had help from staff members and others from organizations that work with Pleasant Pointe such as Crossroads Hospice. Cindy Boswell brought over nine Advancement to Nursing students from Barberton High School who helped set up for the party.

Calee Osburn, regional community liaison at First Choice Home Health, said students and younger generations benefit from taking the time to learn from older generations.

“I think it’s important for people to sit down and listen to their stories and their experiences,” she said. “It’s important for history.”

A Ford Model T didn’t roll up on the assisted living facility for a photo op, but a car club was contacted and a couple kind vehicle owners brought their 2000 Corvette and 1967 Country Sedan for the women to quickly pose in front of outside.

“Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree (with Anyone Else but Me)” had been requested by Lucy Daffner, who marked 101 years on April 2. The 1937 song made famous by the Andrews Sisters and Glenn Miller was popular during World War II and Daffner said that she and her husband used to sing it to each other. According to a display board outside the dining room, the Cleveland native and her husband, Joseph, were married 56 years and had four children. A member of St. Mary’s Church, she was a Eucharistic minister for the homebound and helped with cleaning the church with a group that called themselves “the church mice.” She volunteered once a month after Mass on Sundays at the food pantry, making sandwiches for the homeless. She loved working as a children’s librarian at the Twinsburg Public Library.

“I loved children – I still do,” she said.

Margaret Nahacky celebrated her 100th birthday March 1. One of Nahacky’s daughters, Joann Green, of Pickerington, and granddaughter Deanna Merrick, of Canal Fulton, laughed when asked whether Nahacky ever offered advice. They responded she offered advice on only pretty much everything from cooking to raising children. She loved to cook and bake and she was well-known for her Hungarian cooking especially chicken paprikash and nut rolls. Merrick said lately Nahacky has been reminiscing more about her childhood and growing up on a farm in West Virginia. Nahacky’s mother was born in Hungary and both her father and husband – whom she married when she was a teenager – were coal miners and they both died young, according to information provided on the display board in her honor. Her second husband served in the U.S. Navy. They had four children. After her kids were grown she went back to work at a rubber factory. She was a member of the St. Frances Society and the Rosary Society and attended Prince of Peace Church in Barberton. She now has great-great grandkids.

Karen Bellett – one of many nieces and nephews of Dolores Engler – said what stands out to her about her aunt Dolores is her selflessness and working to help others. Engler turned 100 on the day of the celebration at Pleasant Pointe.

“She is an extremely extremely generous person,” Bellett said. “Just a good solid lovely person.”

Engler worked as a secretary at Bridgeport Brass. A member of St. Mary Church in Akron, she taught Sunday School, worked in the church office after her retirement and helped many families in need through the church. She even traveled to Appalachia to help churches in need. For fun, she enjoyed golfing and watching golf tournaments on TV.

Susan Sturgill was making Barberton Mayor William Judge laugh as she sang a song and made quips. She will turn 103 on April 30. Born in Akron, she attended Barberton Lutheran Church and lived in Barberton and New Franklin throughout her life. Susan speaks both English and Slovak. She went to business college and worked in an office. According to information provided she always enjoyed helping others, and over the years has enjoyed playing cards, listening to CDs, spending time in nature and reading books.

June Brindley celebrated her 101st birthday April 6. She was the valedictorian of the Kenmore High Class of 1941 and graduated from The University of Akron in 1949. She was married to her husband, Richard, for 64 years, and has two daughters. June served in the U.S. Navy for two years in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) unit 1944-1946 during World War II. An avid Magics and Cavs basketball fan, she also enjoys music and movies.

As she was enjoying cake near the end of the birthday celebration, she said the 1924 song “Tea for Two” was always a favorite song of hers. She said advice she would give to others is: “Treasure your family.”