Upper Saucon Native Turns 100

By Jennifer Marangos

Dedicated Patch reader Jane Vanim recently shared the news of her father-in-law Marigo "Jerry" Vanim’s 100th birthday celebration in an email to Patch.

Jerry officially turns 100 on Sept. 17, but the family actually used his milestone birthday as an excuse for a combined Vanim family reunion/birthday celebration at the Alburtis Swimming Pool last month.

Jerry, according to Jane, grew up on a farm in Upper Saucon Township and then moved to Coopersburg when he married, spending 75 years of his life there.

He and his wife Cecelia Vanim (deceased) had four children, nine grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Jerry’s two sisters are still alive (and in their 90s). 

“My father-in-law is of Italian heritage, worked at Phoenix clothes in Allentown, retired at 65 and went back to work at the Giant Food Store in his later years.” Jane wrote in an email to Patch, adding that his work at Giant was featured in a Morning Call article at one point.

“He had many fruit and vegetable gardens throughout Coopersburg,” she wrote, “and made a great wine.”

Be sure to wish Jerry a happy birthday in the comments below.

Contributed photo: Marigo "Jerry" Vanim (seated), who turns 100 on Sept. 17, is pictured with his four children: Robert, Thomas, Gerald and Florence Stump.