Resident 'makes it' to her 100th birthday
By Jana Seshadri
There must have been a special longevity clause added to April 25, 1902, for it to produce not one, but two centenarians who live in Sunnyvale.
"I made it," said Alice McAdoo, as the Sunnyvale Tuesday Senior Club celebrated her 100th birthday at the Sunnyvale Community Center on April 23.
Alice, who is affectionately called "Mickey" by her friends and family, was born on April 25, 1902, in Anna, Ill. On August 4, 1921, she married a Presbyterian minister and they had six children, 20 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. Two of their sons followed in their father's footsteps and became Presbyterian ministers. Two children have since passed away.
After her husband passed away in 1950, Alice moved to San Diego and went back to school. On June 7, 1970, with her two minister-sons officiating, Alice married longtime friend Ferman McAdoo, who had become a widower a few years after she was widowed. Together they traveled all over the United States and toured Canada and 18 European countries.
While visiting a daughter living in the Bay Area, the McAdoos began thinking of moving to the area. They moved to the Life's Garden retirement home apartments in 1989 and became active members of the Tuesday Seniors Club. Alice has been a resident of the city since 1989.
More than 100 seniors and family members attended Alice's birthday celebration with food, cake, gifts and flowers. Friends read poems and sang songs. Alice's' minister-son Tom Johnson began the function with a prayer.
"She's my first mother to be a hundred years old and my only mother," Johnson said. Tom and his wife flew in from their home in San Diego in order to attend the function.
Alice's daughter Mary Jane Stoeckent, who lives in Cupertino, praised her mother for giving her and her siblings a wonderful childhood.
The ticket to long life is simply living it to the fullest, Alice said.
"I just kept on breathing and loving people," Alice said. "I love to celebrate every occasion, and living to be 100 is special."
Sunnyvale Mayor Fred Fowler and John Lawrence, leisure services manager for the city of Sunnyvale, attended the function.
"It's a special treat to be here," Fowler said as he presented Alice with a mayoral proclamation.
Fowler pointed out the similarity between the birthdays of the two Sunnyvale centenarians. Two weeks ago the Bay View Seniors Club celebrated the 100th birthday of Marceliana Dejea, a Sunnyvale resident since 1920. Dejea was also born on April 25, 1902.
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
