Ethelyn VonHelmers Fitzsimmons of Mantua will celebrate her 110th birthday on May 17 – a milestone that places her among the oldest Ohioans. She’s also someone close to Kent State University.
Born during WWI, Fitzsimmons has lived independently in her home since 1955 and remains sharp, witty, and full of memories spanning more than a century, according to a recent article from the Record-Courier. While she has enjoyed creative pursuits such as playing piano, painting and writing poetry in her downtime, as a professional, she served as a secretary in the Office of the President under three Kent State presidents: George Bowman, Robert White and Glenn Olds. She was an employee at the university on May 4, 1970, while White was president.
Fitzsimmons is still very active, able to climb the stairs to her bedroom every evening and fix her own breakfast every morning, according to the Record-Courier report.
While she plans on celebrating quietly at home with a friend, her loved ones and local historians are inviting the public to “shower” her with birthday cards to honor her on this major milestone. Cards can be sent to: PO Box 493, Mantua, OH 44255.
Read the Record-Courier article about Fitzsimmons and her extraordinary life.