Northern Metropolitan Resident Celebrates Her 101st Birthday Surrounded By Family, Friends and Many of Rockland's Leaders

By Jeff Jacomowitz

101 years old couldn't happen to a sweeter woman. On August 4, Northern Metropolitan resident Laura Nochomovits of Monsey celebrated her 101st milestone birthday surrounded by her family, friends, staff and many of Rockland County's top leaders including County Executive Ed Day, Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, Legislator Aney Paul, Chairwoman of the Environmental Committee Hon. Harriet Cornell, County Clerk David Piperato and Ramapo Town Supervisor Yitzhok Ullman.

When asked what Laura's secret is for living to 101, her daughter Yocheved Singer spoke of a story her mother told her a few years ago, "she told me that when she was a little girl, six or seven years old, her father took her to a rabbi who was 100 years old himself, blessed her, and told her that one day she will live longer than him."

Ms. Nochomovits also attributes her longevity to healthy eating habits.

"I eat very simple," says Ms. Nochomovits. "I don't eat meat, I eat fish and vegetables."

She was born on June 28,1916 in Bratislava, today the capital of Slovakia, bordering both Austria and Hungary, a city that was once acquired by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Laura is one of ten children and when she a little girl, she moved to Budapest, Hungary where she was raised and later married. After World War II, Laura moved to Munich where she worked for a Jewish organization for displaced immigrants. Years later, Laura moved to Israel and in 1966, relocated to New York where she had her three girls; Esther, Yocheved and Nurit.

While raising her children, Laura went to New York University to become a dietitian and after receiving her degree, she was worked as a dietitian in nursing homes. When Laura retired at 65 years old, she opened a knitting store in Boro Park Brooklyn and did that for ten years. Upon the store’s closing, she moved to Florida where at age 80, she worked for a caterer. At 90, she moved to Monsey and cooked Shabbos meals for the family at least twice monthly until she was 95.

Today, a lover of classic music, Laura has eight grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren, and according to her daughter Esther Radzyner, "mom's kitchen is very active during all of the holidays".

(All photos: Courtesy of Centers Health Care)