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100-year birthdays

By Times Staff Writer
Published March 23, 2005

Charles Riggers will soon celebrate his 100th birthday. Born March 27, 1905, to Dietrich and Minna (Roeggenkampf) Riggers in Oerel, Germany, Charles immigrated to the United States in 1923. The 1930 U.S. Census shows Charles living in Brooklyn, N.Y., and owning his own ice route.

On July 15, 1934, Charles married Helen Marcinkowicz in Brooklyn. Together they had son Charles Steven, now a resident of Seattle.

In addition to the ice route, Charles also worked as an electric welder at the Brooklyn shipyard during the war.

The work was infrequent, so Charles looked for a more dependable way to support his family.

He turned his ice business into an ice cream parlor and deli business in Queens, which he owned and operated from 1946 to 1975. His wife was a computer operator for Carpenters Union Pension Fund. When Charles retired in June 1975, he and his wife moved to Pinellas Park.

He's an active man.

A neighbor friend reported that when Charles was hospitalized about 10 years ago, the doctor came into his room and told him that he could resume normal activity.

Shortly thereafter the lights and buzzers began to go off in the nurses' station. When they ran to the room to see what was going on, Charles was doing pushups.

He swims daily, dances weekly, sings in a choir at Albright United Methodist Church, maintains his home inside and out and is an active gardener.

The fruit of his labor results in citrus and vegetables, which he shares with his neighbors.

We think that living 100 years is worth our taking notice. If you or a family member is about to celebrate a 100th birthday or more, please let us know. Include the following information: the person's full name, date of birth, place of birth, parents' names (including mother's maiden name) if known, name of spouse (if applicable), marriage date, names of children and number of grandchildren (if applicable), length of time the person has lived in this area and a phone number in case we have questions. Also, please include a photo that doesn't need to be returned. We'll publish the information as close to the birthday as possible. Send the information to 100-year Birthdays, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731-1121 or fax to (727) 893-8675.

[Last modified March 23, 2005, 00:55:18]