11/20/2025
What a joyful day celebrating Emma’s 108th birthday! 🎉💐
Thank you to Newport Buzz for highlighting this remarkable milestone, and to everyone who stopped by to share a smile, say hello, and wish her well. We all felt the love!
In a world that rarely slows down, Emma Virgadamo stands as a radiant reminder that longevity is its own kind of magic. Today, at 108 years young, she celebrated yet another extraordinary milestone surrounded by the warmth of family, friends, and fellow residents at John Clarke Senior Living—a gathering that felt less like a birthday party and more like a living chapter of Rhode Island history.
Emma, believed to be among the second or third oldest residents in the entire state, marked the moment in the sweetest way possible: sharing cake and ice cream with the people who fill her days with companionship. In a heart-stirring portrait of three generations, she’s pictured with her daughter Loraine Winthrop and granddaughter Kate Winthrop—a trio that reflects both the passage of time and the timelessness of family.
Born in Portsmouth and a longtime Newport resident, Emma’s life has quietly woven itself into the fabric of Aquidneck Island. She has lived through eras, witnessed transformations, and carried the rare perspective of someone who has seen more than a century of change—yet still greets each day with gentle humor and enduring grace.
Today’s celebration shimmered with understated glamour: a centenarian surrounded by love, savoring dessert, and receiving the admiration of those lucky enough to share her orbit. It wasn’t just a birthday. It was a tribute to resilience, family, and a life that continues to inspire.
Happy 108th Birthday, Emma. Here’s to the beauty of your journey—and to the joy of every year yet to come.