By Kevin Greer
Lakeside Communications Manager
Since celebrating her 100th birthday on April 30, Mae Drage has attended four birthday parties in her honor. Reaching the century mark is a milestone worth celebrating, and this Fourth of July, Lakeside will recognize her once again as the honorary Grand Marshal for the Float Parade.
“I had three parties before I came to Lakeside for the summer and one here at the Women’s Club,” Drage said. “How many birthday parties does one person need?”
The Float Parade begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 4, at James Park in Marblehead before traveling west through Lakeside’s Second Street Gates. Drage will lead the celebration, waving to generations of Lakesiders who have come to know her over the years.
“I had no idea what was going to happen when I got to Lakeside,” said Drage, whose front porch is decorated with a banner celebrating her 100th birthday. “I never thought about being in the parade. I’m honored.”
During the shoulder seasons, Drage lives about an hour from Lakeside at the Wesleyan Meadows Retirement Community in Sheffield Village, Ohio. Each summer, her daughter, Michelle, travels from Dallas, Texas, several times to help transport her mother to and from Lakeside and spend time at the family’s cottage.
An active member of the Lakeside community, Drage regularly attends Women’s Club meetings, Chair Yoga, Lakeside Fit classes, lectures in Orchestra Hall and performances in Hoover Auditorium. She credits her longevity to maintaining a healthy mindset, staying active and spending time with family and friends.
“I think having a positive attitude, keeping moving, and having a lot of friends is what helped me get this far,” Drage said. “I feel blessed that I’m still able to go out and about.”
After enjoying countless Fourth of July parades through the years, Drage is excited to experience this year’s celebration from a new perspective.
“The parade is special,” Drage said. “I’m overwhelmed at all the attention that I have received. I never thought that I’d live to be this old. Now that I have, I feel every day, every week, every month and every year is a bonus from here.”
