Chatham COVID Survivor, Yankee Fanatic To Celebrate 97th Birthday

CHATHAM, NJ — Florence Simek stepped up to the plate and knocked COVID-19 out of the park when she came down with the virus last year. Now it's time for the Chatham resident and Yankees fanatic to celebrate.

Simek's family will conduct a "drive-by" celebration Sunday for Simek's 97th birthday at the Chatham Hills Subacute Care Center. They'll begin arriving at 2:30 p.m., since nursing home restrictions prevent them from seeing her all at once.

The Chatham resident contracted the coronavirus in mid-April 2020, as cases peaked during New Jersey's initial coronavirus outbreak. The virus has taken its toll in nursing homes, killing 7,894 residents and 144 staff across New Jersey since the pandemic began. Even though Simek's attitude lights up rooms, her family felt worried.

"When my mom came down with the COVID-19 virus, all family members just lost a little bit of hope for her," Bernadine Claufield, Simek's daughter, said last year.

According to family, Simek was determined to beat the virus — just in time to watch her beloved Yankees begin their shortened season. Simek has been alive for all but one of the Yankees' 27 World Series titles — she only missed the 1923 championship by a few years.

Read more about Simek's recovery.

Last year's MLB season didn't begin until July 23, but that didn't keep Chatham Hills staff from giving her a Yankees-themed 96th birthday party. She wore a Yankees jersey and cap, surrounded by a ballpark-themed solarium. Staff sang "Happy Birthday" with her family, who attended through a glass corridor.

Simek joined as everyone hummed along to baseball-themed songs and loudly shouted "Go Yankees!"

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