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A centenarian's secrets
Photo
Peg McGoogan of Poland (seated) poses for a picture with her sisters (standing left to right) Gin Bompiani (95) of Mt Pleasant, Pa , Sis Grosser (98) of Mt Pleasent, Pa. , and Nore' Doubles (90) of Bowling Green, Ky. during McGoogans 100th birthday party at The Lake Club in Poland on Sunday afternoon. Dustin Livesay | The Vindicator 6/26/16 The Lake Club, Poland.
By CLARE DORAN-KOLAT
BOARDMAN
Excited to reach her 100th birthday, Margaret “Peg” McGoogan of Boardman claims that “good wine, good chocolate and good faith” have been three of her secrets in achieving long life. She also is very fond of kiffles (little nut cookies from Classic Bakery), and her other top favorite is chocolate ice cream. Peg loves her sweets.
To celebrate this auspicious occasion, family and friends gathered for a party in her honor at The Lake Club in Poland on June 26 to share memories. Guests spent the afternoon reminiscing in a room filled with pink decorations (Peg’s color of choice).
Born Margaret McCort in Mount Pleasant, Pa., on July 7, 1916, Peg was the oldest of six children, five girls and one boy. One sister, Kathleen, died at age 4 of scarlet fever. Peg’s only brother, Daniel (Bud), lived to be 80. But, the most incredible part of this journey is that three of her sisters – all 90 and older – joined her at the party.
No one seems to know where the longevity originates, as their parents were in their early 70s when they died.
The “girls” all have nicknames. Mary Lou Grosser (Sis) is 98 and still lives in Mount Pleasant, as does Virginia Bompiani (Gin) who, at 96, makes her residence in an assisted-living facility also in that city.
The youngest is Nora Marie Doubles (formerly Gettemy). Known as Nore’ (pronounced Noree), she and her current husband reside in Bowling Green, Ky., near one of her daughters, Colleen Hathawathy. Another of Nore’s daughters, Sharon Krichbaum (wife of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge R. Scott Krichbaum), has been very dedicated to her aunt’s care and concern for quite some time.
During her childhood, after eight years of elementary education at St. Joseph Catholic School in Mount Pleasant, Pa., Peg went on to Hurst High School, where she met Bill McGoogan. The high school sweethearts ultimately married Oct. 5, 1936.
Bill’s job with Swindell-Dressler brought the couple to the Youngstown area in 1948, and later he purchased a Roto-Rooter business that successfully served the Youngstown-Warren area.
Although Peg and Bill McGoogan were never blessed with children, they had a plethora of friends and were affectionately known as “aunt” and “uncle” to 14 children – her sisters’ 10 children (Sis’ two girls, Gin’s four boys and Nore’s three girls and one boy) and her brother Bud’s two girls and two boys.
In her active days, Peg loved to entertain. She was always “in charge” and was most generous to all who had the opportunity to socialize with them. Avid golfers, the McGoogans were members of the Fonderlac Country Club (now known as The Lake Club, where her birthday event was celebrated).
Husband, Bill, died suddenly of a heart attack at age 55 in 1969. Peg took on the responsibility of running the plumbing business, and she did it with skill, determination and a lot of intestinal fortitude for 16 years after his death. She was a task master when it came to cleanliness and the employees were required to wear booties over their shoes when working in client homes. Clean trucks were a must.
Nephew Jay Gettemy (current owner of Gettemy Drain Service in Youngstown) initially worked for Peg and will attest to that fact.
One might describe Peg as “lace curtain Irish.” She’s petite but was a dynamo in her day. She loves to shop and her trademark is her “glitzy” jackets. Peg is very particular about how she looks and how things are done, prefers restaurants with tablecloths and the staff at The Springfield Grille in Boardman has developed a very close bond with her. At 100, she continues to get her hair done and enjoys perfectly manicured nails.
Peg has been a role model for her niece, Sharon Krichbaum. “Peg loves a great party, but everything has to be perfect from cloth table coverings and napkins to table skirts, beautiful centerpieces, good food, drinks, and, of course, desserts,” said Sharon. “Peg has always insisted that one must not forget favors for guests; she was the best party planner before there were party planners.”
Although Mrs. McGoogan had to give up golf as she got older, she certainly hasn’t given up on the game despite her diminishing eyesight. Now she sits closer to the television to see and listen to the Professional Golf Association tournaments. But, that’s not only for golf; she is also an avid Pittsburgh Steelers football fan and follows most of the televised season games. In addition, Peg enjoys the QVC network with the latest in fashion information.
There’s a little adventure that is still part of Peg’s makeup. At her request, some of Peg’s friends and caregivers have taken her to dinner and to Mountaineer Casino whenever possible, making it sort of an annual event around the time of her birthday.
In reminiscing back to 1916, Peg has witnessed many events in her lifetime. She lived through the depression in the early 1930s, World War II, the evolution of television, modern electronics and kitchen gadgets and the computer age.
The year of Peg’s birth found Woodrow Wilson as president of the United States. The
PGA was born in January 1916.
Some notables with whom she shares this birthday year have included: American TV journalist Walter Cronkite, comedian Jackie Gleason, and actors Betty Grable, Gregory Peck, Glenn Ford and Van Johnson. Although they have all passed into history, there are two still living who will be centenarians in 2016 – Olivia de Havilland of “Gone With the Wind” fame on July 1 and Kirk Douglas on Dec. 9.
Certainly this vibrant lady – and what a lady she is – has had a life to remember and everyone who celebrated with her wished Peg and her sisters at the party continued longevity. Peg McGoogan has made her mark and blessed she is to have been in some esteemed company throughout her lifetime.