BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD––Marie Foa will turn a hale and hearty 100 years old on Aug. 12, making her one of the oldest ladies to ever reside in Englewood. Foa made her home in Englewood for over four decades, starting in 1955, and although she is now living in Tenafly with her daughter and grandchildren (four generations under one roof!), she still has strong ties to Englewood. One of Foa’s favorite activities is leading a group in conversational Italian at the Englewood Senior Center every Monday morning.
Foa’s daughter, Cheryl, brags that her mom is “quite a firecracker – always vivacious and up for fun.” That description is certainly accurate, as Foa loves dancing, motorcycles and race cars. I recently spoke with Foa and was charmed by her infectious smile and “joie de vivre.”
Hillary Viders: You have had many exciting experiences in your life, such as being on the last boat to leave Florence during World War II.
Marie Foa: Yes, it was a very turbulent time. Although I had been living in New Jersey, I went to Italy to study literature at the University of Florence (where I graduated.) I had been in Florence two years when the war broke out. As teenagers, the blackouts were exciting and we all thought that it would be over soon. But then, the American Council said that everyone had to leave. So, we boarded the Italian ocean liner “Rex” (that was subsequently destroyed on Sept. 8, 1944, by Allied bombers) and came back to America. One of the girls on the ship was the niece of Louis Mayer, the president of Metro-Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) Studios.
HV: When you returned home, you lived with your family in Teaneck for a while. But then, thing got really interesting when you met your future husband. How did that happen?
MF: My family had a friend who lived on the Upper West Side of New York City. One day he asked me if I would tutor a man, Mario Foa, who had just arrived from Genoa and needed help with his English and with preparing for his exam to be an insurance broker. My family was also originally from Genoa, so I volunteered to work with Mario for free.
HV: Was it love at first sight?
MF: Not exactly. Mario was so delighted that I was helping him and that I wouldn’t take any money for it that he asked me out to lunch. Things took off from there. After we married, our neighborhood in New York City had become very crowded with an influx of people who had arrived after World War II. So, we decided to move to “the country,” and Englewood was a good choice.
HV: What was Englewood like in the late 1940s and 1950s?
MF: It was very elegant and refined. A lovely, lovely place. The stores were like Fifth Avenue stores. Women wore dresses with hats and gloves and the men wore suits. There were many fewer restaurants and stores than there are now, but it had a warm neighborhood feel.
HV: What kind of work did you do?
MF: When my two children were mostly grown up, I taught language arts at the Donald A. Quarles school and then at the Cleveland School for almost two decades. I chose to teach as a volunteer, although the principal told me that I had all the credentials to be on the payroll.
HV: You are in remarkable shape, so I assume that you have exercised all your life.
MF: I used to swim several times a day in our pool. I also did a lot of gymnastics. I was in a lot of gym and exercise classes.
HV: How did you become interested in racing cars and motorcycles?
MF: I always watched car races on television and I went to a few races. My daughter Cheryl goes to Sarasota every winter and I accompany her sometimes. Once a year, they have a big national motorcycle rally. Two years ago, when I was at the rally, a cyclist with tattoos and a long ponytail came up to me and asked if I wanted a ride. I answered “yes,” and he said, “Alright, babe, get on!” When I sat on the rear seat, I realized that the cyclist was so large that I couldn’t get my hands all the way around him.
HV: Weren’t you terrified?
MF: No, but in the first few seconds after we went zooming off, I said to myself, “You must be really crazy to do this!” We wound up going outside of the city on the open road. It was marvelous and my tattooed “motorcycle boyfriend” still keeps in touch with me!
HV: On a tamer note, what activities do you enjoy doing at home? MF: I like listening to music and audiobooks. HV: How do you maintain such good health?
MF: I’ve always eaten good fresh food prepared in a simple way. During my childhood in Genoa, my mother cooked in the style of Northern Italy, where they do not use heavy sauces and lots of butter and cream. I still eat that way, with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
HV: I know that you are very proud of your children and grandchildren. Is it ever difficult having four generations living together in the same house?
MF: Not at all! They are all precious and I love living with them. They are so good to me! I also make it a point to never butt in and give anyone advice on child rearing.
HV: What is your secret to longevity?
MF: I love life, and appreciate every day that I am given!
Photo by Hillary Viders