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100-year birthdays

By Times Staff Writer
Published August 31, 2005

Eva Tancrell Meunier celebrated her 100th birthday on Aug. 19. She was born in North Uxbridge, Mass., to Joseph and Georgiana Auger Tancrell. The eighth of nine children, Eva was always a little fearful that "all the good genes were all gone (by the time she came along), but I managed to get enough to get through," she said.

She studied at the then-prestigious Northampton Institute for Musical Pedagogy in Massachusetts. The institute, begun in Westfield, Mass., was relocated at the turn of the century and continued to operate on the Smith College campus each summer until 1929, when it relocated to New York and became the Skidmore College Summer School of Music.

Her musical training prepared her for what became an active life as a professional soprano soloist throughout New England and eastern Canada. She performed with the symphonies of Boston, Providence, R.I., and Manchester, N.H., and sang title roles in three operas. Two operas, Martha and Mignon, were done by amateur groups; Manon, a professional production in Montreal, won Eva rave reviews in the local papers.

She married Armand J. Meunier on June 23, 1926, and moved to Woonsocket, R.I., where he owned a wholesale grocery business. They had one daughter, Jocelyn. They lived in Woonsocket until 1952 when they moved to St. Petersburg. Eva and Armand were charter members of St. Jude Cathedral. Armand died in 1961.

Eva has crocheted baby blankets for Alpha House for years, and only in the last six months or so has her arthritis slowed her down on that front. She keeps up with current events, reads the Times daily and watches television news. And she enjoys the love and attention her many nieces and nephews lavish upon her.

She has perhaps lived the credo of Ralph Baldwin, the dean of Northampton Institute: ". . . above all foster the development of the emotional nature of America's children. Train them to be keenly sensitive to the varying shades and higher aspirations of emotion as expressed in music so that they may become sensitive to those spiritual influences beyond the finite horizon, the appreciation of which will bring to their lives a regenerating force and power for better living."

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 August 31, 2005, 01:21:25]