Celebrating Our Centenarians Blog

Celebrating Our Centenarians

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This month, ACC is honoring Sacramentans who are 100 years old and older. We found 22 of them. Actually, they found us. As soon as we announced “Celebrating Our Centenarians” as the theme for ACC’s 33rd Annual Care Center Fundraiser, the calls started coming in.

Imagine being born in 1919. A terrible war just ended. It was the era of silent movies, jazz, and the Ford Model T.  Life was good except for the fact that the average person in the U.S. only lived to 54.

Most of the centenarians we interviewed for this issue of ACC News grew up poor, but 100 years later, they have no regrets. Their stories are amazing and quaint.

“My father used to take me to school with a horse and buggy.” says Audrey Ah Tye, aged 102, with a chuckle. 

Tomako Mori, aged 100, came from a family of seven children. They lived on a 100-acre farm in Lincoln. “There was no telephone at home to call a doctor.  So, her father delivered all of his children,” says Tomako’s daughter Anna Louie.

 Many of the centenarians have been to ACC for skilled nursing, classes, social services, transportation, and meals. Five of them reside at ACC Care Center and ACC Greenhaven Terrace. 

Chang Hou, aged 100, immigrated from Hong Kong in 1976. Shortly after, she took crochet, ceramics, and knitting classes at ACC when it operated out of a house owned by the Tambara family on V Street.

Lorraine Nagae, aged 101, enjoys Meals on Wheels by ACC once a week at the Japanese Buddhist Church.

Then there are those centenarians who make you go “wow.” Fannie and Annie Wong are 103 year old twins. Their older sister Pearl is 104.

Husband and wife Aaron and Haruye Okamoto are both centenarians. He’s 103 and she’s 101. They were married on Valentine’s Day and celebrated their 75th anniversary this year.

The centenarians we interviewed have several things in common: hard work, strong family support, and a simple view of themselves. What’s it like to be a centenarian? “I don’t know. I feel the same as when  I was 90,” says Frances Jaksich. “It’s no big deal,” says Fannie Wong. Chang Hou complains that people at ACC Care Center are too old for her. What a great attitude!

There are 75,000 centenarians in the U.S. That number will grow to 600,000 by mid-century. At this rate, 40% of the residents at ACC Care Center will be centenarians. One can only imagine how big the celebration will be at the 64th Annual Care Center Fundraiser in 2050!

Behind the scenes of ACC’s amazing crab feed

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“There was crab everywhere,” say one diner. “Best crab feed I’ve been too,” said another. “Very crabby,” yet another.

Held on Saturday, February 23, 2019, ACC’s 11th Annual Crab Feed drew more than 800 enthusiastic guests from Sacramento and the Bay Area. They devoured 4,200 pounds of crab and 800 pounds of short ribs, and 300 pounds of rice in a single sitting.

It was so messy, in a good way, that people showed up with latex gloves, towel bibs, and special tools to emancipate the meat from the shell. Their crustacean opponents didn’t stand a chance.

The annual event raised money to support ACC’s educational, housing, and social services for seniors. It was catered by SASF in Elk Grove.

Each diner was given 16-page printed program containing messages from ACC leaders and elected officials in the community. It recognized 2019 Crab Feed Committing for their dedication and hard work:

  • Lori Lee, Co-Chair
  • Debbie Seid, Co-Chair
  • Winston Ashizawa
  • Evelyn Chin
  • Jean Chong
  • Lorna Fong
  • Marcia Matsuda
  • Don Morishita
  • Janet Sakata
  • Jean Shiomoto
  • Sylvia Tang
  • Alfred Yee
  • William Yee

In their joint message, ACC CEO Darrick Lam and ACC President Winston Ashizawa said:

“We want to thank the ACC Crab Feed Committee, co-chaired by Lori Lee and Debbie Seid, for planning this event which took many months, as well as SASF and the 120 volunteers who prepared the food and venue.

There are two reasons why this event is ALWAYS sold out. First, the Dungeness crab on tonight’s menu is simply the best. It’s fresh from the coastal waters of Oregon and Washington. SASF President Don Lee and his culinary magicians are amazing. Their recipe and cooking method should be the gold standard for all
crab feeds!

The second reason is that tonight’s attendees support ACC’s mission. They’re here to say thank you and to feel the love and energy of the ACC family. Many of them attend our education programs. Others have friends and family members who live at ACC and receive great care. Thank you for being here.”