SUNDERLAND — In a tradition only a decade younger than she is, Helen Rodak was presented the Boston Post golden cane last Thursday as Sunderland recognized her as the town’s oldest citizen.
The 102-year-old, who founded the restaurant Dimo’s, was joined by family at her home of 70 years on North Main Street as Town Administrator Geoff Kravitz and Select Board members Tom Fydenkevez and Christyl Drake-Tremblay presented her with a commemorative pin, flowers and a certificate. The Boston Post cane itself was there for the presentation, but is kept at Town Hall for safekeeping.
“You’ve done so many things for the community,” Fydenkevez said. “She opened Dimo’s in 1974. She’s almost 60 years old and she’s opening a restaurant.”
Rodak’s 103rd birthday is next month.
The Boston Post cane tradition began in 1909 when Edwin Grozier, publisher of the Boston Post newspaper, distributed 431 gold-headed ebony canes to boards of selectmen across New England. The phrase, “Presented by the Boston Post to the oldest Citizen of Sunderland Mass” is inscribed on the 14-carat gold head of the cane.
Born March 16, 1919, Rodak was active and worked at Dimo’s until she became ill at age 97, but continues to chug along, according to her son, Ron Rodak, and her daughter, Linda Casse. They said she’s lost much of her hearing, but has retained her wits, has never worn glasses and is still able to walk around the house with the assistance of a walker.
“It’s amazing and it’s a privilege to see her make it this far,” Ron Rodak said.
Casse attributed her mother’s long life to avoiding cigarettes, long walks to church in South Deerfield and limiting her consumption of alcohol — a single glass of Kahlua and milk after Saturday work shifts and a small glass of champagne each New Year’s Eve.
The pandemic has kept her mostly homebound out of an abundance of caution, but she keeps herself busy.
Casse said her mother used to shy away from talking about her age, but now wears it as a badge of honor.
“It wasn’t too long ago that she didn’t want to admit to her age,” Casse said, “and now she’s proud of it.”
Helen Rodak has spent almost her entire life in Sunderland and graduated from Amherst High School in 1937. She said her family was “rich” because they owned a cow, chickens and a few apple trees. She worked at the Aqua Vita restaurant for 20 years before opening Dimo’s in 1974. She also moonlighted as a bus driver for several years.
“She’s seen a lot. … She’s a survivor, that’s for sure,” Casse said. “We can only hope to have that longevity.”
