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105 And Counting

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By PAUL CATALA The Sun

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 24, 2008

Fermin Montes de Oca and Helen Reid Toomey started their lives about a thousand miles apart, grew up in different cultures and spent their careers working in dissimilar fields.

Yet, over a century later, the two Sun Towers retirement and rehabilitation community residents' lives have bonded, working together in the residence's Country Store gift shop and celebrating their birthdays. Dec. 14, Montes de Oca turned 105 years old; just four days later, Toomey reached the same mark.

But ask either why they continue to spend time volunteering at the gift shop and staying as active as possible, they'll tell you the same thing: getting to meet new people and to continue enriching their lives.

Born 1903 in West Tampa, Montes de Oca grew up the son of Cuban immigrants, speaking Spanish, Italian and English in one of Tampa's historically Latin neighborhoods. For 39 years, he worked rolling cigars by hand in three of the many cigar factories in the "Cigar City" before retiring at 45 in 1948.
Toomey began life on Christmas day, 1903, in Brooklyn, Iowa. She grew up in that area and spent time as a secretary in an Iowa law office and at the University of Iowa, Harvard University and the University of Florida.

Once Montes de Oca moved to Sun City Center in 1998, he began volunteering in the gift shop. Toomey, who outlived her husband, Paul, by 51 years, moved to the area two years ago after spending 50 years in Miami and also started soon after moving to the residence.

Once they settled in, Montes de Oca and Toomey decided to live their lives like they always had: active and involved.

After getting up at 4 a.m. to make popcorn for residents, coffee for guests and getting the shop in order, Montes de Oca works three hours a day, Monday to Friday.

During a workday last week, Montes de Oca and Toomey manned the check out desk, greeted customers and staff and organized some of the inventory of candy, cards, toiletries, books and other gift items. Despite Sun Towers' access to modern cash registers and computers, Montes de Oca prefers keeping track of sales the early 20th century way - with a pencil and notepad.

Activities director Arlin Drummond said proceeds from the Country Store go to area churches and a food bank in Wimauma.

"I like meeting people everyday. I've always been like that," said de Oca, who goes by the name, "Mr. De." "I recommend that for a long, happy life."

Next to Montes de Oca, Toomey arranged new stock on a table. Although she "cut back" on her hours at the shop - working an hour each Monday and Tuesday - she said it adds another activity to her bridge-playing day.

"I get to stock merchandise, make sales," said Toomey, who moved to Sun City Center from Sanibel 11 years ago. "I've always kept busy. It pays to keep active."

Montes de Oca, whose wife, Aida, died seven years ago, sees his 82-year-old son, Noelio, who visits from Tampa when he can. Another son, Fermin, passed away last month at 72. He also has six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter.
Toomey said she stays in touch with her 73-year-old son, Reid, who lives on Sanibel Island and her three grandsons and one great-granddaughter. Her husband, Paul, died in 1957.

The workaday effort by Sun Towers' centenarians is appreciated by customers and staff alike and the boss said he doesn't ever have to keep an eye on them.

Sun Towers' administrator Kevin Kyle said Toomey and de Oca are two of the most prompt, reliable volunteers and "They're always here, they don't call in sick and their customer service is outstanding. We need them here for many more years."

Reporter Paul Catala can be reached at (813) 865-1554 or pcatala@mediageneral.com.

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