to Marshal July 4th Parade

More than 50 years ago Norma Fink began working the registration desk for Plantation tennis players, a job she still enjoys part-time at age 101.

But on July 4 she has another assignment. Norma will be the grand marshal for the city’s annual Independence Day parade. “Norma is Exhibit A of what Plantation is all about,” Plantation Mayor Nick Sortal said.

Norma was born in the Bronx, graduated from NYU and in 1944 began a 54-year marriage to Robert Fink, who passed away 25 years ago.

In 1972 she moved into a Plantation condo – the same one she lives in today. She began working at the Plantation Community Center’s hut in 1978, then moved over to the Veltri Tennis Center when it opened in 1981, working as a court attendant and playing in many leagues.

By E.F. ISRAEL

Norma has been recognized for her long-time service before. Her grandson arranged a large catered party with two cakes and a three-piece band in the tennis center parking lot for her 100th birthday. And a bench outside the tennis grounds bears her name and Nov. 16, 2021, when she turned 100.

She knew former Mayor Frank Veltri well. “We had to make sure his courts were well-cared-for,” she said. She now works Tuesday and Thursday mornings, registering players. She says she “never thought I’d still be here” and is “very careful about not falling. “Why not?” she says. “What am I going to be doing? Making trouble? I can make trouble here.”

▸ Plantation’s Independence Day parade is at 7:30 a.m. July 4 and begins at the intersection of State Road 7/U.S. 441 and Broward Boulevard. Participants head east to Northwest 69th Avenue, then travel toward City Hall.