Buzz
The Village’s Doris
Deither celebrates 92nd
birthday at Village Care
BY TEQUILA MINSKY
Zoning specialist and Village
icon Doris Deither
had a tumble a couple
weeks ago, which resulted in a
broken hip. Her stay at Village
Care Rehabilitation on Houston
Street didn’t stop the large circle
of friends she enjoys from celebrating
her birthday on Jan. 10.
COVID precautions restrict
visitation inside the Houston
Street facility so adaptation is the
order of the day.
Friends from Judson Church
where Doris is a Sunday frontrow
regular —while services
were held indoors—wanted to
celebrate as did colleagues from
Community Board 2, whereas an
original member from its inception
in 1964, Doris has served
for 54 years. She is one of the
longest-serving community board
members in the city.
So her Washington Square
Park friends— during prepandemic
days, she takes daily
constitutionals— organized a way
to mark her 92nd birthday.
Sitting in the window in Village
Care’s ground fl oor physical
therapy room, Doris looked out
Photographed through the ground floor window in the physical therapy room of Village Care
(rehab center), Doris Deither wears her birthday crown and looks out at her well-wishers.
on Downing Street. Her masked
friends scattered on the sidewalk
and in the street held balloons
and festive posters. One-by-one
each from the multi-generational
group visited with her through
the window, words exchanged by
speakerphone. A couple of times
during the afternoon the crowd
broke into a lively rendition of
“Happy Birthday to Doris.”
Doris was thoroughly enjoying
the afternoon. “It was interesting,”
she later remarked. “Many
I haven’t seen in such a while. I
didn’t know who they were until
they took off their mask.”
“The gathering of about 25 was
a great way for the community to
show up for Doris. We just wanted
to celebrate her!” said Erin Rogers,
one of the “outdoor party”
organizers, who has known Doris
for 15 years. Rogers reminisces
PHOTO BY TEQUILA MINSKY
Lou, son of Erin and Scot, 8,
carries a sign wishing Doris a
happy birthday.
how she, her husband and Doris
would go to 55 Bar together and
how Doris favors champagne and
Chardonnay or whiskey.
Two years ago, the Village
community came out en masse
including all the local politicians
and the Washington Square Park
musicians to help Doris ring in
her 90th year. That party of the
year was held in the main gathering
room at Judson Church.
Erin noted how a lot of people
haven’t been coming out in these
last months and it was heartwarming
how folks came to safely
celebrate Doris’ 92nd year.
Scot Gropper communicating with hand signals through the glass along with a
poster wishing Doris a happy birthday.
Festooned with balloons, shakers and signs, friends sing happy birthday
from the middle of Downing Street for Doris’ 92nd.
Schneps Media January 14, 2021 13