Tuesday was Marie Bologna D’Elia’s 100th birthday, and her friends and family worked around the pandemic restrictions to make it special and safe.
First, Marie’s friends from the Woman’s Club organized a car parade led by the Greenwich Police motorcycle unit.
Next, Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo presented a Certificate of Special Recognition.
There were flowers. There was a stack of cards delivered by mail carrier Victor Aguilar. There were posters. And there was song.
Marie, who worked at Greenwich High School for many years as a secretary to house masters in both Clark House and Folsom House before working at the teacher’s union, enjoyed visits from former colleagues including Kathy Hirsch, Michael Batcheller, and Terry Lowe.
Sitting on her lawn, poised at the crest of a hill that affords a view of Julian Curtiss School, Marie said she had enjoyed hearing the joyful shouts of children on the playground for decades.
“How do you feel today,” Marie was asked.
“Old,” she joked, adding that she was flabbergasted by the birthday surprises on her lawn.
Marie said she had lived on Anderson Road since 1958 in the house her husband Joseph built.
She added that her sister Tilda Fico’s birthday was the following day, Jan 13, and she would be turning 95.
Another surprise was a massive banner on a truck from Shady Tree, the full service tree company her late son Joe established.
After being showered with flowers, car parade, birthday cards hand delivered by the mail carrier, and recognition from the first selectman the socially distanced crowd sang Happy Birthday to Marie.
We wish her many more!
