Faces of the centenarian club at Pines of Sarasota

Collectively, the guests of honor Friday afternoon at the Pines of Sarasota have more than 1,200 years of life experience.

The "100 Plus Club Tea Party" celebrated the birthdays of 12 residents of the Pines, all of whom are women. Of the birthday girls, 10 have already reached centenarian status, and the other two will turn 100 in less than a year.

The Pines of Sarasota Fabulous Finds Thrift Store provided an assortment of teacups and plates that were used for the tea party that included cake and an assortment of foods for the occasion. 

Bertha Gemeinhardt
Birthday: Jan. 7 (turning 100 in 2016)
Age: 99
A Florida native, Gemeinhardt didn’t learn how to drive until she reached the age of 67. With license in hand, she was unstoppable — and a bit of a speed demon — in her Dodge Spirit with a turbo engine. She is a proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. 

Frances Jester
Birthday: Sept. 4
Age: 100
Born in Mattoon, Ill., Jester moved to Florida 47 years ago with her husband, Lyle Jester. After he died, Frances says, “I’ve never looked at anybody else.” She served as the vice president of the resident council for Pines of Sarasota Assisted Living Facility. 

Rigoletta 'Riggie' Pierini
Birthday: May 10
Age: 100
Pierini was born in Ontario, Canada. She moved with her late husband to Michigan, where they owned and operated a grocery store. She spends her time now playing the game of Gin 13 with her daughter, Pauline — and usually wins.  

Helen Callahan
Birthday: June 13
Age: 100
Callahan has a love for all things outdoors and previously owned a nursery. One of her favorite things to do is help out with gardening activities. She looks forward to visits from her daughter, Linda, who lives in New York.

Jean Foster
Birthday: July 1
Age: 100
Originally from Michigan, Foster received a degree from Michigan State University in physical education. She went on to marry and become a mother of two. She now has six grandchildren, four great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. 

Julia Powers
Birthday: January 24
Age: 100
Powers was born in Philadelphia, where she attended business school after high school. She and her late husband, Edward, shared a life for 32 years. Her favorite activities at Pines of Sarasota include exercise classes, Bingo and Wii bowling. 

Edith Reed
Birthday: April 26
Age: 100
Born in San Francisco, Reed became a world traveler with an upbringing that included attending high school in Switzerland. She then attended Stanford University for her undergraduate degree and received a master’s degree from Columbia University. Shortly after, she joined the Time Inc. and helped put together Life magazine. She has two children, seven grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. 

Thelma Rollins
Birthday: April 26
Age: 101
Rollins grew up with seven siblings in Elberton, Ga. She met her husband while he was playing for a minor league team. Rollins loves telling the story of how they met when he made her a deal that if he hit a home run and his team won the game that she would go out with him. She considers herself a “Rosie the Riveter” due to her efforts during World War II as a welder in a factory. Rollins incorporates a butterfly into every outfit she wears.

Hilda Kooistra Quaas
Birthday: March 10 
Quaas is a close friend with fellow centenarian Bertha Gemeinhardt. She was raised in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., where she lived before moving to Sarasota. Quaas loves to read and is involved with the First United Methodist Church.
 

Clara Orwiler
Birthday: July 19
Age: 102
Growing up on a farm in Milwaukee, Orwiler learned how to plow, milk cows and shovel manure. She also took up painting at a young age and continues to enjoy it today. Each year, she still submits her work to the Sarasota County Fair and is the recipient of awards and ribbons for her artwork. 

Henrietta Daytz
Birthday: September 28
Age: 102
Henrietta is the second oldest resident at Pines of Sarasota as she is turning 103 this year. Originally from Boston, she has lived in Sarasota for more than 30 years and previously lived on Longboat Key. She has a passion for charities and donates her time to Southside Elementary School where she reads to students to promote reading comprehension. 


Pauline Carr
Birthday: April 21
103
Carr holds the title of oldest resident at Pines of Sarasota by a margin of five months. Originally from Blue Mound Ill., Pauline raised two daughters and was a landlady. Before reading became difficult, she enjoyed American political history and biographies. She looks forward to weekly visits from her friends and her favorite Frosty drinks from Wendy’s.