Gregorina Cooper, known to friends as "Greg," is turning 90 on Jan. 16. For Greg, a volunteer with the Girl Scouts for more than 70 years, turning the page to a ninth decade and heading toward the century mark is pretty remarkable, but Greg's story is about more than longevity.
Saturday, in the community room at Monsignor Kirby Apartments here in Batavia, where Greg has resided since 2008, a celebration of her milestone birthday was attended by grown-up Girl Scouts from destinations spanning Canada to Buffalo and Warsaw to Rochester.
Though Greg was married to Kenneth D. Cooper -- who shared a love of children, and was very involved in Boy Scouts -- the couple never had children of their own.
Six of the Girl Scouts, now adults in their 50's and 60's, and a couple of husbands, formed a support group for Greg Cooper.
It started with a few of the girls visiting Cooper's place in Warsaw, and helping her with maintenance on her home, cleaning up the yard, and decorating for the holidays.
Members of the group include: Ann Salter, an administrator at the Research Foundation for the State University of New York; Jane Gerken, a teacher; Elle Howard-Fronckowiak, a nurse, plus her husband, Ron; Carol Van Tassel-Creighton, a clinical social worker; Cherie Seifert-Corey, a nurse; and Mary Ann Faulring-Kreuder, a teacher, and her husband, Tom.
For years, Cooper would go to Florida and skip the WNY winters, and the girls would help her to pack up for the trip down South.
Some even flew down to Florida to help her get ready for the return trip. More and more Cooper depended on the girls for extra help, and in 2008, Cooper had a chance to move to the apartments here in Batavia, to be closer to one of her former scouts who is a nurse.
"I figured, I'm safe here, so I moved in," Cooper said.
The group now helps Cooper with shopping, getting around town and medical care.
Even at a time when she needs extra help, Cooper continues to live and love life, she said, enjoying reading, crafts, card games, shopping, farmer's markets, going to concerts and attending church on Sundays.
Cooper doesn’t miss a birthday or anniversary of all these girls and their spouses, always remembering to send a card or make a phone call, and her situation is a great example of that old saying, "You get what you give."
Cooper was awarded the Thanks Badge by the Girl Scouts on her 75th year.
When asked how long she'd been involved with the Girl Scouts, she said, "I'm still involved!"
The community room was bustling Saturday with multiple media outlets and many visitors filling the room.
"I didn't know they'd do all this," Cooper said. "I didn't expect all of this."
Cooper's friends and fans said they were "privileged" to give back to a woman who had given so much to them.
