Ethel Plimack sweeping her front yard (Photo: Pat Dorfman)
Nov. 27, 2013 By Christian Murray
A well-known Sunnyside Gardens resident turns 103 this Thanksgiving Day—and many members of the community will be showing up outside her home to sing “Happy Birthday.”
Ethel Plimack, who has been a resident of 46th Street for more than 70 years, will be the recipient of a lot of well wishes from her neighbors.
Tomorrow, just before noon, a group of residents will arrive outside her home, stand in the street, and sing Happy birthday, according to Patricia Dorfman, who has organized the event. Ethel has been notified of the event so she will be home and will not be startled by the mob outside.
The centenarian remains in good spirits and only uses a walker on the street. Inside her home she navigates the steps from her basement to the first floor unaided. She is still able to cook dinner for herself.
Ethel, who has three children, worked at the Board of Education for many years before retiring at the age of 70. She then soon took another job at Marymount Manhattan College and worked there until the age of 90. She continued her civic activism well into her nineties when she fought for Sunnyside Gardens’ landmark status.
In recent days, Dorfman has been distributing fliers and sending out e-mails encouraging people to come to the 10 minute event.
EVENT DETAILS:
Location: 39-54 46th Street (between Skillman and 39th Ave.)
Date: November 28
Time: 11:59 am
