Lombard centenarian celebrates birthday roller derby style

Lombard resident Dorothy Pszotka celebrated her 100th birthday on Friday, Sept. 27. After a recent hospitalization she needed to build up her endurance and was transferred to a short-term rehabilitation facility just a few days before her milestone birthday.

The staff at Thrive of Lisle worked with her family to plan a surprise party complete with a blast from her past. Dorothy used to skate on a roller derby team back in the 1940s.

Current skaters and officials from both the Chicago Style Roller Derby Team and the Chicago Knockouts were invited to talk shop.

Dorothy was giggling and reminiscing with them as they were comparing the tracks from now and then as well as the different equipment used.

Dorothy skated on a banked track and her skates had wooden wheels. Modern roller derby tracks are usually flat, and today’s skates are made with synthetic materials. Dorothy had some fun joking that her hip injury was probably due to her days in the derby. The only thing Dorothy kept off limits was her roller derby nickname. “I’ll never tell,” she said with a grin.

Crimson Vixen will be keeping in touch with Dorothy after she discharges back home to Lombard as Dorothy is invited to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Roller Derby festivities.