By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven’s Dorothea Machado, World War II veteran, local speaker, and all-around positive person, celebrated her 100th birthday this weekend. Ms. Machado has been a sought after speaker at veterans events in the past couple of years, talking about her experiences in the Navy, which she joined to be able to travel. She served stateside in WWII and is proud of her desk job that allowed a soldier to fight, she said once or twice when speaking.
On Saturday, 9/16/23, Ms. Machado was joined by about 30 friends and relatives at the Century House (get it?), to celebrate her milestone.
Lots of other people appeared on video to wish her well on her milestone, tell a story or two, and talk about her positive nature.
“I’m getting used to speaking,” said Ms. Machado when she got to the microphone with just a handful of notes.
She talked about many people, some in the room, some not, some not alive anymore. She told a story or two, all punctuated with lots of humor.
She said her life is full of love from friends and family, including lots of cousins and their kids, and their kids.’
Her talk was filled with humor and a little gentle teasing here and there.
“I’m laughing at my own jokes,” she said at one point with a chuckle.
“She’s a realist, I’m a dreamer,” she noted of one old friend or relative. “She laughs at movies, and I like to cry.”
She said they get along great, despite the 19 year age difference.
“Everyone’s younger than I, my goodness,” she said.
She talked about many of her oldest friends, but did not fail to mention one of her newest friends, John Koska, who is going to be 99 in a couple of weeks.
She told him they would be back next year for his 100th.
“Because I don’t want to be the oly one with three digits,” said Ms. Machado.
Ms. Machado’s great niece Sonya Bourget traveled from North Carolina for the occasion, along with her mother and brother, Maria Machado, and Michael Machado.
They all said that Dorothea either took them on trips, or helped them make trips somehow so they could see the world beyond their homes.
Dorothea has such a “positive attitude,” said Sonya.
“She wants to live,” said Maria.
“She’s amazing, the life she’s led,”said Michael. “I feel very blessed that I’m part of it.”
Dorothea gave them that gift of travel when they were young, usually around 12.
Maria said Dorothea took them all to different places, including national parks, so they could talk to each other about them and learn about them, instead of talking about the same place.
Sonya said she went to Portugal and found the ancestral home, and Dorothea sent her off to find it herself.
Ms. Machado, who clearly has all her marbles (and can find them), attributes her long life and good health to keeping engaged with the world.
“I hang around young people,” said Ms. Machado. “I’m very active at the Senior Center. I used to be a great walker.”
She said everything in moderation. She never smoked, never drank.
“Young people will keep you young,” said Ms. Machado. “All my friends are in their seventies and eighties, except John.”
And she looks forward to the future and spending time with people.
“I have faith in the next generation coming. There’s hope for this world,” said Ms. Machado. “I’m not ready to leave it.”
She never got married, she said, but had many chances.
“I was too ambitious,” she said, adding she had wanted to be a writer, but “procrastination is the thief of time.”
Ms. Machado’s good friends Kristen and Peter Mathieu also presented a proclamation from the Mass. State Senate recognizing her milestone.
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- Dorothea Machado of Fairhaven speaks to a group of family and friends gathered at the Century House for her 100th birthday celebration on 9/16/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Dorothea Machado of Fairhaven celebrates her 100th birthday at a party on 9/16/23 with John Koska, who is a couple of weeks shy of his 99th birthday. Photo by Beth David.
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- Dorothea Machado of Fairhaven has a big smile on her face as she celebrates her 100th birthday with family members, some who traveled from North Carolina, at a party on 9/16/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Dorothea Machado of Fairhaven reads a citation from the Mass. State Senate, held open for her by her friend Kristen Mathieu, recognizing Ms. Machado’s milestone of reaching 100 years old, at a party at the Century House on 9/16/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Dorothea Machado of Fairhaven poses near the Century House sign as she celebrates her 100th birthday (get it?) at a party on 9/16/23. Submitted photo.
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