At 100 years young, Anna Ciolini’s advice is to ‘eat right, exercise and try to do the best you can’
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — While turning 100 is always a magnificent milestone, these days, because of medical advances, healthier eating habits and regular exercise, it seems Americans are turning 100 by leaps and bounds. And it’s all good news.
Rosebank’s Anna Rumolo Ciolini, who was nicknamed “Snooks” in the playground as a young child — a name that stuck by the way all through Curtis High School until her graduation in 1939 — will turn a century old July 1.
The fifth child of nine born to parents who immigrated from Naples, Italy, Ciolini was athletic throughout her entire life. She enjoyed playing sports at Curtis High School, where she was especially renowned for her outstanding ability on the basketball court. In fact, scripted in her high school yearbook bio there was a note that stated she simply could not be beat!
Anna Rumolo Ciolini, center, is shown with her nieces. (Courtesy of the Ciolini family) Staten Island Advance
Through the years, Ciolini continued to live a healthy lifestyle. She ate the right foods, stayed slim and remained physically fit. She exercised regularly, took long, brisk walks and, to this day, family members attest to the fact that she was really ahead of her time when it came to the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
During her younger years, she held a position at Sun Chemical in Rosebank, where she was what was known as a color tester. There, she was responsible for matching just the right color for shades of lipstick and “rouge,” a term that was used back then instead of “blush,” before handing it off to the in house scientists.
When “the birthday girl” was in her 50s, she was a staffer in the men’s department of the former Garber’s, a popular department store in New Dorp.
She also was a devoted wife and mom.
She and husband, Ulysses Ciolini, said their “I do’s” in 1944, when he was home on a short leave from World War II. Their only child, Donald, was born in 1948. In 1956 the Ciolini’s moved into their Concord home.
Anna Rumolo Ciolini (Courtesy of the Ciolini family) Staten Island Advance
Sadly, Ulysses passed unexpectedly in 1984, and Don, who never married, became his mom’s caretaker.
Besides being an avid fan of all sports and watching professional sports on TV until this day — especially basketball and football — Ciolini adored reading good books and the Staten Island Advance each day from cover to cover.
What’s more, when the Advance ran contests back in the day, Ciolini won prizes fairly often, and was happy to share her T-shirt and mug prizes with others.
Her advice has always been to “eat right, exercise and try to do the best you can.”
When family members were asked to comment on their family matriarch, they explained that Ciolini is highly regarded and esteemed as the matriarch of the family, one from whom they’ve learned so much from about their family’s heritage. The memories she shares with them are absolutely priceless, they say.
“We love her, respect her and are very grateful to share this 100th birthday milestone with her,” they said.
