Approaching 100 years is Cedarhurst's own Bea Rothenberg

Bea Rothenberg of Cedarhurst will turn 100 years old on June 23 and be honored by Cedarhurst Mayor Benjamin Weinstock. Rothenberg was born in Brooklyn and has lived the majority of her life in the Five Towns.

Rothenberg, whose maiden name is Kolnick, married her husband Ed in 1944 and they were married for 65 years before he died 10 years ago. The couple moved into their own house, in Cedarhurst after having their first daughter Cheryl. Bea has three children, Cheryl, Sandra and Elysa, and two grandchildren, Bradley and Zachary Parker.

Wearing multiple hats as a wife, mother, college student, and accountant, Rothenberg raised a family not without challenges. Her middle daughter, Sandra, was born mentally disabled and lived at home with aides until the age of 9. Sandra died at age 21 from a seizure.

Ed Rothenberg was part of the first graduating class from the Number Five School in Cedarhurst after it was built in 1926.  He was drafted to the army in December 1944 during World War II, and Bea sold war bonds and received an award for her efforts. She recalled the love letters Ed would send during his service, which the family still has today.

Bea was a junior accountant for Cedarhurst village for many years and was a volunteer accountant during tax season for the seniors in the community. She did bookkeeping for major companies and modeled for well-known designers.

A lover of education, Bea entered college in her 50s after Elysa enrolled her as a Mother’s Day surprise. Bea graduated from Nassau Community College, magna cum laude in accounting. She used her degree to work part-time and volunteer to do tax returns for seniors at local libraries.

On Election Days, Bea and Ed worked as poll watchers. The two traveled to several countries including Israel, Norway, Japan, Thailand, and several states including Maine, Hawaii and Alaska. Her youngest daughter Elysa Rothenberg Parker spends most of her time with her mother, and said the two have a special connection.

“We think alike that in a lot of ways,” Elysa said. “We’ve always been close, and I am always in the neighborhood. When I went back to teaching, my kids were young, and it was mostly my mother and father who took care of my boys like second parents.”

Bea has three rotating aides that live with her, but Elysa keeps her mother busy every day, with a weekly schedule that includes trips to the JCC, Café Europa, Temple Hillel, tours through North Woodmere, and games of mah jongg. Bea goes with her daughter Elysa and son-in-law Larry Parker, to library talks and shows, senior center concerts. Her favorite activity is her 2-mile wheelchair ride around Valley Stream Park.

“Elysa is in charge of me,” Bea said. “We go all over the place, we go shopping, together and I enjoy all her activities.”

During the pandemic, with the help of her grandson Bradley, Bea became an internet sensation with TikTok and Instagram following, as her raps, dancing routines, and interviews went viral. One of her videos appeared on Good Morning America in 2020.

Bea was still driving until the age of 96 and is still not slowing down as she is scheduled to throw out the first pitch in Citi Field at the Mets home game on July 18. She hopes to be able to see her grandchildren get married and be the oldest flower girl ever. She says the secret to a long and happy life is positivity.

“I always think that good things are going to come along,” she said.