'They Broke The Mold When Frank Mazanec Was Born'

By Carolyn Mazanec Dugas

Amidst much sad news of late, there is reason to celebrate. A local Milford resident, Frank Mazanec will celebrate his 100th birthday this May. He joins a small group of Americans attaining the age of 100, comprising just 0.02 percent of the population, or 55,000 people, according to a recent U.S. Census Bureau survey.

According to family, they broke the mold when Frank Mazanec was born. A former life -long resident of New Jersey, living in the towns of North Bergen, West New York, Fairview and Little Ferry, NJ, this Centenarian relocated to Connecticut in 2010 first to Bridgeport, CT and later to Milford, CT.

He moved to be closer to his daughter and son-in-law who are Milford residents and his granddaughters so they could help him care for his wife whose health was failing and who eventually was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. At the age of 90, he was responsible for her daily care. His wife of 68 years, Josephine aka “Josie” passed in 2011.

The two met as teenagers while working in a button factory and they went on to be married in 1943 while Frank was on leave from the Army. They raised a family of three children: a son, Frank and two daughters, Michele and Carolyn. Unfortunately, Michele passed away after her struggle with early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

This gentleman has seen his share of happy and troubling events in his 100 years. But he remains unphased by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Having been born in 1920, this gentleman fortunately missed the scourge of the Spanish Flu pandemic by a few years but has lived through a number of national and worldwide events including the Great Depression which had a profound effect on him. To this day, he hates to see food go to waste and prides himself on using coupons for shopping and getting the best bargains. He refuses to purchase a half gallon of ice cream, his favorite food, if he can’t find it on sale for $1.99.

Frank served in the Army in World War II first being stationed state side at Fort Edwards in Massachusetts and eventually, serving abroad in Germany. He was injured while serving in Germany and received a Purple Heart for his valor. He joins other members of the greatest generation in never discussing his time in the war. Rather, he devoted himself after the war to moving forward. Like many of his contemporaries, he turned his attention to work and family. He went to business classes on the GI bill and eventually, secured a position as a rate/shipping clerk with shipping firms in Manhattan.

For over thirty years, he commuted to work by bus from his home in northern New Jersey to Manhattan. His last place of business was at an office housed in the Twin Towers. He never looked for much in life but a hot meal, a comfortable home, some good television especially sitcoms and cake and coffee shared with his wife while they watched the evening news prior to bed each evening. This, coupled with a yearly one week’s vacation in the Poconos, made for a contented man.

Frank has been witness to some of the country’s and the world’s greatest achievements in science, medicine and technology including seeing the first man walk on the moon, the advent of modern medicine to fight disease such as polio, the first television and more recently, the inventions of the cellphone, computer and the Internet. At first, the concept of the worldwide web was confusing to him. But he eventually grasped the concept and loves to direct his family “to google it” when a fact, the name of a song or a favorite actor escapes him.

When asked what the secret to his longevity is, Frank will likely respond “good genes.” His family believes it is a combination of his obsession with routine which borders on compulsiveness, his ability to adapt and ride the tide whatever may be and of course, the consumption of all the many preservatives in the foods he eats.