May 2 is a special day in the Town of Newburgh. It’s Peggy Bennett’s birthday.

This past Sunday, the special lady celebrated her 102nd birthday at the Valley Diner in Middle Hope, surrounded by family, friends and assorted other loved ones. Family members came from as far away as North Carolina and Myrtle Beach. Other guests included Town Councilman Paul Ruggiero, and several Town of Newburgh Police Officers who stopped by to say hello and wish her a happy birthday.

Peggy was the second oldest of 16 children and now the only survivor, born in Brooklyn she moved to Newburgh in 1946, raising her sons Bruce and Robert who still live locally. She became a Legal Secretary working for Judge Angelo Darrigo for more than 36 years retiring at the age of 72.

Peggy was a member of the National, NYS and Orange County Association of Legal Secretaries serving as President for the local association. Peggy remembers fondly the blessing of attending twenty-five conferences traveling to different states throughout the country including Hawaii.

After retiring, Peggy served for many years as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Orange County Office for the Aging leading Health Disaster Preparedness Education, 9 years as an AARP Tax Aid Program and Town of Newburgh Police Department in the Records Room.

In 2007, she was awarded the Orange County Outstanding Contribution by a Senior Award from the Orange County Office of Aging.

She also participated in the Orange Senior Olympics for 25 years and has medals to prove it. In 2018, she was awarded the Spirit of Olympics Award, plays bingo, has been a part of the TNT Tappers and enjoys reading multiple newspapers each day.