Retired doctor, longtime GE employee turn 104

PHOTOGRAPHER: Photo Provided

Left: Dr. Dominick Mele, Lodge 321 Order Sons of Italy president Peter Sparano and Hugh T. Farley; right: Stephanie Yeomans.

Share on Facebook

Save

It’s not every day that celebrations are held for two local residents turning 104 years of age, but it happened Friday.

At Glens Sanders Mansion in Scotia, retired pediatrician Dr. Dominick Mele, who will officially turn 104 on Dec. 3, was honored by Gabriele D’Annunzio Lodge 321 Order Sons of Italy at its annual Columbus Day Dinner.

Also honored at the event was former state Sen. Hugh T. Farley.

Mele was born in Schenectady, moved to Italy with his family at age 5, then returned to Schenectady at age 16. He attended Mont Pleasant High School, Junior College of Albany, Union College and Albany Medical College.

He interned at Ellis Hospital, entered the Army Medical Service, completed his residency in Chicago and returned to Schenectady to open his pediatric practice.
He retired at age 86. Mele, a 28-year member of the lodge, lives at Coburg Village in Rexford.

Farley, a 35-year member of the lodge, was born in New York City and raised there and in Indian Lake and Watertown. He graduated from Mohawk Valley Community College and the University at Albany and received a law degree from American University.

Farley served in the Army and was a teacher in New York and Maryland. He also was on the faculty of the School of Business at the University at Albany.

Farley, a Niskayuna resident, was a member of the New York State Senate for 40 years, beginning in 1977, representing parts of Schenectady, Saratoga, Herkimer and Hamilton counties.

Meanwhile, at Kingsway Community in Schenectady, a party was held in the Parkland Gardens club room to celebrate the 104th birthday of resident Stephanie Yeomans.

Raised on a farm in Berne, Yeomans moved to New York City for a time and then returned to the region. She and her husband lived in the home they built in Rexford for 50 years. She was employed at General Electric for 32 years.

Yeomans still knits baby hats for the YWCA’s program for unwed mothers.

“She’s our queen. She’s a great, great gal,” said fellow Kingsway resident Maggie Smith. “She has a wonderful memory, she sews and crochets and knits to perfection.

“She’s very active. I bowl every week with her in the Wii bowling league.”