Highlands Residents Celebrate Weitzner’s 100th Birthday

By FRANCES SHARPE | Editor-in-Chief

Residents on the 1700 block of Palisades Drive gathered on the weekend of July 18-19 to witness one of the most bizarre scenes to ever take place in Pacific Palisades—the removal of over 1,200 firearms from a Highlands condo.

On Saturday, July 25, many of those same neighbors came together for a much happier occasion—a party to celebrate the 100th birthday of resident Lillian Weitzner, who was born on July 29, 1915. 

About 50 people, including neighbors and family members from across the country, showed up to share in the celebration, which included food catered by Casa Nostra, a cake with chocolate icing, and bongo drums.

Alison Duffy, a longtime Highlands resident, said she first met Weitzner when Duffy’s mother took water aerobics classes with her at the YMCA pool.

The pair remained friends long after Duffy’s mother passed away and Duffy often drives Weitzner to Costco.

“She really loves the cheeses there,” said Duffy, who was there with her husband Brett Duffy.

Duffy also took her to Casa Nostra on Mother’s Day this year, where Weitzner enjoyed coffee and biscuits.

Weitzner may not say much these days, but when the former psychoanalyst does talk, “her insights are very sharp,” said Kendrick Hughes, her longtime physical therapist.

A former dancer with Martha Graham, Weitzner has remained an active dancer, hiker and swimmer up until recently when a health issue slowed her down.

“For years, we would hang out with Lillian at the pool every day,” said Tracy Landau who came to the party with Rick Chanin.

Chanin had just one word to describe Weitzner: “Fantastic!”

Gary Potter, a part-time resident who splits time between the Highlands and Belfast, Ireland, said Weitzner would occasionally come over to share a glass of wine and would always ask about each of his three children by name.

“The sharpness of her mind is incredible,” Potter said.

The centenarian’s granddaughter Shana Salaff traveled from Fort Collins, Colorado, to attend the party and presented Weitzner with a birthday card from the White House that was signed by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

It read in part, “We are grateful for your contributions to the American story, and we wish you all the best for the coming year.”

Weitzner’s Highlands neighbors couldn’t agree more.

To read an in-depth story about Weitzner’s fascinating life that the Palisadian-Post published last year, visit palipost.com/?p=41434.