Vol. 52, No.06
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
February 12, 2014
Special Section
Local Events
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Sports
Entertainment
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Happy 108th Birthday, Nadya Lanyi by Jo Anne Disney Arcadia
Nadya Lanyi, a resident of Vista Cove in Arcadia since 2009, celebrated her 108th Birthday on February 10, 2014. A survivor of the Russian Revolution, “Nadya is one of the oldest living people in Southern California according to the U.S. Census Bureau.” Her life began in Lithuania in 1906, where according to her son Ron, she lived a very meager life, much
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of the time in poverty. Her parents had 5 children, but could not take them all with them when they left for America. Nadya recalled when she lived with an aunt, she had “to sleep in the oven at night because it was the warmest place in the house.” Then, she was sent to an orphanage “where she ate the bark off of trees and had no shoes.” Her son Ron, a retired English Professor at Pasadena City College, said that his mom would use old carpet and newspaper to make shoes to keep her feet warm. At the orphanage, Nadya fought for food and learned to protect her younger siblings. In 1921 her parents sent for her and her 2 other siblings to come to America. They came to Ellis Island and then joined their par-
ents in Detroit, Michigan, where her father had secured a job with the Ford Motor Company, where the first Model T Ford was devel- Courtesy photos pictured Nadya and son Ron. oped. The family would own several different until a high rise apartment businesses, a grocery store building was built next door. and even a gas station, all Nayda and her husband due to the entrepreneurial divorced in 1953. Then, she skills of Nadya’s mother. began working in a factory Later, Nadya moved to that made bronze plaques. Chicago where she met and Her job was to pick letfell in love with Anthony ters and place them on the Thomas Lanyi and marbronze signs. Nadya continried him in 1933. They had ued living in her apartment 3 sons and then moved to until she was 104 years old. New York. In 1945, Nadya She retired around 1976, moved her family to Manbut kept active. Nayda even hattan into a “rent controlled joined a hiking club. Her apartment.” Ron said they son Ron, her only surviving had a wonderful view of child, said he wanted his the Hudson River and the mom to come and live closer George Washington Bridge to him. He didn’t want her to
continue walking the steep hills from her apartment. It was amazing to think that, “Nadya was only paying $550.00 per month on a $7,000.00 per month apartment on the upper east side.” Up until 3 weeks ago, Nayda was very independent and attended exercises every morning. Nadya is now having trouble walking, but can still carry on a conversation, sometime in Russian. Nadya Lanyi is an amazing woman who has lived an amazing life. She is a survivor. HAPPY 108TH BIRTHDAY, Nayda Lanyi!
San Gabriel Mission High School Achieves International Baccalaureate World School Status by Jamie Collins, Principal San Gabriel
San Gabriel Mission High School has become the newest member of an ever growing global community of 4,633 schools offering the International Baccalaureate in 144 different countries. Students will be able to take the International Baccalaureate, Diploma Programme at the school, with the first cohort commencing their studies on August 15, 2014. The IB has a positive impact on students, schools and their wider communities with learning going well beyond the classroom. Its unique and innovative approach to learning means both students and teachers are genuinely engaged with the programs and benefit from being a part of an unparalleled global network. Students are able to partici-
pate in international conferences and educators work with their peers internationally to ensure that the IB remains at the cutting edge of international education. School Principal Jamie Collins says: “We wanted to offer our young women a more holistic education which will instil in them the skills, knowledge, and outlook to succeed in the 21st century, both in their local community and in the wider world. At the same time, we wanted give our teachers the opportunity to be a part of an international network of experts leading the field in education. We are delighted to become an IB
World School and we look Programme. We are looking forward to reaping the many forward to students from the benefits of the programme. Greater Los Angeles reIt is all the more exciting, gion pursuing a world class since San Gabriel Mission education at San Gabriel High School is the first Mission High School.” all-girls Catholic school in Drew Deutsch, Director, California to be able San Gabriel Mission continued on page 3 to offer the Diploma