The ‘Centenarian Golden Girls’: Three Friends Turned 100 at Atria West 86 in June

By Marisa Hirschfield

Three Upper West Side women celebrated a century of life this month in a series of parties hosted by family and friends. They continued the celebration at Atria West 86, the senior residence where they live on West 86th Street and West End Avenue, in the sun-soaked lounge. Balloons, cake, and positive energy abounded.

Following the festivities, WSR sat down in that same room with Lorraine Pirrello, Ruth Schwartz, and Edith “Mitzie” Moscou -– known at Atria as the “Centenarian Golden Girls” — to talk about reaching 100, fulfilling careers, staying fit, and the Upper West Side.

Moscou called turning 100, “Wonderful.”

Smiling at her friend, Pirrello quipped: “What’s wonderful about turning 100?”

Lorraine Pirrello has always been a performer. She is an accomplished opera singer. Following eight years performing with the San Carlo Opera in Naples, Italy, she moved to New York City, where a friend encouraged her to audition for the Metropolitan Opera.

Pirrello recounted the auspicious moment: “I auditioned between Act 1 and Act 2… in the studio. While the opera was going on, I was auditioning –- and I got hired.”

Pirrello performed with the Met for twenty years. Residing on West 75th and Riverside Drive, she walked to rehearsal every day. Although born in California, she proudly calls the Upper West Side “my neighborhood.”

Pirrello retired from the Met at age 65 and traveled widely. She told the Rag, “I wanted to see Lake Louise. I wanted to see the Grand Canyon. I wanted to know America, my country.”

At 100, Pirrello remains active and engaged. She played tennis well into her 90s, and now enjoys competitive bridge with her friends at Atria. Having just come from bridge, she told the Rag that she is happy to play in-person again, as pandemic restrictions have lifted.

Atria’s second centenarian, Ruth Schwartz, was also born out of state. A New Jersey native, she moved to New York to attend NYU School of Education, then began her career as an elementary-level teacher in Florida. She later turned her attention to students with disabilities, following the example of her sister. Schwartz’s sister had been studying braille in order to transcribe a book. When her sister passed away, Schwartz decided to take over her endeavor.

“I studied braille to finish her book,” she explained.

Schwartz takes great pride in the work that she did with visually-impaired students. Now retired, she hopes that people will “do all they can and even more” for children with disabilities. “Education has fallen behind,” she said.

In 2019, she relocated to the Upper West Side, where she has lived for two years, to be closer to her children and grandchildren. Schwartz loves the vibrancy and excitement of the Upper West Side –- including nearby Lincoln Center. When it is once again safe to attend the opera, she will be the first in line. “I’ll be there!” she declared.

Edith “Mitzi” Moscou, like Schwartz, loves the vitality of the Upper West Side. “There’s always something going on,” she said.

Moscou is a self-proclaimed “local girl.” She was born and raised in Brooklyn, and began working at her husband’s law office while still in college. Now an Upper West Sider, she enjoys having ready access to the Museum of Natural History and relishes the nurturing community.

“I just hope I continue in this way. Feeling good, meeting new people all the time -– that’s a lot of fun.”

As for their longevity, the women emphasized the importance of healthy habits. Moscou told the Rag that she has been an exercise enthusiast her whole life.

Pirrello, after decades of performance, sought an athletic pastime to keep her busy. She found tennis. “I saw an ad in the paper that said ‘play Tennis USA., so, I called up and said ‘Do you have an age limit?’” “’We take from 8 to 80,’” they told her. She promptly signed up and played until age 97, surpassing all expectations. Though she has since retired her racket, she  continues to follow the sport avidly.

The Centenarian Golden Girls, with all their wit and spirit, are grateful to have made it to 100 and to have a community with whom to mark and embrace the occasion.

Following their retrospection, the ladies took a moment to look forward.

“I just hope life will be good to me, as it has been,” said Pirrello.

Schwartz chimed in, “I hope to reach 101.”

This brings the number of centenarians WSR has reported on in the past year to seven, giving credence to our theory that Ponce de Leon made a wrong turn when he missed the Upper West Side!