![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f6557af84bbfe99984f5ec5be910e2cfd4-20260916-NYM-LB-Senior-Prom-0263.rvertical.w570.jpg\")
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Alva Kaalund (pictured above)
Retired actress and literacy-program manager<\/p>\n
Did you go to prom when you were in school?
Yes. My first boyfriend left me high and dry just before it, and another guy took me. It\u2019s still embarrassing, but my parents asked his parents.<\/p>\n
What do you remember about that night?
It was at the Waldorf Astoria. Everybody was dressed so sophisticated, and I was dressed in a Cinderella gown. Then we went to the Copacabana, where Johnny Mathis was entertaining.<\/p>\n
You mentioned you used to perform as well?
I did theater at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Apollo. The show at the Apollo was an anthology of poetry. There was music and singing, but we were dressed in gowns and tuxedos and then did militant poetry. People were surprised. The lights turned off and African drums were beating.<\/p>\n
Mary Holmes<\/p>\n
Retired secretary<\/p>\n
How do you like to spend your time?<\/p>\n
I go to all the activities: bingo, Uno night. They got a new version of Uno I don\u2019t understand. But it\u2019s fun. I won the first game on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Lester Strong<\/p>\n
Retired writer<\/p>\n
John Radice<\/p>\n
Retired restaurant worker<\/p>\n
Tell me about what you did before you retired.<\/p>\n
I used to work at an Italian restaurant and help my uncle. Sinatra\u2019s playing right now. Can I go back to the dance floor to listen to that record?<\/p>\n
Dana Robinson<\/p>\n
Retired homemaker<\/p>\n
Yuk Wong<\/p>\n
Retired homemaker<\/p>\n
Francisco Perez<\/p>\n
Retired reporter<\/p>\n
Cecilia Ferreiro<\/p>\n
Retired paralegal<\/p>\n
Zulema Ferrer<\/p>\n
Retired NYC Department of Transportation secretary<\/p>\n
Rosa Caro<\/p>\n
Retired factory worker<\/p>\n
Gloria Rozmus<\/p>\n
Retired salesperson<\/p>\n
Vera Olichney<\/p>\n
Retired New York State program manager<\/p>\n
Lilian Hall<\/p>\n
Retired housekeeper<\/p>\n
I heard you have a birthday coming up.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m turning 103 in a few weeks. These days, I\u2019m concerned about artificial intelligence. Everything is going to be automatic. After a while, people won\u2019t need to program it. It\u2019s scary because during my time I remember the horse and buggy.<\/p>\n
\n Photographs by Frankie Alduino\n <\/p>\n
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\n If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the October 5, 2026, issue of
\n New York\u00a0Magazine.<\/p>\n
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\n If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the October 5, 2026, issue of
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