The ever so popular Clarence Duncan from the South Bronx turned 101 on July 9, happily celebrating yet another birthday milestone surrounded by his family at the Beth Abraham Center, in Allerton. Mr. Duncan arrived at the large 448-bed nursing and rehabilitation center just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York City on March 27, 2020.

 

Like so many other seniors, Mr. Duncan was unable to be around his family amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic while visitor restrictions were in force at care homes. Once families were, once again, able to intermingle with their loved ones and mark these momentous occasions, Leduc Le, recreation director at the care home, together with his staff took advantage of the times, and had a special birthday room dedicated to Mr. Duncan and his family to enjoy the beautiful celebration.

 

Clarence Duncan was born in 1920. According to Reader’s Digest, that same year women gained the right to vote in the U.S., prohibition was introduced, the ACLU was founded, Amelia Earhart took her first flight, American football became a professional sport, Charles Ponzi was arrested by federal authorities for having orchestrated what became known as the very first “Ponzi scheme,” the Olympic flag made its debut, the League of Nations was founded but the U.S. didn’t join, and a bomb exploded in front of the Wall Street offices of J.P. Morgan & Co., killing 38 and injuring hundreds.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.