A week after Woodrow Wilson was sworn in as the 28th President of the United States, Julia Bizzarri was born in the Bronx on Mar. 13, 1913. In a curious twist of fate, in the same year that now, 107-year-old Bizzarri has astonishingly shown COVID-19 who’s boss, Wilson’s name is to be removed from Princeton University buildings, one of a number of moves by age-old institutions to address the legacy of racism in the country.

At 107, Bizzarri has lived through not only one civil rights movement, but what many are calling a second. Like others of her generation, Bizzarri has borne witness to World War I, Women’s Suffrage, the Great Depression, World War II, the moon landing, the Vietnam War, 9/11, the Great Recession of 2008, 27 World Series wins by her beloved Yankees, and of course the coronavirus pandemic.

For the last ten years, Bizzarri has been a resident at The St. Patrick’s Home Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Van Cortlandt Village, where she contracted the coronavirus in May, spending about two weeks in quarantine. She soon fought it off, however, not to be outdone by fellow centenarian and resident, 105-year-old Annina Walsh, who also beat the virus.

When Norwood News interviewed Bizzarri in 2018, then a sprightly 105-year-old, she said, “I can’t believe I am this old. I give thanks to God for living this long”. Asked at that time what was the secret to a long and happy life, she replied laughing, “Liquor, before or after dinner”.

One of eight children, she grew up so close to the old Yankees stadium, she was able to watch the team’s home games from her window. Coincidentally, the New York Highlanders were renamed the New York Yankees in 1913, the year she was born. Her parents, both Italian immigrants, lived in the Bronx until they died, with Bizzarri acting as primary caregiver to her late mother, and later caring for some of her siblings as well.

In former years, Bizzarri worked in the newspaper printing business for a few years before later becoming an office worker. She is a devout Catholic, and had been attending mass daily in the hospital chapel until March of this year when social distancing restrictions took over. She now watches prayer service on her television each day.

Since 2002, every third Tuesday in June, St. Patrick’s has hosted its annual, joint Centennial Celebration to honor residents who have reached or have surpassed the centennial milestone. Usually, there are streamers, balloons, family visits, dancing, presentation plaques from the borough president, and lively renditions of ‘How Great Thou Art’ and ‘God Bless America’.

Last year, during the festivities, as our report shows, one resident was even seen pushing her wheelchair along with her feet, both her hands already occupied with two cups of wine. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, celebrations were a bit more low-key, and were held virtually, with residents tuning in to watch various staff presentations from their rooms via a live connection to the hospital chapel.

Though visitors were not allowed, there was cake, sparkling cider, streamers and decorations on every floor, and some gifts donated by the Carmelite Guild. Residents have been unable to go outside since March but with the help of staff, have been connecting with family through Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and Messenger.

The irony of surviving, at 107, a disease that has decimated nursing homes, in particular, throughout the world, is not lost on anyone. It is certainly something to sing and dance about. A recent report by The New York Times shows that almost half (43 percent) of all coronavirus deaths in the U.S. are linked to U.S. nursing homes, with at least 54,000 residents and workers dying from the deadly virus. In New York State alone, across 509 facilities, there were 7,177 cases, and 6,432 deaths, accounting for 21% of all deaths in the state. As the virus continues to spread, and has now claimed over half a million lives globally, New York State officials are, this week, on-site at St. Patrick’s to audit their operations.

But not only has Bizzarri survived the deadly virus, at 107, she is St Patrick’s oldest, beloved resident, and is one of 12 centenarians. Two of the twelve who were celebrated during last year’s festivities have sadly died in the meantime, though not from the coronavirus. Meanwhile, two other residents have since reached the 100-year milestone.

Bizzarri remains something of a celebrity at St. Patrick’s. Janet Kibassa is Director of Recreation and Volunteer Services at the nursing home and said of her, “Julia always has a smile for everyone who greets her”, adding that she always takes great pride in her appearance, and is still very stylish to this day.

In addition to the Yankees, Bizzarri’s other love is the homemade wine she and her siblings enjoyed throughout their lives together. “It was the best”, she said in 2018. “Nothing tasted like it.” Indeed, when asked this year what has contributed to her longevity, Bizzarri replied, “a glass of wine, and Blackberry Brandy, and I never got married”.

St. Patrick’s home is open to accepting donations from the public which are used to purchase prizes for residents during game days.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.