Island Lake resident celebrates 102nd birthday
Island Lake recently hosted a birthday party in the village gym for resident Dorothy Gabbei, a who turned 102. About 20 family members and well wishers attended.
A celebration was arranged after Dorothy's granddaughter mentioned her birthday.
"I thought it would be great to celebrate a milestone," said Mayor Richard W. McLaughlin.
Dorothy has had a lifelong interest in ancient history was an avid reader and considered singing a joy and passion throughout her life, family members said. She plays piano every day to keep her hands and fingers limber.
Gabbei began driving at 14 and still has a license, though she no longer drives. She had four children and four grandchildren and lived in Elmhurst; Chicago; Long Island, N.Y.; Arlington Heights; and Cary before moving to Island Lake about two years ago.
According to the family, Dorothy was born in Oak Park on March 10, 1922. The family moved to Elmhurst two years later.
Her father was a union musician and it was a household filled with music and various instruments.
Dorothy and four siblings took dancing lessons at the Masonic Temple on York Street in Elmhurst and danced all over the western suburbs.
In sixth grade, she was selected to join the forerunner of the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus. They were taken to Glen Ellyn once a week to rehearse and played at Orchestra Hall and also a few times at the Century of Progress world's fair in Chicago.
She was an avid book reader and skipped a grade, entering York Community High School in Elmhurst when she was 13. She began driving at 14 as drivers licenses weren't well known until she was about 20 and they were issued by mail.
She had a valid license when she turned 100 but quit driving because she couldn't get insurance.
According to the family, Dorothy studied Latin and ancient history, which became a lifelong interest. She also took shorthand, typing and bookkeeping and received college prep and commercial certification.
She worked as secretary to the vice president and senor loan officer at American National Bank & Trust in Chicago and spent many lunch hours at Marshall Fields on State Street.
In 1948, she became the lead soprano for DuPage Symphony Chorus. Singing was a joy and passion throughout her life and Dorothy always sang with church choirs no matter where she lived.
She returned to work after raising her children as secretary to the technical manager at Amersham Corp. in Arlington Heights. She was promoted to secretary to the director of operation and then human resources coordinator, managing employee health benefits.
Family, music, bridge, Scrabble, reading, knitting/sewing, singing and piano are among her hobbies and interests.