Hamsley triplets of East Rockaway turn 50!

The HAmsley Triplets Lizbeth, left, Diane and Ellen attended Centre Avenue Elementary School in East Rockaway.

Courtesy Hamsley Family

The triplet’s mother, Paula, said that her daughters have their own styles and personalities. Lizbeth, Diane and Ellen are pictured.

Courtesy Hamsley Family

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Paula Hamsley was not too surprised when identical triplet daughters Ellen, Diane and Lizbeth came into the world on February 9, all just minutes apart — not too much of a surprise after an X-ray that was taken the month before showed the three little babies in utero.

“They were very premature,” said Paula. “They were born at 7½ months, which was very scary back then.” The babies, who weighed 2 lbs., 14 ounces, three lbs., five ounces and three lbs., six ounces didn’t come home from the hospital until weeks later, and at different times.

“We have cloth diapers back then, and we didn’t have instant formula like they have now.”

The girls did a lot of modeling, commercials, and even made the cover of Ladies Home Journal when they were two. “I dressed them the same until they went to high school, when each of them wanted a different style,” said Paula. She also said that she did their hair different so as not to confuse the teachers. They each had their own friends when they got to Centre Avenue Elementary School, and they were in three different classes in the higher elementary grades added classes.

“The house was always full of energy — it’s still in crisis-mode,” Paula joked. “Every day the phone rings.”

The family is in the process of trying to get everyone together for the girls’ birthday, to be celebrated at Susan’s home in Connecticut. Their brother, Jeff lives in East Rockaway.

The girls attended East Rockaway High School, Class of 1980, and Molloy College, Class of 1984. (Paula is an East Rockaway High School graduate, Class of 1948, Jeff, Class of 1970, and sister, Susan, Class of 1984). Ellen, who still lives in East Rockaway, is married with two sons; Diane is single and lives in Point Lookout; and Lizbeth has two sons and lives in Lynbrook.

“They have different personalities, and they are very close with each other,” said Paula. “Their father [Minton, who died six years ago] would have been very proud.”

Is there a secret to raising multiples? “Keep a sense of humor and take it one day at a time,” said Paula. “It was all worth it.”