By Beth David, Editor
Helen Fiske, 100, insists she has no advice or secret for people on aging well. But she does have a message: Go to college.
“Go to a damn college,” she said at her 100th birthday party on 6/25/26, at Atria Assisted Living in Fairhaven. “You have to. You can get grants, scholarships.”
Once you have the degree, she said, “From there, you can do anything.”
Ms. Fiske worked at Community College of Rhode Island before she had her degree.
“I helped them build five campuses,” she said, and that’s what made her go to college herself, earning a degree in business when she was well into middle age.
Besides that, she said, “Just try to help people when they need help.”
She said her memory was not as good as it used to be, but URI (University of Rhode Island) was a “big memory” for her: The place where she got her degree, while she worked and raised a family. She vowed to family members that she was going to ask them to donate to her alma mater for her 100th birthday.
“It was a good degree,” she said. “At least I had it in my hand.”
She had three children, has six grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. And a good number of them were on hand to celebrate the occasion.
“It’s an exciting milestone,” said her great grandson, Xan Allen, 22. “It’s so nice to have this connection to family.”
Helen’s grandson, Jeremy, said he grows gladiolas and recently learned that his grandfather, Helen’s husband, owned Allen’s Garden in Cranston, RI, where he grew and sold cut flowers. He died before Jeremy was born, but somehow that connection is there.
“I’m amazed,” said Jeremy. “I didn’t even know.”
“She’s a brilliant woman, unbelievable,” he said, adding she did not accept any goofing around. “I’m the goofy one.”
“It’s good to see her,” said grandson, Tom Barrett. “And to get everybody to come and visit and celebrate with her.”
Of course, there was cake and food, and a phone visit from granddaughter, Emily, who lives in California, too.
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- L-R: Marion, Helen Fiske, and Debbie Barrett share a big laugh during Helen’s 100th birthday celebration on 6/25/26 at Atria Assisted Living in Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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- Helen Fiske poses with her friend, Marion (seated LEFT) and family members gathered for the occasion of Ms. Fiske’s 100th birthday celebration on 6/25/26 at Atria Assisted Living in Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
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