Beachwood Buzz Magazine - September 2016 Page 38

38 Beachwood Buzz September 2016

Harriet Prochaska

Celebrates 105th Birthday

On July 19, Harriet Prochaska celebrated

her 105th birthday and what a day it was!
She was picked up from her Stone Gardens'
apartment in the Euclid Beach Rocket Car
and taken to Jack's Deli, where she had
lunch with four of her six children Mary
Beth Sammon, Louise Prochaska, Joanne
Pogros and Carole Smith. Her other children,
Georgia Gorell and Charles Prochaska were
unable to attend.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Harriet was

married to Dr. Charles Prochaska for 64 years.
When Dr. Prochaska was at St. Louis University
Medical School, the two would look at the
moon at the same time to feel connected.
During the war, the couple lived in Greenville,
Mississippi; Seymour, Indiana; and Panama
City, Florida. After the war, they rented a
house from the Marous family, on Richmond
Road, where the Maltz Museum of Jewish
Heritage is located today.

Harriet comes from a family of 11 children

and always hosted large parties since they
had the space in their home on Richmond
Road, with their orchard extending to Mon-
ticello Blvd. Mary Beth told us that her mom
loves entertaining, and an average-sized holi-
day gathering consisted of about 85 people.

Harriet always loved playing poker, bridge

and other card games. For years, she played
poker every Thursday 52 weeks a year with
her siblings, and she still plays once a month.
Mary Beth told us that she would play every
day if she could find people to form a game.

Golf and bowling were also a large part

of Harriet's life well into her 90s, and she still
enjoys painting, ceramics, needlework, Face-
book and playing solitaire on the computer
every day.

Harriet used to be an avid collector of

antiques and dolls, having amassed more
than 1,000 dolls, some of which were adorned
in dresses made from her silvery-blue velvet
wedding gown.

Why Jack's Deli? "We take her there a lot,"

Mary Beth told us. "We posted her picture on
Facebook as Jack's most loyal, oldest cus-
tomer, and they responded by providing free
lunch and cake on her birthday. Ron Heitman,
an old neighbor who now lives in South Eu-
clid, owns the rocket car so we felt this would
complete the day.

"Ron also owns the bat mobile from the

1950s Batman TV show," Mary Beth added.
"We rented that for her 96th birthday."

Additionally, to celebrate Harriet's 105th

birthday, her family hosted a theme-based
birthday party for about 50 guests, with the
theme being "Oh You Beautiful Doll."

Longevity and good health run in Harriet's

family. Her mom lived until 96; her little sister,
Jean, is 103; and Dr. Prochaska was a practic-
ing physician until 92 and lived to be 94.

Harriet's secret? She enjoys a double vodka

every after afternoon. Her only wish? "I wish
everyone can get to be as old as I am!"

Pictured clockwise from back left: Joanne
Pogros, Louise Prochaska, Harriet Prochaska
and Mary Beth Sammon.

Celebrating

Beachwood

City Park

The Beachwood Historical Society

recently received a grant, part of which
was to celebrate Beachwood City Park and
to get people out to celebrate all it has
to offer. The grant covered programming
costs that attracted residents of all ages.
Thanks to the following individuals who
taught the courses through the month
of July.

· Self-defense class for women, with

David Jones, 5th Degree Master Tai
Shin Doh.

· Live animal shows, with Metroparks

naturalist Andrew Mularo.

· Bird talk, walk and flora-fauna ID, with

bird expert Nancy Howell from the
Natural History Museum.

· Backpacking and camping information,

with LL Bean coordinator of Outdoor
Discovery Schools Kevin Parker and
educational specialist Eoin O'Connor.

· Tai Chi, with Jennifer Stepien.

"It was refreshing to see the many

people who came out to participate
in these programs, said Beachwood
Historical Society president Rosemary
Nemeth. "I look forward to future
programs that will continue to benefit
our community."