Three centenarians celebrate birthdays in Bayside
Photo by Suzanne Monteverdi/QNS
www.qns.com | AUGUST 2017| lehavre Courier 11
Exp. 8/31/17
BY SUZANE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
The extraordinary lives of one 105 and two
103-year-old New York City residents were celebrated
in Bayside with dancing, food and fun.
On July 28, centenarians Jean Mastrangelo,
Pauline Kossar and Irving Black were thrown
a grand birthday affair at the Catholic Charities
Bayside Senior Center, located along the Horace
Harding Expressway.
Jean Mastrangelo, who celebrated 103 years on
July 20, was born at her family home in Brooklyn
and is the sixth of eight children. She attended
Manhattan Industrial School where she studied
millinery and has two children, three grandchildren
and three great-grandchildren. On Fridays,
she takes the bus to the center to dance.
Mastrangelo said the secret to longevity is to
always be happy and never argue.
Pauline Kossar, who turned 105 on July 21,
was born in her family home in New York City.
Owner of the famed Kossar’s Bialy Bakery,
Kossar still enjoys visiting the family business.
She has three children, eight grandchildren and
four great-grandchildren and enjoys playing
Bingo at the center.
For Kossar, the secret to a long life is hard work
and spending quality time with family.
Irving Black, who will celebrate his 103rd birthday
on Aug. 23, was born in Latvia and came to
the United States when he was seven. He attended
Manhattan’s Cooper Union College and served as
a civil engineer for the U.S. Navy during World
War II. He has been married to his wife, Dorothy,
for 76 years. The couple have three children, five
grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
According to Black, the secret to longevity is
love, compromise and dancing with Dorothy.
After lunch, birthday cake and dancing, each
centenarian was presented certificates of recognition
from local lawmakers, including Borough
President Melinda Katz, State Senator Tony
Avella and Councilman Barry Grodenchik.
The Catholic Charities Bayside Senior Center
is located at 221-15 Horace Harding Expy. and
offers a range of activities and services, including
art classes, games, workshops, lunches and
organized outings.
