Happy 100th Birthday Jerry

Dedicated Patch reader Jane Vanim recently shared the news of her father-in-law Marigo “Jerry’ Vanim’s 100th birthday celebration in an email to Patch.

Jane says she and her husband Robert have been residents of East Penn School District and Upper Milford Township for four decades.

Jerry will officially turn 100 on September 17, but the family actually used this milestone birthday as an excuse for a combined Vanim family reunion/birthday celebration at the Alburtis Swimming Pool last month.

Jerry, according to Jane, grew up on a farm in Upper Saucon Township and then moved to Coopersburg when he married, spending 75 years of his life there.

He and his wife Cecelia Vanim (deceased) had four children, nine grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Jerry’s two sisters are still alive (in their 90's). “My father-in-law is of Italian heritage, worked at Phoenix clothes in Allentown, retired at 65 and went back to work at the Giant Food Store in his later years.” Jane writes in an email to Patch, adding that his work at the Giant was featured in a Morning Call article at one point.

“He had many fruit and vegetable gardens throughout Coopersburg,” Jane writes, “and made a great wine.”

Be sure to wish Jerry a happy birthday in the comments below. And, don't forget that when someone you know is celebrating a milestone birthday or another milestone you could like to share with Patch readers you can email jennifer.marangos@patch.com.