New Century Club Members in Sandy Springs 20The Professor and TV Anchor’s Earth Day Wedding

New Century Club Members in Sandy Springs

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Hammond Glen senior living community in Sandy Springs inaugurated its new Century Club for residents over 100 years old by welcoming five new members, four of whom are Jewish.

Like Olympians, the group that included Mildred Wachter, Millie Kinbar, Estelle Wexler and Shirley Finck, were pre-

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sented bronze medals and bouquets at the welcoming party.

Finck, made honorary chair of the group, called its first meeting to order with a rule that they wouldn’t talk about age.

“Age, for me is a no-no,” she said. “when people ask me about my age, I generally avoid the subject.”

But the other centenarians were happy to talk about what keeps them youthful and active.

Millie Kinbar immigrated to America with her family from Poland over 98 years ago when America was struggling with the after-effects of the Spanish Flu pandemic that had swept across America. She said she tries to take each day as it comes, and when they all add up to 100 years, she likes to think of it as a pleasant surprise.

“I just put one foot in front of the other and do what feels good,” she said. “And there are so many good things over the years that before you know it, here you are.”

For another of the honorees, Mildred Wachter, who moved from Erie, Pa., to be closer to her family, the secret to making it past the 100-year mark is just to keep going and stay happy.

“I like to exercise. That’s important,” she emphasized. “And I always try to have something on my mind that encourages me to keep going. I’m always trying to encourage myself to keep going. I try be positive and be happy with my life.”

Also on hand for the first meeting of the Century Club was the Mayor of Sandy Springs Rusty Paul, who has a few years to go before he qualifies for full membership. But he brought greetings from the city.

“It is an honor to celebrate five women who have lived such long, full and fulfilled lives,” he said. “They have not only witnessed so much of our history, they have individual stories that are inspired and inspiring. Each of them is a unique library of knowledge and wisdom.”

According to statistics from the National Institute on Aging, America has one of the world’s largest populations of people over 100 and that segment is growing fast.

By 2050, the population in that age group is projected to grow 20 times faster than the population at large, the NIA reported. That means that by mid-century there could be over 600,000 living to be 100, up from just 75,000 in 2010.

That keeps senior citizens communities busy with programs for honorees like the one at Hammond Glen.

The Jewish HomeLife communities in Alpharetta, Atlanta and Dunwoody also celebrate their 100-year-old residents with a special party. “There’s cake, music and even dancing. We are excited to now be able to have families join us again,” said Shari Bayer, JHL chief marketing and communications officer.

At Sunrise at Huntcliff Summit in Sandy Springs, which has a large population of Jewish seniors, residents who reach 100 get balloons and banners that decorate their doorway, and the path from their apartment to the elevator is sprinkled with confetti.

“By the time people make it to their 100th birthday, they have collected so many important memories,” said activities director Franki Groh Mohamed. “We think it’s so important that we add something special to all those memories.” ì

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1. Shirley Finck is the unofficial chairperson of the Century Club. 2. Members of the Century Club celebrated their first meeting at Hammond Glen. 3. Mildred Wachter is part of the first group of Century Club members. 4. Millie Kinbar immigrated from Poland over 98 years ago. 5. Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul celebrated with the Century Club at Hammond Glen. 6. Members of the Century Club and their guests were treated to birthday cake.

WEDDINGS

The Professor and TV Anchor’s Earth Day Wedding

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By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Natalie Allen, a long-time anchor on CNN and CNN International, wed popular Emory professor Jeff Rosensweig on Earth Day, April 22, at the historic Jekyll Island Club Resort. Allen chose this date because she presented the first show on The Weather Channel, “Forecast Earth” and sustainability has been an enduring interest for her.

At the wedding, 50 guests looked on in an idyllic setting in the garden of the Crane Cottage. With perfect weather, the reception on the lawn overlooked the river, followed by dinner in the mansion’s courtyard. The venue was chosen because the Federal Reserve System was formed there by J.P. Morgan, among others. Rosensweig began his career at the Federal Reserve, before teaching at Yale and then moving to Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, where he is director of the John Robson Program for Business, Public Policy, and Government. Allen had vacationed at the club with her son Nicholas Wright since he was an infant.

Being a “second time around,” the couple first met on the set of CNN 20 years ago, where Rosensweig was a frequent live commentator, discussing economic and financial topics. Rosensweig was widowed four years ago.

“We were so lucky to reconnect and fall in love so many years later,” Allen said, to which Rosensweig added details, “After we started dating, we got en-

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1. The couple enjoyed a stroll through an arch of Jekyll Island moss. 2. Groom Jeff Rosensweig completed the traditional breaking of the glass to much applause. 3. The couple’s suite was inside this famed Jekyll Island Club turret tower. 4. The couple dances as Natalie Allen’s son sang “At Last” as 50 guests look on. 5. Granddaughter flower girls Eleanor and Annabelle Escher made a charming entrance. 6. Natalie Allen’s favorite poem by W. H. Auden speaks of an “agreeable” carriage exit.

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7. The 50 guests watched from Crane Cottage yard.

8. The couple’s cake was surrounded by a swirl of sugar doves.

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gaged 11 months later, in June 2019, just after we attended my Yale reunion.”

Fast forward to April 2020, when the original wedding date was postponed due to COVID. Allen recalled, “After delaying our 2020 date, many encouraged us to just marry on Zoom. But I held out for my dream wedding at this historic and picturesque Jekyll Island Club. Our guests were enchanted with its beauty. Not coincidentally, my son Nicolas performed ‘At Last’ as our dance song.” Rosensweig chimed in, “Luckily the wedding was always planned to be outdoors in the garden. That combined with vaccines gave us confidence to finally go forward.”

Rosensweig’s brother-inlaw Jonathan Fleming conduct-

ed the ceremony. Rosensweig’s son was his best man and Allen’s was her son. Rosensweig’s sister Amy Fleming did a reading, as did Allen’s sister Lauren Murrell. Granddaughter flower girls flounced in a fantasy of mint green dresses with silver shoes as children of Rosensweig’s daughter Maria (Lance) Escher, who were part of the unity tree readings. Adm. James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and currently chairman of The Rockefeller Foundation, shared wonderful reflections on “service and commitment” during the ceremony.

Wedding details flowed as did Allen’s ethereal bouquet of pale roses and peonies. The alabaster white cake was adorned with doves (Allen’s favorite) and butterflies for Earth Day, all made of sugar. Rosensweig looked dapper in a white dinner jacket while Allen wore a slender white lace dress with rhinestone straps.

The couple took a mini U.S. trip in anticipation of honeymooning in Africa as the pandemic subsides.

Rosensweig said, “I hope our marriage gives everyone faith that love can be found anew. Natalie’s middle name is Joy, which she brings me every day. Many people say that our love is so tangible that it brings them joy. Natalie has such rare inner and outer beauty and brilliance that I know I am lucky. I plan to cherish her every day.”

Allen relayed a poem by W.H. Auden, which ends:

“The streets shall all flock to your marriage

The houses turn round to look

The tables and chairs say suitable prayers

And the horses drawing your carriage

Sing agreeably, agreeably, agreeably of love.”

And yes, the couple exited in a horse drawn carriage. ì

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