On May 21, residents, family, and friends gathered to celebrate the lives of the six 100-year-old and older residents of Renaissance on Peachtree in Buckhead.
The community celebrated Sandra McNeil, 100; Ruth Lewis, 100; Iris Finkel, 100; June Macklin, 100; Morton Waitzman, 101; and Rosa Fitterman, 102, with cake, gifts, and the commemoration of six incredible and long lives.
McNeil, a resident of Renaissance on Peachtree since 2020, is a Georgia native who retired from an accounts payable position at Kraft on her 65th birthday. She has been a member of organizations including American Business Women’s Association, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Northside Women’s Club, and more.
Lewis, a resident since 2019, worked in hospital administration for many years. She has five grandkids and nine great-grandkids and has played bridge since she was 21. To this day, she still loves to dance.
Macklin, a resident since 2022, is a native New Yorker who met her lifelong husband when she was 15. She was an active member of her community and became the president of her PTA. She has four granddaughters and seven great-grandchildren.
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Finkel, a resident since 2013, earned a nursing degree during World War II and was an OB nurse for many years. She has seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren with two more on the way.
Fitterman, a resident since 2016, is a born and raised Atlantan. She met her husband in the first grade, and together they have three children. She has been teaching Tai chi, which she credits to how she is still getting around today.
Waitzman, a resident since 2018, is a World War II veteran. He landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day, was at the Liberation of Paris on August 25, 1944, and was involved in the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps. The Illinois-native moved to Georgia to start an eye research program at Emory in 1962 and is now a retired Professor of Meritus from Emory.
Each resident received a copy of a proclamation from the City of Brookhaven, deeming May 21 as a day to recognize the lives of these six individuals.
“Each individual has contributed richly to their families, communities, and country with integrity, compassion, and services,” the proclamation read, “and… the life of each resident serves as an inspiring example of strength, kindness, and enduring spirit to all who have had the privilege of knowing them.”
Representatives from the City of Brookhaven, City of Atlanta, and Gov. Brian Kemp’s office were all in attendance to celebrate the accomplished centenarians, and Waitzman closed out the event with this this message: “Hang in there and behave, and you’ll join us!”
