Page 18 - Boca ViewPointe - January '25

Page 18, Viewpointe January 2025
Edgewater At Boca Pointe

Celebrates Its Remarkable Centenarians

By Lisa Sileo

Reaching the age of 100
is a milestone few achieve,
but at Edgewater at Boca
Pointe, it’s an accomplishment
celebrated in grand style. The
community recently hosted its
inaugural Edgewater Centennial Mary Gilbert, 100, says she’s “blessed Nick Vislocky, a WWII Veteran, Florence Ellman, a resident of Kay Approbato is celebrating her
Celebration, honoring 15 every day” living at Edgewater at celebrated his 104th birthday at Edgewater at Boca Pointe, celebrated 103rd birthday at the retirement
remarkable residents aged 100 Boca Pointe. Edgewater. her 100th birthday. community.
to 104.5 years.
The joyous event brought the community together to pay Living Beyond The Average on community, wellness, and enrichment, undoubtedly
tribute to these exceptional individuals, and sang “Happy Living to 100 is a rare feat. In the United States, only contributes to the remarkable longevity of its residents. With
Birthday,” followed by a celebratory cake and warm wishes one in 5,000 people reaches this age. Acts Retirement-Life plentiful opportunities for engagement, from social events
from friends and neighbors. As part of this new tradition, Communities, of which Edgewater at Boca Pointe is a and fitness programs to lifelong learning, residents often say
Edgewater at Boca Pointe unveiled plans to install a plaque part, boasts an impressive statistic: as of August 2024, 108 there isn’t enough hours in the day to enjoy all the wonderful
in the ARTWAY, commemorating the names of centenarians. centenarians reside across its 28 communities. You could offerings on campus.
This plaque will serve as a living testament to the longevity credit this to the quality of life and supportive environment. Although stress and anxiety are inevitable, Edgewater
and vibrancy of the community, with new names added each In fact, the average age reached by Acts residents is 90.6 residents embrace a forward-thinking approach to navigating
year. years, significantly higher than the national life expectancy of life’s uncertainties. By choosing to live in an Acts community,
“I’ve been blessed every day I came to live at Edgewater,” 79 years for women and 73.5 years for men. This longevity they ease the challenges of homeownership, enjoy a stress-
said Mary Gilbert, a resident who moved in nearly a decade reflects not just genetics but also the importance of a free lifestyle, and secure financial stability with access to
ago and celebrated her 100th birthday in April. healthy, fulfilling lifestyle—something Edgewater residents healthcare on the same campus, if it’s ever needed.
“It’s wonderful at Edgewater, I’ve been very happy exemplify. Edgewater’s very first Centennial Celebration was made
here,” said Florence Ellman, who has lived at the retirement The Secret To Longevity possible by the Edgewater Culture & Belonging Committee.
A common misconception is that living to 100 is purely
community for 25 years. She turned 100 in September. a genetic gift. While genes play a role, they account for only This celebration is a reminder that with the right community
and lifestyle, reaching the century mark might not be as
The Boy I Was Is about 20 percent of an individual’s lifespan within biological elusive as it seems.
limits, according to the Danish Twin Study. The remaining
As Edgewater at Boca Pointe looks forward to adding

Helping Me Age 80 percent is influenced by lifestyle choices, such as diet, more names to its centenarian plaque in the years to come,
exercise, social connections, and stress management.
it celebrates not just the years lived but the richness of lives
Edgewater’s resort-like atmosphere, with its emphasis

well-lived. 
By Robert W. Goldfarb
In the quiet moments during our family’s celebration
of my 95th birthday, I began reliving memories of the
young man I had been long ago. Days before my birthday,
I had flown with other veterans on a pilgrimage to military
monuments in Washington.
Walking through memorials to wars in which we fought
seemed to cloak me in the uniform I wore as a teen-age
soldier. Pride in having served on distant fields and family
stories recounted at the celebration brought to life the boy I
thought I had left in the past. Servicing PETS of Boca Raton
I realize how little credit I gave him for all he did to help for over 20 years
me stride rather than slump into old age. At 95, I exercise, “Caring is our Specialty”
follow a healthy diet and remain mentally active. But I would
not have inherited the confidence that drives me forward were Complete medical, Surgical and Dental
it not for a trauma endured by the boy I was. Facility SPA Bath & Grooming
He was five years old when his family was evicted from
their Bronx apartment. He was awakened by men bursting
through the apartment door, shouting, “Get out! You’re being
dispossessed!”
He rushed to his parents, only to find them slumped against NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
the wall as his bed was carried past them into the street. Instead
of standing stricken alongside them, he took his first steps as
someone to whom this would never happen again.
He somehow found the courage to dream of leaving Boca Raton Concierge Medicine Doctor
streets on which people dumped their dreams along with their
garbage. He was the first in those streets and in his family
to go to college. He needed the G.I. Bill to fulfill that dream Board Certified in
and the courage to fight a war to earn it.
I often wonder where those dreams and the courage to Internal Medicine
follow them came from. I wonder if it was when the boy with Added Qualifications in
felt, “Nothing I’m going to face in the future will be as
painful as watching the landlord and his sons carry my bed Geriatrics (2002).
into the street.” He was right. Growing old challenges my
spirit, but has been made easier by courage the boy passed Steven E. Reznick, MD, FACP
to me a long time ago.
He sought a wife who had her own dreams and would Voted a “Best Doctor”
want to share hers with him. She nurtured his dream of by his peers.
building a career that helped others find their way out of
their own dark streets.
The death of my wife of nearly seventy years would have Call to request a complimentary meeting
crushed my soul without the courage bequeathed me by the
boy I had been. I was too maimed with grief to realize he with Dr. Reznick.
remained deep inside me.
But when I became 95, I felt his presence flooding me
with the courage that took us from places where dreams die. 561.368.0191
He touches something in my soul that blazes into a dream I
intend to follow on the journey he and I began so long ago.
7280 W. Palmetto Park Road | 205N
Bob’s articles have appeared in The New York Times, Boca Raton, FL 33433
The San Francisco Chronicle and in Next Avenue, the www.bocaconciergedoc.com
publication of the Public Broadcasting Service. His book,
“What’s Stopping Me From Getting Ahead?” was published
by McGraw Hill and is in five languages. 