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East Side man could be B.C.'s oldest
By Naoibh O'Connor-Staff writer
In his long life, Jean Piry has seen the passing of two centuries, fought Bolsheviks in Siberia and lived through the Communist takeover of China, where he was born and raised.
On Saturday, Piry, who lives at Royal Arch Masonic Home in Champlain Heights, celebrated his 106th birthday along with two other centenarian residents. That makes him six years younger than the world's oldest man-Antonio Todde, who died in Sardinia last week-and possibly the oldest man in B.C., according to his family.
The Shanghai-born retired businessman showed up for the joint birthday party decked out in a vest, jacket and tie-his standard daily dress-looking like a man two decades younger. His daughter Janet laughed as she noted her father's only remark as he entered the party was that it was full of women.
Although he's healthy enough to care for Sonia, his 91-year-old wife of 72 years, Piry doesn't converse much due to his steadfast refusal to wear a hearing aid. His explanation? "I've heard it all."
Not only has he heard it all, he's seen more than most.
Piry's grandfather, Pierre, moved in 1865 from France to China, where he was involved in the opening of the Chinese Post Office and eventually became postmaster. Pierre remained in Asia after shocking his family by marrying a local Chinese woman. The couple eventually produced six children, including Arthur, Piry's father.
Piry was born Jan. 5, 1896, and later became a businessman. But his career was stalled by World War 1. He graduated from high school and was sent off to France to train for war, eventually joining a French regiment fighting Bolsheviks in Siberia. "Once, a nice young Siberian woman rubbed his nose with snow because it was blue and frozen," said Janet.
When he returned to Shanghai, he opened an import firm and married Sonia. Following the 1949 communist takeover of China, his property was seized. He moved to Hong Kong, then a British colony, where he raised three children-Janet, Pierre and Danny. His sons came to Vancouver to attend UBC. When they decided to remain, their parents opted to retire in Canada in 1968, followed by Janet in 1972.
Piry's secret for longevity is moderation, said Janet, though not all his habits would be endorsed by doctors. He eschews alcohol-in the military, he traded his wine ration for pastries and desserts-but relishes fattening foods like baguettes, butter and cheese. He declines medication and has never fallen seriously ill-he's even avoided high blood pressure.
Piry's fellow centenarian, Bessie Little, the New Year's baby of 1902, didn't imagine she'd live past 80, although she neither looks nor acts 100. Her hearing is good and she uses a walker, but she gets around quite easily.
"I never thought I'd reach 100, gosh," the cheerful senior said with a faint Scottish accent. "I wouldn't want to if I didn't have my health."
Good food, a positive attitude and, like Piry, no pills, is her recipe for a long life. Born in Walkerburn, Scotland, Little was a bookkeeper before meeting her future husband Walter at the village hall. During the war, her husband bought a farm, enabling the family to enjoy butter and eggs when food was strictly rationed. In 1957, the familymoved to Vancouver. Walter died in 1972. Little, who moved into the care facility in 1997, said the advent of electricity was the most significant event in her long life.
For 103-year-old Connie Hills, born in Essex, England Jan. 10, 1899, cement sidewalks were a welcome invention. She laughed as she recalled pushing her children in strollers along wooden sidewalks in Vancouver years ago, when the wheels would often get caught between the planks. But moving to Canada as a young girl would prove to be the most memorable event in her life.
When the Titanic sank in April of 1912, her mother delayed the family's voyage-ironically, they ended up travelling in stormy November. "My mother said if the Titanic sank, anything could," said Hill, who studied at Sprott Shaw business college and worked as a bookkeeper before marrying.
The mother of three can't explain how she managed to reach 103, but credits the slower pace of life during her younger years.
Meanwhile Pierre Piry, son of Jean Piry, knows what he plans to do to reach his father's age. "Eat a lot, eat a high cholesterol diet."
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