Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

'Millie' celebrates century of life

By BETSY BOLGER-PAULET
Published August 12, 2006

Mildred Helen "Millie" Collins recently celebrated 100 years with friends and family in the clubhouse of the Embassy Mobile Home Park in Clearwater.

Born Malrina Elena Balboni on Aug. 5, 1906, in Revere, Mass., she was the daughter of immigrants from Bologna, Italy.

Malrina, who later took the more anglicized name Mildred or Millie, grew up as the baby of her family. She had four older sisters and one older brother.

From an early age, she was always on the move. Along with Revere, she lived in several other Massachusetts towns including Somerville, Burlington, Peabody and Woburn.

She is quick to say that she has always been on the move.

Her travels through the century have taken her to all 50 states, as well as Canada, England, Ireland, Spain, Majorca and the Bahamas.

And not only is Mrs. Collins a traveler, she is also quick to state that she is not afraid of anything.

Well into her 80s, she rode roller coasters with her granddaughter, and even took a helicopter into a Hawaiian volcano.

The scrappy centenarian's philosophy is simple and sweet: "When it's your time to go you will go. Until then, don't worry!"

And, that cavalier spirit toward life continues even into her next century.

Mildred plays bingo with friends at the park six nights a week and ends each evening with a hearty night cap from her drink of choice, Scotch. And she still smokes.

She has outlived two husbands. Fred Johnson died after they had been married 25 years and then she was married 20 years to Ed Collins.

For the past 20 years she has been with the man she calls her love of life, Robert Underhill.

The centenarian has two children, Fred Johnson, who lives in Lexington, Mass., and Judith Galvin who divides her time between Burlington, Mass., and Clearwater.

Millie has five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and is looking forward to the birth of twin great-grandchildren.

* * *

Couple celebrate decades of marital happiness

Arlene and Louis Doctoroff of Largo celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a party hosted by their children while on a visit to Philadelphia and with a dinner party locally for friends. They were married July 7, 1956, at St. Likes Episcopal Church in Philadelphia.

They moved here in 2003 after being seasonal visitors for around three years.

Lou retired after 25 years in the printing business and Arlene was a payroll specialist for Sears Roebuck Co.

They have two daughters, Donna (Vincent) Piskorski, and LuAnn (Harry) Mac Cord; three grandsons, Vincent and Michael Pikorski, and Matthew Mac Cord, and two granddaughters, Kerri and Amy Mac Cord.

They enjoy traveling, visiting casinos and going to the beach. Lou likes swimming, playing poker and the horse races. Arlene likes the slot machines, shopping, talking with friends and going out to dinner.

* * *

For information or an anniversary form, call (727) 445-4109. To submit an item, write to Betsy Bolger-Paulet, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Fax forms to (727) 441-4119, or e-mail paulet@sptimes.com.

[Last modified August 12, 2006, 07:03:29]