Persimmontree Magazine | 20

Photographs of Centenarians

by

Joan Roth

      What struck me when my grandfather turned 103 is that the world finally recognized him as the great man he was—simply for having outfoxed time. For Emma Hendrickson (see photo below), the oldest competitor in the history of the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championship, it was the recognition of her skill that meant a lot. In bowling alleys across the country, she was commended for her fifty consecutive years of bowling. A banner congratulating her was strung across the lanes at Plaza Lanes in Madison, New Jersey. In Morristown, where she lives, the city hung another big birthday banner in front of Town Hall. "The town did it up," says Hendrickson.

      Centenarians are on the rise and living to maximum potential. Although today’s phenomenon may appear commonplace, it brings fresh thinking to getting old. "Lasting all this time is against my will," says Mickey Wechsler (see photo below). "It’s nothing in particular anymore. There are so many of us now. If I could run around the way I once did, see and hear the way I used to, it would be a lot more fun, but I’ve slowed down. Life has to stop at some point."

      Still, for me, the enchanting spirits of these remarkable women continue to soar. Each is unique, each a pleasure to photograph.

Photo 1: An Israeli Bukharian woman (name unknown) in a moment of contemplation.

Photo 2: Leah Levy Stupell, Mudgie to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, started out as a Bluma girl (the all-girls softball team) in Brooklyn, 1904, and blossomed into a successful business woman.

Photo 3: Ruth Weinflash, lovingly hugs her mother, Leah, at her 100th birthday party, as Leah’s great-granddaughter preserves the moment on film.

Photo 4: Family matriarch great-grandmother Dicy Pettaway relaxes in her kitchen after her 100th birthday party.

Photo 5: Isabel Beham, respected for her expertise on the economics of railroading, was the first woman to be named a partner in a Wall Street bond house.

Photo 6: Astrid Thoenig, one of the few remaining survivors of the 1918 flu pandemic, still works as a secretary at the family-owned Thorton Agency, Inc.

Photo 7: Licia Albanese, star soprano of the Metropolitan Opera for twenty-six years, will always be remembered as Madame Butterfly, the role for which she achieved the most acclaim.

Photo 8: Licia Albanase, with tenor Cesare L. Santeramo (who sang with her), Luna Kaufman, and Evelyn Kupin, walking the red carpet at the opera's recent opening night performance.

Photo 9: Eva Zeisler, a legend in 20th century design of tabletop ceramics and pottery, received the Visionary Award from the Museum of Arts & Design, NY,
at age 102.

Photo 10: Eva Zeisler holds her book, Eva Zeisel on Design, in which she gives over the ideas that have guided and inspired her work throughout her long career.

Photo 11: June Salander on the porch of her house in Rutland, Vermont. Her vegetable gardens flourish, yellow flowers bloom, and the aroma of fresh baked goods permeates the neighborhood.

Photo 12: June Salander is famous for her golden braided challah and Russian apple strudel, which feed the soul of an entire community.

Photo 13: Mickey Weschler, a Royal Canadian champion swimmer, diver, and lifeguard, enjoys a champagne toast with her neighbor, Edward Maloney, at her 100th birthday party.

Photo 14: Emma Hendrickson is the only woman who bowled in every tournament of the U.S. Bowling Congress for 50 consecutive years and the second woman to be inducted into its Men’s Hall of Fame.

Photo 15: Emma Hendrickson, with one of her many trophies.

Joan Roth's photography has won awards and been published, exhibited, and made part of important art collections throughout the world. Her passion lies in visually conveying the grandeur of ordinary women. Born and reared in Detroit, Joan Roth came to New York in 1962. She has photographed the women's movement since the early days, and she photographed the UN International Conferences on Women in Nairobi and Beijing. In 1994, she began documenting Veteran Feminist events. Roth published Shopping Bag Ladies of New York, a breakthrough book about homeless woman, and she traveled worldwide to publish Jewish Women: A World of Tradition and Change.

Continue reading... Next: Drema Hall Berkheimer's "Gypsy Skirt"

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Comments

MaryAnn L. Miller
19 May 2010, 09:02

How very encouraging to see these eloquent photos.Thanks for publishing them.

Pat Johnson
11 May 2010, 05:17

Hollywood beauties they may not be, but there is a true beauty in these women that far exceeds our society's criteria. These women deserve to be on the list of the world's Most Beautiful People!

Cynthia Dixon
17 Apr 2010, 23:09

As a novice photographer, I am pleased to be exposed to such exquisite photos of unique and uplifting subject matter! Thank you for brightening my goals.

Patricia D'Alessandro
15 Apr 2010, 16:10

Dear Friends of the Cultural arts,
What is more beautiful than a woman moving into her age naturally? What beautiful photos of woman who have.
Thank you so much for this lovely collection of really beautiful women.
May they multiply as we move forward into the
21st Century.
Warmest regards,
Patricia D'Alessandro
Age 86 - Essayist/Poet/Artist/Pacifist

joan
15 Apr 2010, 12:40

GREAT PHOTOS!! So inspiring and powerful!

E.M. Broner
20 Mar 2010, 18:20

Joan, art and heart. Your looking at them with love makes them lovely. You are an artist. Yours, Esther

Penny Hackett-Evans
17 Mar 2010, 10:41

Lovely! Inspiring!

Shirley Gaines
16 Mar 2010, 13:03

for the moment, I can just say, "Wow!" These women are so beautiful. May I be as resilient, should I live to be as old. Thank you for this gift on the cusp of winter and spring!

Bea Kreloff
16 Mar 2010, 12:22

Joan, Now that I'm galloping towards 85 (9/11/2010) your photos of centenarians women is inspiring.I'm still working on pulling together our 30th anniversary of Art Workshop International in Assisi, Italy. Edith Isaac-Rose, my partner for 31 years was invited to show her work in Inner Mongolia so after last years workshop we continued on from Italy to Russia to Beijing and other cities in China to Shanghai and back to New York. It was a fantastic trip. I'll let you know when I reach 100. Good luck with the photos. Call or email me, I have an idea for you and those wonderful photos.

Kathleen Motta
16 Mar 2010, 11:55

What amazing photographs. These women express such spirit and life.

Elisabeth Munro Smith
16 Mar 2010, 10:47

As a recently-turned-70, I relish pictures of women who are so spritely and engaged in the world, as they reach the 100-mark. Beautiful pictures and beautiful women!

kathy
15 Mar 2010, 23:23

Beautiful photos, beautiful women. I should look at these every day.

Photographs of Centenarians

by

Joan Roth

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