Surrounded by friends and family, Kurt Goldschmidt celebrated his 103rd birthday this week at Waterstone of Westchester in White Plains.
The oldest resident of the senior living community on Bloomingdale Road, he was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1923 and is a Holocaust survivor.
He says the secret to his longevity is healthy eating and a daily martini, either shaken or stirred. “Doesn’t matter, as long as it’s a martini,’” he said when asked the question.
After emigrating to the United States, he spent much of his early career as a social worker working with young mothers in Brooklyn and East New York. He later moved to the suburbs with his family and opened a travel agency, which he operated for more than 50 years. Goldschmidt plans to travel back to Germany this summer with his family. He last made the trip three years ago at age 100.
Lauren Freifeld, executive director of Waterstone of Westchester, had some uplifting words for Goldschmidt.
“The incredible thing is that we get to spend this special day with you and your family and your great-granddaughter,” she said. “Congratulations Kurt. You are such a special person.’’
In addition to the Waterstone of Westchester community, Kurt’s daughter, son-in-law, and 4-year-old great-granddaughter, Sophia, attended the party, which included a cake, balloons, and many gifts.
Although the number of people reaching their 100th birthday was once rather rare in the U.S., the number has nearly tripled over the last three decades. The number of Americans reaching the century mark is projected to quadruple over the next three decades, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Still, centenarians currently make up just 0.03% of the population of the U.S., according to the Pew Research Center.
Waterstone of Westchester is owned by EPOCH Senior Living, which is also the operator, and National Development, the developer. EPOCH Senior Living operates 16 senior living communities in the Northeast.
