The air was great and spirits high as a record 34 nonagenerians attended last Saturday’s 10th annual party for the town’s 90-year-olds and up, hosted by the Palisades Junior Women’s Club at the Woman’s Club. “How many towns celebrate their 90-year-olds like this?” said an appreciative Nancy Boesen, 91, who attended the free luncheon with her husband Victor, 96. “”How a community treats its elders tells a lot about the community.” George and Wilma Tauxe, both 91, represented another nonagenerian couple. They will celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary on August 29, marking the longest known marriage in the Pacific Palisades. The oldest partygoer was Dr. Emery Stoops who, at 102, didn’t look a day older than he did a year ago. The former college educator at USC is still an active financial adviser. Katharine Abbott, at 99 the oldest woman in the room, also looked great and is looking forward to her milestone birthday next April 27. “I’ve lived in Rustic Canyon for 58 years and I’m always happy to say I live here,” she said. Next oldest was Beth Pendergrast, 98, a Sunrise Senior Living resident who moved out here from Colorado in 2001. Then came Doris Berliner, Ruth Hoyt and Margaret Kelly, all 97, and Dorothy Miller, Maria Reichenbach and Boesen, all 96. Other honorees included: Joe Kingsley, 95; Marguerite Pischke, 94; Mary Elizabeth Gall, 93; Dr. Leonard Montag, Ada Shaughnessy, Louis Hruby and Marie Hasbrouck, all 92; Jerry Altier, Grace Gonzalez, Frances Davie, George Kunz, Mary Hanzelin, Alice Siedner and Ida Lash, all 91; and Kay Drake, Phyllis Genovese, Elizabeth Robinson, Seymour Wasserman, Marvin Hoffenberg, Martha Dresher and Anita Rameson, all 90. Joe Napolitano, who is 105, who had attended all of the previous parties, was ailing last Saturday and couldn’t attend. Afterwards, friends brought him a bouquet of balloons, cake and food from the party. His next birthday is August 19.
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