Beverly resident Evelyn Butman celebrates 105th birthday

By Michael McHugh at The Salem News

BEVERLY — On New Year’s Eve, residents of Harborlight Home’s Turtle Creek residence in Beverly gathered to celebrate the birthday of their friend and fellow resident Evelyn Butman, who turned 105.

Butman, who has lived at the Turtle Creek residence since 2008, was born on Dec. 31, 1919, in Beverly, where she would live for her entire life. For 36 years she worked as a customer relations representative with Mass Electric before retiring at the age of 64.

Butman never married, which is one of the reasons she says she’s been able to make it to 105. Her other secret to success lies in the regular physical activity she commits herself to everyday.

“Just keep moving!” Butman said. “I spend time doing things like walking, line dancing, and traveling as much as I can.”

Whether it’s traveling to places like Germany, Austria, and England, or simply taking a walk around Turtle Creek, Butman refuses to slow down just because of her age.

Butman’s friends living at Turtle Creek collected $105 for a gift card for her hairdresser, who she still visits on a weekly basis. She was also gifted with a bouquet of silk flowers and a certificate for “Free Bingo for Life,” where she can be found almost every Tuesday night.

Butman was awarded with congratulatory citations from local officials including Beverly Ward 6 City Councilor Matthew St. Hiliare, Sen. Joan Lovely, and Rep. Jerry Parisella whose awarding of the citation was actually his last official action as state representative before being appointed Associate Justice of the District Court the very next day.

“The Massachusetts House of Representatives offers a sincere congratulations to Evelyn Butman in recognition of the momentous occasion on your 105th birthday,” Parisella said. “You went through some amazing times — World War II, the Great Depression, the man on the moon. I’ve done a number of these for people turning 100, but never 105.”

“It’s all a bit overwhelming, but nice,” Butman laughed.