Three centenarians were honored at The Fountains in Boca Raton on July 27. Fountains employees posed
with the ladies, front row, (l -r) Anne Greenberg, who turned 101 on March 13; Margaret W. Fuller,
who turned 109 on July 2; and Dorothy Furci who turned 102 on June 27.
Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Steven J. Smith
Living to be 100 or more means a big birthday bash, a lot of candles to blow out and an onslaught of people asking you to share your secrets to longevity.
Three women who live at The Fountains nursing and rehabilitation center in Boca Raton can relate.
Margaret Fuller, 109, Dorothy Furci, 102, and Anne Greenberg,101, were recently honored with a special combined birthday celebration at the home.
In 1906, the year Margaret Fuller was born, the average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47, the average wage was 22 cents an hour and a dozen eggs cost just 4 cents. Fuller lived an active life, working as a teacher and even appeared on the stage, in a play called The Dark Tower.
Born in Chicago, she moved to Boca Raton many years ago from Washington, D.C., and has been a resident of The Fountains since 2011. She married George Milan Fuller in September of 1929. He died in 1967. The couple has one son, William Henry Fuller, who revealed the secret to his mother’s prolonged existence.
“She said the key to her longevity was she had a drink of expensive vodka nightly,” he said.
Dorothy Furci, born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1913, was an only child and pursued a career as a bookkeeper and office manager. She has two stepchildren, Marie and Francis. Particular about her impeccable appearance, she developed an enviable reputation for dressing meticulously. The secret to her enduring legacy? Eating well and avoiding excess.
“And always treat others with kindness,” she said.
Anne Greenberg was born in Amsterdam, N.Y., in 1914, at the beginning of World War I. She attended Hebrew school as a young girl and later worked as an insurance sales agent. Her three sisters and one brother are deceased, but she has two children, Sydell and Stewart. She has lived at The Fountains 10 years.
She said her secret to living a long life was in remaining faithful with her doctors’ appointments and staying focused on maintaining her health. She also recommends taking time out to smell the roses.
“My favorite time of the year is the spring, because I enjoy looking at the flowers and listening to the birds,” she said.
Kathy Marciante, The Fountains administrator, expressed her admiration and gratitude for having three residents that have reached such impressive milestones.
“It is our privilege to have Margaret, Anne and Dorothy as part of our Fountains family,” Marciante said. “It is important to us to celebrate their birthdays and their long lives with their loved ones and friends.
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