ICYMI: The Secret To Living Past 100, According To 3 NYC Super-Seniors

BAYSIDE, QUEENS - Age is just a number for three residents of the Catholic Charities Bayside Senior Center in Queens, New York.

Jean Mastrangelo and Irving Black celebrated their 103rd birthdays alongside fellow resident Pauline Kossar, who recently turned 105, at a centenary birthday party hosted by the senior center on Friday.

Mastrangelo turned 103 on July 20, a day before Kossar's 105th. Black will turn 103 on Aug. 23.

So, how do they do it? What is the secret to living a long life?

"L-C-C-D," said Black, who attended the party with Dorothy, his wife of 76 years. "Love, compromise, cooking and dancing."

And Dorothy is the best cook, her husband swore.

Black, a Brooklyn native, said the acronym is true for both a long life and a long marriage. Together, he and Dorothy have three children, five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

According to Mastrangelo, the secret to living a long life is even simpler than that.

"Don't hold grudges," said Mastrangelo, who is originally from Flushing. "When someone treats me wrong, I treat them like they don't exist. But I don't hold grudges."

She just brushes it off her shoulder, she said.

"And I dance. When I was a little girl, my mother told me that 'good girls don't go dancing.' But I did," said Mastrangelo.

"I went dancing."

Kossar, a Brooklyn native who used to own Kossar's Bialy Bakery on the Lower East Side, said, simply, that it takes hard work to live a life as long and as full as the one she's lived.

"I've had a wonderful life," said Kossar, who was joined by her daughter, Gloria. "And I have a wonderful family. I thank God a million times."

As far as what the secret is to making a good bialy, that's one thing Kossar said she couldn't give away.

The party came as a happy surprise to Black, Kossar and Mastrangelo. The three were all smiles as they were gifted with cake, balloons and live music, surrounded by friends, family, state and local politicians as well as fellow residents of the center.

Remarks were given by state senators Tony Avella and Donald Bernstein as well as by Bayside Assemblyman Edward Braunstein and other area officials. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Photos by Patch