Ms. Elsie Turns 107

One of NYCHA’s oldest residents recently celebrated her 107th birthday with a big bash at the Independence Neighborhood Senior Center on December 21. The party was hosted by Millennium Development, which operates the center.

Elsie Mayer has been a resident of Independence Towers in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for 40 years. She was born in Poland and moved to the United States with her family when she was 10. She raised three children with her husband Joseph, who died when he was 94. She has lived through two World Wars and 18 U.S. presidents. Her secret to happiness is daily ice cream and cake.

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez added special birthday wishes to Ms. Mayer to the Congressional Record on December 20. In her birthday greeting, Congresswoman Velazquez said:

“Elsie symbolizing decades of longevity and hard work, this occasion reflects an important milestone in a growing segment of American life: The Centenarian. Over the years, special individuals like Elsie have contributed to our nation and witnessed remarkable changes and extraordinary progress. She has lived through some of the most exciting times in our nation’s history. Today, Elsie enjoys the company of her surviving and beloved children, grand-children and community…As we celebrate her birthday, we celebrate her faith, her optimism, her health and the innumerable lives she has touched throughout her life.”