Century Club: 103-year-old counts on doing what she wants

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


	Mary Margaret Gaynord Click photo for larger image.

Many years ago, Mary Margaret Gaynord operated a comptometer, a predecessor of the adding machine, at Kaufmann's department store, Downtown. These days, she counts birthdays. She turned 103 Aug. 15 and she believes that puts her in a special category.

"Now I'm 100 and no one's going to tell me what to do," she said three years ago to staffers at Vincentian de Marillac Nursing Home in Stanton Heights, where she lives.

She was born in Pittsburgh, one of Frank and Julia Burns' six children. She attended St. Agnes School in Oakland and, in 1927, married Martin Gaynord in St. Agnes Church. They had three children: Martin of Valencia, Audrey Mellon of Greenfield and Margie La Gamba of Reserve.

During World War II, when her husband went to work for Dravo Corp. to support the war effort, she took his job in an ink factory. When he died in 1970, she went to live with her daughter in Greenfield, becoming a regular at St. Rosalia's Masses and bingo games. She traveled to many countries with the Daughters of Erin.

Gaynord celebrated her birthday Aug. 14 at Vincentian with family and friends, including some of her 16 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren.

Plenty of time

Edward Taggart was once the timekeeper for the Pittsburgh Hornets hockey team. But he also found time to volunteer as an usher, money counter and member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Bernard Church in Mt. Lebanon.

On Sunday, he marked a timely milestone in any life -- his 100th birthday.

He was the seventh of nine children born to Elizabeth and Edward Taggart of Pittsburgh. He attended St. Mary's School in Mount Washington and married Dorothy Hawkins in 1931 at St. Bernard's, where he has been a member for 70 years. They had two daughters, Mary Lou Garlock of Greensboro, N.C., and Dorothy Bannow of Mt. Lebanon.

He has 10 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren, who will join him for a party at Country Meadows Retirement Community in Bridgeville, where he has lived for the past few years.

First published on August 23, 2005 at 12:00 am

If you or a friend or a relative recently turned 100 or will soon do so, the Post-Gazette would like to hear from you. On an occasional basis, the Magazine will feature short stories on people marking their 100th year. Send biographical information your phone number to: Pittsburgh Post-GazetteCentury Club, Attn: Kevin Kirkland, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. Fax: 412-263-1313. E-mail: kkirkland@post-gazette.com.