Selma, a lifelong West Hartford resident, had many stories about her life adventures to tell after she turned 100 years old on Monday, July 22.
Selma, standing in front of the bookshelf, her husband, Murray, made her along with part of her collection of books and teddy bears. Photo Credit: Kaily Martinez
By Kaily Martinez
A centenarian is a person who lives to be 100 years old or older – a major milestone to be celebrated.
Although the festivities were held the day before, Selma was happy to celebrate her 100 birthday on Monday, July 22, with friends and family. During an interview with Selma, she was thrilled to discuss her life journey, born the fourth of six children in her Connecticut family, and her thoughts about turning triple digits.
Sitting down in her beautifully decorated kitchen, Selma’s character could be seen throughout the items she filled her home with, including her collection of teddy bears and hand fans from her time in the Fan Association of North America. The love of her late husband, Murray, could be seen in the frames he built for the collection of her hand fans and in the bookshelves he made to hold all the novels for the avid book reader that Selma is.
While sipping tea and eating an array of cookies, Selma touched on her 100th birthday celebration held the day before her birthday at the Wintonbury Hills Golf Course in Bloomfield. “I didn’t want one,” Selma said, but her sister Carol had other ideas. Teaming up with Selma’s two nieces and sister-in-law, they threw a joyous and beautiful birthday party that no one will forget.
Table decorations from Selma’s birthday celebration. Courtesy image.
Helping out with the party was Selma’s new friend, Meg, also a West Hartford resident.
Meg and Selma’s friendship began earlier this year after their nail salon inadvertently scheduled them for appointments at the same time. They laughed it off, and Selma excitedly gave Meg her contact information, thus beginning one of the best spontaneous friendships. As Meg and Selma retraced her childhood education, Selma recalled she graduated from Hall High School in 1942.
“I think it’s telling of you, and I think that’s where your heart is so big and full of love and kindness,” Meg said.
But as she reflected on her high school education, it brought her back to a specific Sunday. Weekly on Sundays, Selma and her family would listen to classical music on the radio and close their eyes, “absorbing the wonderful music.” On one Sunday, however, an announcement from President Franklin D. Roosevelt interrupted their music, announcing Japan had just attacked the United States. “That’s when I decided I was going to become an Air Raid Warden, and I did,” Selma said.
Part of one of the three boards that were put together to display a collage of photos of Selma over the years. Photo Credit: Kaily Martinez
During that time, she worked at the report center at West Hartford Town Hall. Selma said one time, a raid was called in, and she and her colleagues had to contact all the Air Raid Wardens to let them know. “We got written up in the Courant for that, for doing such a fantastic job,” Selma said with a smile. Immediately after, she said the one thing she remembers is to keep the crowds away, then proceeded to laugh, stating, “I don’t think I could give CPR or anything.”
Selma took on many careers, ranging from a legal secretary at Ribicoff Law Firm, a canary at Saint Francis Hospital, to taking over her brother Seth’s pet shop for a few years. She also had a long history of volunteer work. During her time as a legal secretary, Selma recalled a story where she hung up on someone who said they were the governor, but she did not believe him.
Her boss, Abraham, stormed into the room and exclaimed, “You just hung up on the governor!” But then he laughed and instead of getting fired, she worked for them for quite a long time, Selma said.
Blocks with the words, “I love fans.” Photo Credit: Kaily Martinez
“I loved being (the first) tour guide at the Bushnell, I was a census taker, I liked doing that. I ran the gift shop at the Noah Webster house. I just did so much,” Selma said.
Selma might have some hilarious stories from her youth, but she also has ones where she took quite a stand-in. During the 1940s, when racial segregation was still strictly enforced, she lived in Florida for a brief time. But as Selma went to get on the bus, she decided she would sit in the back. “If you’re a good person, that’s all I care about,” Selma said.
“I was a literacy volunteer, and I taught a woman who could not read anything. She was the one I was the proudest of because she couldn’t read anything,” Selma said. “Anybody I taught to read, that was my most rewarding volunteer job.”
Her kindness towards strangers carried over into her love and passion for animals. Selma never had children, but she had a deep love for her 13 four-legged children – dogs. Murray was wonderful at training their dogs, and they became part of the Hartford Obedience Training Club, she said.
Selma with three of her dogs. Photo Credit: Kaily Martinez
Their dogs became therapy dogs, but before they could qualify, they had to compete in three different dog shows with three different judges. Once they were officially therapy dogs, Selma and her husband would take their dogs to local senior centers and nursing homes. They also participated in the Woofing Hoofers, where they would go country line dancing with their dogs.
“In fact, whenever they had a food donation for people in a storm, Murray and I would get dog and cat food, and we would donate that instead of people food,” Selma said. “Well, somebody had to do it.”
Weekly, Selma visits the senior center and enjoys playing mahjong, shanghai, or Scrabble. If she’s not at the senior center, she can be found with a book in her hands. While she does not have a favorite book or genre, Selma said she dislikes romance but loves mystery novels.
As the conversation came to a close, Selma admitted her secret to living to 100 years old: “I try to eat a piece of chocolate every day. That’s important.”
Two fans a part of Selma’s fan collection. Photo Credit: Kaily Martinez
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