By Nicole Falco
In 1902, Theodore Roosevelt was president; Pomp and Circumstance Part I was one of the most popular songs; the "Great Chicago Fire" destroyed that city; the Wright brothers developed their third and first successful glider, which they used to perform 970 short flights; grain was the country's most popular export; America's population was less than 100 million; and the life expectancy of a person born at the turn of the century was 55-years-old. Liggio proved that last one wrong.
A celebration was held in Liggio's honor at the Monica Village Apartments, where he is a resident, on his actual birthday. More than 150 people attended the party including his children, Leonard and Joanne, family, friends and Valley Stream Mayor Ed Cahill, his wife, Mary Anne, who represented Legislator Francis X. Becker and Deputy Mayor Guido Cirenza. Cahill presented Liggio with a citation from the village.
Liggio first came to Valley Stream in 1950. He helped build Memorial Junior High School and other schools including buildings in Manhattan College and Columbia University.
"That's when I came to live in Valley Stream because of that job [Memorial JHS]," Liggio said.
Liggio bought a house on North Fletcher Avenue where he lived until his wife, Theresa, died in 1987. He then rented and has since been living in Monica Village for a little over four years.
Liggio, a spry senior, looks far younger than his 100 years and has numerous vivid memories of his life that all began in an apartment in New York City.
"As a kid, we would go outside and play all day long and we didn't have to worry about cars in the street," Liggio said.
Liggio took his first car ride in 1914. The then-teenager was accustomed to riding trolley cars, but on one New Year's Eve Liggio rode in an "open" model Ford belonging to his cousin's husband. His father bought a car in 1919.
Liggio was too young for World War I and already married with his first child by World War II. He supported himself as a bricklayer. During the Depression, money was tight and jobs were hard to come by. Liggio traveled as far as Texas to find work. Because of the Depression, Liggio waited until 1938 to marry.
In 1927, Liggio took his first plane ride. At the time, he paid about $5 to be taken up in a small plane to travel a short distance. He recalls rooting for Charles Lindbergh as he became the first person to make a solo, non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
"When a plane would go overhead, we would hear the noise and everyone would run outside to hear the airplane go over," Liggio said.
Liggio has went on to travel by plane on numerous occasions. Liggio loves to travel and has been to Hawaii, all over Europe, China and Japan. His last trip was to Pennsylvania a year ago, but he hopes to be able to continue.
Liggio said he wishes he could share the secret of longevity, but he hasn't even figured it out yet.
"I used to watch myself. I just kept on going, never thinking I would get where I am now," Liggio said.
