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Beach Gardens Celebrates Elite Centenarians




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Ermisna Theodore, 110 years old, knows how to take a selfie with her granddaughter.

Ermisna Theodore, 110 years old, knows how to take a selfie with her granddaughter.

It was once rare to see a centenarian, but Ermisna Theodore just turned 110 and Sadie Simons will turn 100 this month, and both celebrated with a birthday party on Sept. 7 at Beach Gardens Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Beach 17th Street.

According to her granddaughter Rachel Theodore, Ermisna’s “preferred activity,” and possibly the secret to her longevity, is simply “resting.”

Born on Sept. 7, 1906, Theodore was born in Haiti and came to America in 1984. She speaks Creole.

Having lived in Rockaway since 2006, she has been a resident of Beach Gardens for the past five years.

She has a lot of grandchildren, too many to count, said Rachel, and is very sharp for her age.

Sadie Simons was born on Sept. 12, 1916 in South Carolina, according to Michele Van-Nostrand, Beach Gardens’ Director of Recreation. Simons worked in domestics, was married, has one son, and “a lot of grandkids” like Theodore. Very active, Simons attends church and parties at Beach Gardens.

DJ Warren, who led the party in songs and sing-a-longs, was recommended by a friend to visit Beach Gardens because of his “high energy” about five years ago. Part of The Boston Burglars band, Warren visits various assisted living facilities by appointment and said, “Here at Beach Gardens, the residents prefer Caribbean style of music.”

When he’s not DJing for Beach Gardens or playing in his band, he has worked with the Head Injury Association, where he says brain injury survivors often request popular hits by artists like Michael Jackson. “I just want to make them happy,” Warren said about his clients.

This year, America’s elite centenarian demographic has increased by 44 percent since 2000, according to federal health officials.

Sources report an overwhelming 80 percent or more of centenarians in the United States are women.




DJ Warren is also in a band and visits assisted living facilities.

DJ Warren is also in a band and visits assisted living facilities.

Sadie Simons is very independent for a centenarian.

Sadie Simons is very independent for a centenarian.

Sharing the centenarian title with Theodore and Simons, Irene Hutchinson enjoys some cake.

Sharing the centenarian title with Theodore and Simons, Irene Hutchinson enjoys some cake.

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