[TI] Scapaci Mom 100

[Grace Olivo]

Centenarian Antoinette 'Lena' Scarpaci is a 'good role model' By Nova Beall,
Times Staff Writer Published Tuesday, April 8, 2008 5:29 PM  St Petersburg
Time


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Antoinette "Lena" Gerardi Scarpaci was born March 19, 1908, in Brooklyn,
N.Y., the eldest of five children born to Nicola and Vincenza Gerardi, who
had emigrated from Italy two years earlier.

Mrs. Scarpaci celebrated her 100th birthday March 15 in the auditorium at
the Oaks of Clearwater with many friends and relatives.

An inquisitive youngster, Mrs. Scarpaci would ask her parents to tell her
about their lives in the old country. She is proud of her heritage and
taught herself to speak Sicilian well enough to converse with relatives. She
toured Sicily in 1970, when she visited her parents' birthplace of
Calatafimi and became acquainted with some cousins, and returned again in
1995.

Mrs. Scarpaci and her sister quit school at ages 15 and 13, respectively, to
help the family finances. She worked in office jobs, then part time as an
office nurse for a gynecologist. Her final employment was as a clerk typist
for Nassau County on Long Island in New York.

At 20, she married Frank J. Scarpaci. Their 63-year marriage produced three
children, four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. The couple moved to
Clearwater in 1973 and lived on Barcelona Drive. After her husband died,
Mrs. Scarpaci lived alone for several years before she became a resident of
the Oaks of Clearwater in 1998.

Mrs. Scarpaci was an avid Brooklyn Dodgers fan and in the mid 1940s
participated in the team's historic Knothole Gang Club, a program that gave
free passes to children during the 1940s and '50s to attend afternoon
Dodgers games at Ebbets Field. She invited all the children on the block to
attend and paid for their subway fare, and hot dogs and sodas at the games.

Everyone enjoyed Mrs. Scarpaci's cooking. She was especially renowned for
the Sicilian pizza she created from a recipe she got from her father, a
baker.

"She always followed nutrition and gardening tips in the newspaper, wanting
to learn how to improve and maintain well-being," said her daughter,
Vincenza Scarpaci.

Today, the centenarian hands out favorite recipes and still gets a yen for
escarole with cannellini beans.

She follows politics and, even though legally blind, keeps herself up to
date on the latest issues by reading the newspaper daily. She's looking
forward to voting in November's presidential election.

"One of my mother's greatest attributes is her sense of humor and ability to
adjust to life's transitions," Vincenza Scarpaci added. "When she became
legally blind, she embraced the talking books service."

Mrs. Scarpaci has always admired individuals who fight for social causes and
encourages friends to get involved. She isn't a stranger to activism, and
has lobbied for several positive changes at her residence that have been
enacted. She enjoys a good discussion and will share her opinions on
currents events, classical music and opera.

"As long as a person remains interested in life, they remain young,"
Vincenza Scarpaci said of her mother's philosophy, and added, "She's a good
role model."

Nova Beall, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Fax to (727) 445-4119 or
e-mail sbeall at sptimes.com. Good For You includes news of 50th wedding
anniversaries, people celebrating their 100th birthday (or more) and young
people's noteworthy achievements academically, in the arts or community
service. For information or an anniversary form, call (727) 445-4221.