A happy 100th birthday bash at the Lynbrook Atria

Atria of Lynbrook Assisted Living Facility resident Dorothy Tempia celebrated her 100th birthday on July 27 with friends, family members, fellow centenarians, staff members at the facility and elected officials. There was much fanfare, including balloons and cake.

Tempia was born on July 27, 1921, in Manhattan. She was an only child and lived in a four-story tenement building, which housed two families to a floor. The toilet was in a hallway that was shared by the residents on that floor. In the kitchen was a slate tub with a slab to pull to take a bath.

When Tempia was 7, her parents bought a house and moved to Queens. Back then it was called Corona. There was no airport, no Grand Central Parkway and no Shea Stadium, which today is Citi Field. The area was changed to Elmhurst and then when Shea Stadium was built in the 1960s, it was considered Flushing. Temapia’s dad was in the trucking business and her mom was a homemaker. Her parents were loving, caring and hardworking.  She has seen many changes and advances in her 100 years, she said, some of which was good and others not so good.  In 1939, the Tempia’s went to the World’s Fair and saw television for the first time, and Dorothy recalled that then no one ever believed that TV would happen and be such common place in everyone’s homes in years to come.

Tempia attended an all-girls Catholic school called Julia Richman High School in Manhattan. She took the L train to school and recounted that she had aspirations to be a nurse, but after graduation, she didn’t want to do it. So, she went to business school instead. She began working as a records librarian at Queens Hospital. After a few years she went to work for NY Steam Co. First she had charts on meters to calculate the bills on the high billing machine. Later, the company eventually became Con Edison and she remained there for 42 years.

Tempia said she had many fond memories with her parents and grandparents over the years. One of her earliest experience with alcohol was when she was a baby crawling. Her grandfather made his own wine for doctors in the area. He used to have what was called a “crock” bottle of wine next to him sitting in his chair. One time while he was taking sips of wine, the bottle was accidentally tipped over and spilled. A crawling curious Tempia drank the wine and fell asleep on the floor. As the story goes, her mom was very worried and her grandmother said, “Don’t worry, put her on the bed let her sleep she will be ok.” Grandma was right.

Tempia’s pride and Joy is her family. She has a daughter Lynn, as well as a granddaughter, two great-grandchildren and one great, great granddaughter.

In addition to her family, some of Tempia’s favorite things include Brandy Alexander, red whine with cream soda, pot roast with onions, peppers, carrots and mashed potatoes, banana splits, the color blue, the songs “My Way Back” by Frank Sinatra and “Spanish Eyes” by Enelbart Humperdinck. As for her secret to longevity, Tempia said, “You need a lot of help from above and always to have faith.”

Courtesy Atria Lynbrook; compiled by Mike Smollins