USA: Four of a kind - Fifth to hit 100 soon - all in a seniors living faciliy

THE VILLAGES, Florida (The Villages Daily Sun), August 30, 2008: By Daisy Moon, Daily Sun LEESBURG — Imagine living through some of America’s most remarkable periods — experiencing things that the rest of us have only read about in history books. For five outstanding men and women at the Sterling House, a part of Brookdale Senior Living in Leesburg, it doesn’t require imagination; it only requires a bit of recollection. All five have reached, or soon will reach, an amazing milestone: Four are more than 100 years old. Another will reach the century mark in a matter of days. Ruth Craw and Alice Benedict, both 102; Hoyt Champlain, 103; Dorothy Champlain, 101, and John Lindelof, who will be 100 on September 6, are a living testament that age is only a number. Although they reside in a senior living facility, these centenarians have not lost their zest for life. With good humor and lots of love, Hoyt and Dorothy Champlain have not only lived for a century, but have been married for three-quarters of that time. The couple recently celebrated 75 years of wedded bliss. And all those years have certainly not strained their happy union. One of Dorothy’s favorite activities is “kissing Hoyt,” she said. With her beloved husband still at her side, little else concerns Dorothy these days. “The only thing I worry about is the tooth I broke!” said the candy-loving Dorothy, who was wondering where her newest box of sweets had gone. On June 27, Brookdale held a joint birthday party for four of the residents, with the exception of Lindelof, who was not living in Sterling House at the time. Kathy Haviland, executive director of Sterling House, said the festivities were extravagant. “We had entertainment. They (the residents) had champagne glasses to recognize the dignitaries,” she said. Laurie Karp, campus life enrichment coordinator of Sterling House and neighboring center, Clare Bridge, said that a huge cake was brought in from Publix for the party. About 50 guests attended, including the Sterling House residents. Others in attendance included Maj. Wayne Longo from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office; Allison Thall, director of community services for Lake County; Brenda Quattlebaum, elder affairs manager for Lake County; Deborah Cahill, community liaison for Home Instead Senior Care; and Orea Williams, a hospice social worker. Haviland, Karp and Henri Couture, campus executive director of Sterling House, along with the four residents’ families, also came out for the celebration. Of course, Sterling House is not the only place centenarians can be found. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s October 2001 report, there are more than 50,454 centenarians nationwide. And that number is minuscule compared with the estimated increase in their ranks in coming years. Dr. Robert Butler, president of the International Longevity Center in New York City, predicts, “The number of centenarians is expected to reach 834,000, and maybe even 1 million (by 2050).” In 2007, the Hallmark Company sold about 85,000 “Happy 100th Birthday” cards, according to Allstate insurance company. Although all five residents have lived productive lives, they are quick to admit that it’s the simple things that keep them going. When Alice Benedict was asked by staff at Sterling House if she had any regrets in life, she said, “None. I’ve lived my life the way I wanted to. I wanted nothing else in life but to be married to Sam (her late husband).” Her secret to staying young? “I just take each day as it comes.” Daisy Moon is a reporter with the Daily Sun. daisy.moon@thevillagesmedia.com. Copyright © 2008 The Villages Daily Sun