SPRING LAKE — Eve Grippaldi, a former longtime Spring Lake resident, was joined by family and friends at the Essex & Sussex last Thursday to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Grippaldi was born on June 5, 1925. She spent many summers at the Jersey Shore, before moving down full-time, living for 20 years on Pennsylvania Avenue in what was her parents’ old home.
“When I used to live in North Jersey (Livingston), I used to spend summers in Spring Lake,” said Grippaldi, “and then finally we bought a home in Spring Lake and lived there for many years until we moved to Massachusetts.”
Grippaldi has lived near family in Hinsdale, Massachusetts, for the past decade.
“My grandparents lived there (Spring Lake), and then when they passed my parents moved in,” said Grippaldi’s daughter Cynthia Grippaldi. “The cool connection is that my grandfather, after he retired, he was a barber his whole life and in his retirement he was the barber at the Essex & Sussex (when it was a hotel).”
On June 5, friends and family members who traveled from all across the East Coast met at the Essex & Sussex to celebrate Grippaldi, reminisce old memories, enjoy a seated dinner and finish with Grippaldi’s special request, strawberry shortcake.
Family and friends shared memories of times spent visiting the Grippaldi family in Spring Lake, love for the ocean and contributed to a guest book that will serve as a keepsake for Grippaldi to look back on for years to come.
“Six, five, 25, the most beautiful number in the world,” said Grippaldi. “You should see the bouquets of flowers here, this house is all decorated with wonderful things that they sent; it’s just a paradise.”
Grippaldi says Spring Lake is the “most magnificent place to live in” highlighting her love of frequenting the beach, boardwalk and involvement in community activities and civic groups, during her time living in town.
She said she married the love of her life, Anthony Grippaldi, in 1949 after meeting him at a “beautiful garden party.” This year would mark their 76th wedding anniversary. She said the secret to a long marriage is: living for each other, loving for each other and maintaining a strong family life.
In her professional life, prior to giving birth to her three children — Cynthia, Donnie and Phillip — Grippaldi worked for several years as a receptionist and secretary for the U.S. Steel industry at the Chrysler Building on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, and even served as an air raid warden during World War II in New York City, and still has her uniform.
She later welcomed two grandsons, Evan and Mareson, by her daughter.
“The beach, the boardwalk, the homes, the people, you cannot imagine a town…as magnificent as Spring Lake, New Jersey,” said Grippaldi.
She told The Coast Star she has many “happy memories” living in the borough, adding, “I belonged to many clubs, I belonged to the church functions…I took part in almost everything. You walk down the street on Third Avenue, you knew everybody because we were all in love with our town.”
Grippaldi spent time beautifying the borough during her participation in the Spring Lake Garden Club, volunteering with the board of elections counting votes at local polls, as well as at the Spring Lake Community Theatre selling tickets, ushering attendees to their seats and assisting during dress rehearsals.
When asked what are some of the keys to a long, happy life, Grippaldi told The Coast Star, “I led a simple life. We make the best…we went to work, we had very good breaks, I met a magnificent husband, moved to New Jersey to another magnificent town, I was lucky with all these beautiful things that happened to me.”
“I can’t say I put my finger on ‘you should do this,’ maybe be kind to your friends, be kind to your family,” she added.
“You want to live in heaven, you live in Spring Lake,” said Grippaldi.
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