11/21/2025
When asked what the secret is to eight people aging well together at 100 years old (or older!), resident Joan Warshaw said, "It's because of NewBridge!"
Warshaw was one of eight centenarians honored at a recent luncheon hosted by fellow resident centenarian Justin "Jerry" Wyner. Wyner admits he wasn't really paying attention, so his 100th birthday snuck up on him, but when presented with the opportunity to host a luncheon at NewBridge on the Charles to mark the occasion, he invited the community's seven other centenarians to celebrate their lives together.
"When everybody said yes, I thought, 'Wow!' One person who is 100 is an oddity, but eight getting together doesn't happen every day," Wyner said.
Wyner and Warshaw are 100 years old, as are NewBridge residents Grace Epstein, Jason Berkson, and Sophie Marks, while Murray Staub turns 100 later this month. Rounding out the group were Billie Rosoff, 101, and Mary Rosenfield, 103. Wyner presented each guest with a custom NBOC 100+ cap.
"You're blessed to live a long life, but you also have the experience of outliving all of your friends. You really start another life of friends," Wyner said. "The idea is maybe instead of just blending in with younger people, the eight of us might have a different kind of friendship."
Danae Bucci, a reporter with WCVB's NewsCenter 5 team, attended the luncheon to learn their stories and featured them on the channel’s broadcast. Several residents shared life advice for aging well.
"Take care of yourself, eat well, and keep up a routine," said Warshaw, whose routine involves walking outside on nice days, reading, and solving the New York Times crossword puzzle with her fellow residents.
Berkson said he "tries not to tell other people what to do," and what worked for him may not work for others. In his case, he said the secret to his longevity was "getting rid of the bad stuff early on."
"Growing up, I had scarlet fever, mumps, measles, and all that stuff. I had all of it. Every year, every winter, I was in bed for a week out of school," Berkson said, and now he is "100 and â…”."
At 103, Rosenfield also touted the benefits of remaining active.
"Not only do I exercise in my apartment, but I walk a lot," she said, noting she is faster than everyone thinks she would be. She usually walks outside, but when the weather prevents that, she walks inside, traveling from one building to another.
Wyner also shared some aging secrets, saying, "I think the most important thing is that every day of your life you have to have a meaningful reason to get out of bed."
He also advised against giving up your hobbies.
"I play a lousy game of golf compared to 80 years ago, but I don't give it up because that would be making a statement," Wyner said.
The luncheon was hosted in the Terrace Room at NewBridge on the Charles. The menu included panzanella salad with grilled chicken, Greek salad with grilled salmon, a seafood salad plate, vegetarian sausage pesto flatbread, and smoked brisket grilled cheese, as well as cake.
