Margaret Robinson celebrates her 105th birthday

Warwick — When she recently celebrated her 105th birthday at Schervier Pavilion, Margaret Robinson may have been the oldest living person in Warwick. On Nov. 23, 1902, when Robinson was born, President William McKinley had only recently been assassinated and his Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt, was serving as President of the United States. The Wright Brothers had yet to demonstrate that a machine could fly. Automobiles were a passing novelty and most people traveled by horse and carriage. Robinson can’t offer any particular reason for her longevity. Although she enjoyed several interesting careers before retiring at age 70 and also didn’t smoke or drink alcohol, her response to this question was simply, “The good Lord liked me.” Early in her professional life, Robinson rose to become secretary to Bert Daly, the mayor of the City of Bayonne, New Jersey. She then served as one of the first policewomen in Bayonne. And, after leaving the police department, Robinson went on to become an auditor for the Internal Revenue Service. “Contrary to what they expected,” said her nephew, Norman Ross, “the people she audited always reported that they were happy with the way she treated them.” Although it may still seem rare, the fastest growing segment of the population is actually people who have reached the age of 100 and beyond. Providing long-term health care is one of the most important services offered by members of the Bon Secours Health Care System, where the Schervier Pavilion is located.