Photo By Gayle Kirschenbaum
Mildred Kirschenbaum’s life is quite literally an open book. At 101 years old, she has lived through chapters filled with ups and downs — many of which are chronicled in her book, “Mildred’s Mindset: Wisdom from a Woman Centenarian,” and in the documentary “Look at Us Now, Mother!” co‑written and produced by her daughter, Gayle.
Her story began on Aug. 25, 1923, in Brooklyn, New York, and continues to unfold in meaningful ways.
Kirschenbaum credits her longevity to good genes and Gayle’s healthy cooking. On her father’s side, multiple relatives lived past 100. Still, she’s not counting the years.
“Longevity runs in our family, but I never thought about it,” she says. “I woke up one day and it happened.”
That easygoing approach has guided many of her life choices — including her move from Long Island to Boca Raton nearly 30 years ago. Today, she enjoys playing mahjong and canasta with friends 20 to 25 years her junior at her country club community.
She lives life free of regret, not dwelling on what could have been, but embracing all that is and all that has been. Once a promising young violinist, Kirschenbaum was accepted into The Julliard School, but her overprotective mother forbade her from commuting into Manhattan, so she never played again. She also aspired to become a defense attorney, but her family’s financial situation prevented her from pursuing a law degree.
Still, she holds no resentment. Her mother’s fears stemmed from deep love, especially after the loss of Kirschenbaum’s younger sister to pneumonia.
“I think the sun rose and shined on my head for her,” she says.
Kirschenbaum built a fulfilling life through work in sales, advocacy for cerebral palsy awareness and involvement in her synagogue. Fueled by a passion for exploration, she ran a travel agency for more than two decades, often jetting off to places like Panama and the South of France with her husband. Her advice? Always have toiletries packed — you never know when a spontaneous trip might come up.
Things have not always been easy, but Kirschenbaum doesn’t sweat the small stuff.
“Life is not a bowl of cherries, it’s full of pits all around,” she says. “You have to be strong to move on.”
In her century-plus on Earth, her proudest accomplishment is raising her children, who have given her seven grandchildren. She misses the days of everyone gathering for big Passover Seders when she’d set the table with her finest china.
Today, she and Gayle are each other’s ride or die, though their mother-daughter relationship hasn’t always been smooth. Their journey has taken them to national television, including appearances on “Sherri” and “Today With Jenna & Friends.” But beyond the spotlight, theirs is a story of resilience, love and unwavering strength — much like Kirschenbaum herself.