The year 2002 is just days old, and already an historic event has occurred in the City of Glen Cove. Mary E. Floccari celebrated her 100th birthday on January 6, and the city she has called home for more than a half century helped her celebrate with a grand party at the Glen Cove Senior Center surrounded by many, many friends, local officials and numerous grand, great-grand, and great-great-grandchildren. Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp presented the birthday girl with a citation from the city recounting a century of life filled with contributions, achievements, misfortune, great fortune and goodness which continues joyfully into its second century.

Mrs. Floccari was born in Messina, Italy, on January 6, 1902 and came to America in 1912. She moved to a house on Glen Cove's Fourth Street in 1945, where she has lived for the past 57 years. In that home Mary single-handedly raised 15 children-Josephine, Peter, Mike, Joseph, Catherine, Ellen, Concetta, Eva, Viola, Patsy, Jimmy, Grace and the late Herman, Eugene and Patricia. Mary always kept the door of her home and her heart open to countless neighborhood children seeking guidance. Mary always had a kind word for everyone and gave of her love, time and talents unselfishly.

Mrs. Floccari proudly bears the designation of Gold Star Mother; her son Herman was killed in action during World War II. She is Glen Cove's only Gold Star Mother.

Mary stays active these days in the Glen Cove Senior Center and is a member of the Center's Happy Hookers knitting group. She also works at the center with bi-lingual education and assists in the serving of meals.

When asked the secret of her longevity, Mrs. Floccari passed along a simple and obviously successful bit of wisdom, "Mind your own business."

In presenting the citation to Mrs. Floccari, Mayor Holzkamp stated that "The members of the Glen Cove City Council and I join your children, 43 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren in wishing you a Happy Birthday. You are truly a Mother of the Century."