BERKELEY – Helen Masavitch turned 105 on June 10. She sat and greeted attendees sporting a sash, a tiara and a million-dollar smile as fellow residents and staff of Tallwoods Care Center of Bayville gathered in the facility’s large party room.
Among those who came to help her celebrate and enjoy the live entertainment and of course birthday cake, were her great nephew James Truskowski of Lacey, his fiancé Sharon Muise and their son 4-year-old Marlin who is Helen’s great-great nephew.
Truskowski said his great aunt is Polish and Russian and that his most vivid memory of her was when she would come for a visit driving a red Thunderbird.
Activities Director Bonnie Frawley said “she’s greeting everyone here as if she was the queen of Tallwoods and she is.”
“She’s very complimentary for everything you do for it doesn’t matter what it is. It can be the tiniest thing, she is very grateful,” Frawley said.
Frawley described her further saying that in her younger years, “she loved to take drives in her Pontiac and go where ever her heart desired. She has always been a regimented and self-directed person and is known for living her life on her terms and having a strong but heartfelt personality for her family.”
Theresa Gordijn, her primary nurse at the facility added, “she is so sweet. She always says hello to everybody with a smile. She gives me hugs every morning. She says God bless you! I’ve never heard her say a mean word to anyone.”
“I get to take care of that young lady every day and that is the best part of my job,” Gordijn added. “She uses a walker most of the time, takes a little nap between 1:30 and 3 p.m. Gets up, watches a little TV, goes to dinner in the dining room with all the residents. She’ll sit and talk to them and calls them the young ones. She says her prayers and goes to bed. That is pretty much her daily routine.”
Her case worker Alexis Velez said, “she’s a very special lady.” She noted that Masavitch is one of three children and she was born on June 10, 1919. Her mother came by boat at the age of 18 from Poland and arrived at Ellis Island to start her life and worked as a seamstress. She married and had three children.
“Helen was the youngest child and was always a very independent woman. She worked at a chemical factory until she retired. She lived in Monmouth County and never married or had children. She has a love for clothing and enjoyed her shopping days with her sisters,” Velez added.
“She also has a deep love of music as she would attend dances at a Polish house where scheduled dances would be held,” she remarked.
Masavitch began living at Tallwoods in September 2013. “Since she has been here, she has always loved greeting fellow residents and staff and always loved getting her daily exercise in,” Frawley added.
Velez said, “her nephew, Gary passed away a few years ago so his wife Sally who lives in Florida stays in contact. She will buy her anything she needs. Sally is totally appreciative of everything we do and we treat her like family.”
Frawley said “Helen loves to walk and do some leg exercise around our lobby area. She spends her time now enjoying social gatherings with others and relaxing. Happy 105th Birthday Helen! You are truly an amazing person.”
Berkeley Mayor John Bacchione presented Masavitch with a proclamation honoring her longevity on this special occasion. He was joined by Councilman Michael Signorile.
“One hundred and five years is a long time,” the mayor said. “I am half her age; I hope to get the other half.” The proclamation noted that “Helen is a very independent woman. Helen has a love for clothing and music.”
“Thank you everyone for coming and participating in Helen’s 105th birthday,” Tallwoods Administrator Michael Drillick said. He noted that last year when he was a councilman, Bacchione had come to her 104th birthday “and he promised to be back for her 105th. We thank him and Councilman Signorile for coming. We wish Helen many more happy years.”
