At 107 years old, Mildred Baron is not slowing down — she’s spicing things up, quite literally. The Freehold, New Jersey resident recently celebrated her milestone birthday surrounded by family, friends and a community that calls her the life of the party. But what truly stands out is her remarkable simplicity when it comes to the age-old question: what’s the secret to a long and fulfilling life?
“Be very calm, be peaceful and adopt my saying: ‘This too shall pass,’” Baron told Asbury Park Press (APP). For Baron, this has not just been a mantra but a life philosophy, guiding her through some of the most challenging chapters of the 20th and 21st centuries.
From Breadlines to Birthday Toasts
Born in Brooklyn in 1918, Baron’s life spans an era that has witnessed everything from Prohibition and the Great Depression to World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic. She vividly recalls standing in breadlines as a child, her mother feeding a family of five with a single sack of potatoes, and watching neighbors grapple with despair.
Still, she recalls those times not with bitterness, but with a calm resilience. “But as I said, that too, passed,” she repeated, underscoring the emotional strength that’s helped carry her across generations.
During World War II, while many of the men she knew were drafted, Baron secured a job in accounting — a profession she stuck with for more than four decades until her retirement.
Spicy Snacks, 3D Art and Ginger Ale Cheers
Retirement didn’t dull Baron’s spirit. Today, she remains active in the Applewood Village senior living community where she moved just before turning 100. She participates in party planning, creates 3D art, and enjoys cocktail hours with fellow residents — her drink of choice? Ginger ale, though she jokingly claims beer from time to time.
“She’s always the life of the party,” said Keith Grady, executive director of Applewood Village, in his interview with APP. “She’s always been a concerned resident for others, just a real great neighbor to have.”
And yes, she still loves spicy food. One of her close friends, 95-year-old Arline Fischer, shared that Baron would often carry her own jalapeños. “She lives off spices,” Fischer laughed.
Family, Friendship and Cardboard Conversations
Her greatest pride, though, lies not in achievements or longevity but in family. Sitting beside her is her 80-year-old daughter, Bonnie Greenstein, who speaks of her mother with admiration. “She’s intelligent, a talented artist and knows what's going on in the world. She just gets it,” Greenstein said.
Due to mild hearing loss, Greenstein communicates with Baron through a clever hack — speaking through a cardboard paper towel tube to amplify her voice. Despite this, their bond is strong, full of laughter and mutual respect.
Baron is also a proud grandmother to two and great-grandmother to five, calling them the greatest joy of her life.
Peace, Not Perfection
As for the future, Baron no longer looks too far ahead but still holds onto hope. “I’d like to see peace in this world,” she told APP. “All over. I don’t think I’ll see it, but hopefully it’ll happen someday.”
According to World Population Review, Baron is one of approximately 2,367 centenarians living in New Jersey in 2025. Yet even among this rare group, her story stands out — not because of her age alone, but because of the spirit she brings to each day.
In a world obsessed with longevity hacks, Mildred reminds us that sometimes, the best advice is the simplest: this too shall pass. And if you’re lucky, maybe it’ll pass with jalapeños in your purse and laughter in your heart.
“Be very calm, be peaceful and adopt my saying: ‘This too shall pass,’” Baron told Asbury Park Press (APP). For Baron, this has not just been a mantra but a life philosophy, guiding her through some of the most challenging chapters of the 20th and 21st centuries.
From Breadlines to Birthday Toasts
Born in Brooklyn in 1918, Baron’s life spans an era that has witnessed everything from Prohibition and the Great Depression to World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic. She vividly recalls standing in breadlines as a child, her mother feeding a family of five with a single sack of potatoes, and watching neighbors grapple with despair.
Still, she recalls those times not with bitterness, but with a calm resilience. “But as I said, that too, passed,” she repeated, underscoring the emotional strength that’s helped carry her across generations.
During World War II, while many of the men she knew were drafted, Baron secured a job in accounting — a profession she stuck with for more than four decades until her retirement.
This June, we celebrated a truly special milestone, Mildred Baron’s 107th birthday! Mildred, who still lives independently and is an active part of the Applewood Village community, was honored at our June cocktail party and again at the Resident Association Meeting. #SeniorLiving pic.twitter.com/eMNQ8QHzQB
— Applewood Village (@ApplewoodVLG) June 23, 2025
Spicy Snacks, 3D Art and Ginger Ale Cheers
Retirement didn’t dull Baron’s spirit. Today, she remains active in the Applewood Village senior living community where she moved just before turning 100. She participates in party planning, creates 3D art, and enjoys cocktail hours with fellow residents — her drink of choice? Ginger ale, though she jokingly claims beer from time to time.
“She’s always the life of the party,” said Keith Grady, executive director of Applewood Village, in his interview with APP. “She’s always been a concerned resident for others, just a real great neighbor to have.”
And yes, she still loves spicy food. One of her close friends, 95-year-old Arline Fischer, shared that Baron would often carry her own jalapeños. “She lives off spices,” Fischer laughed.
Family, Friendship and Cardboard Conversations
Her greatest pride, though, lies not in achievements or longevity but in family. Sitting beside her is her 80-year-old daughter, Bonnie Greenstein, who speaks of her mother with admiration. “She’s intelligent, a talented artist and knows what's going on in the world. She just gets it,” Greenstein said.
Due to mild hearing loss, Greenstein communicates with Baron through a clever hack — speaking through a cardboard paper towel tube to amplify her voice. Despite this, their bond is strong, full of laughter and mutual respect.
Baron is also a proud grandmother to two and great-grandmother to five, calling them the greatest joy of her life.
Peace, Not Perfection
As for the future, Baron no longer looks too far ahead but still holds onto hope. “I’d like to see peace in this world,” she told APP. “All over. I don’t think I’ll see it, but hopefully it’ll happen someday.”
According to World Population Review, Baron is one of approximately 2,367 centenarians living in New Jersey in 2025. Yet even among this rare group, her story stands out — not because of her age alone, but because of the spirit she brings to each day.
In a world obsessed with longevity hacks, Mildred reminds us that sometimes, the best advice is the simplest: this too shall pass. And if you’re lucky, maybe it’ll pass with jalapeños in your purse and laughter in your heart.
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