City Honors Liz McBride on Her 100th Birthday at Lighthouse Nursing Care Center

Mayor Brian Arrigo knew exactly what the guests at Elizabeth “Liz” McBride’s 100th birthday celebration had to do to commemorate the happy occasion.

“We have to sing, ‘Happy Birthday,’ right?” said Arrigo, prompting Liz’s family and friends to  break into the famous birthday song.

That gesture brought an immediate smile to the face of Mrs. McBride on the special day a century after her birth on Feb. 6, 1921.

Arrigo had declared last Thursday, “Elizabeth McBride Day” in the city, honoring the popular resident of the Lighthouse Nursing Care Center where the special outdoor celebration was held.

“Liz,” as she is known belovingly throughout Chelsea, was a long-time member of the Chelsea School Committee. She was the first female member of the Kiwanis Club in Massachusetts. She is graduate of the Chelsea High School Class of 1939, a group of alumni who came to be known as the “Thirty-Niners.”

Mrs. McBride has eight children, 16 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. She and her husband, the late John McBride, shared 68 years of marriage.

Mayor Arrigo and the great staff at Lighthouse rolled out the red carpet for Liz McBride. Fire Chief Christopher Bright and Police Chief David Callahan brought the best wishes of their departments. Police Officers Kenny Bruker and Jose Osorio also offered birthday wishes to the guest of honor.

“This is a wonderful day for my mother and my family thanks the Mayor and all the people who organized her party,” said daughter Ann McBride Tolley. “My mother is really enjoying this day.”

Proclamation

Whereas, Elizabeth McBride was born to John and Nellie Sullivan on February 6, 1921 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of six children, and moved to Revere as a child and later Chelsea, Massachusetts, where she met her husband and;

Whereas, Elizabeth would become a cheerleader and track star at Chelsea High School and; 

Whereas she met her husband, John McBride, at Chelsea High School and they were married on July 3, 1943 and shared 68 years of marriage and welcomed 8 children, 16 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren and;

Whereas, Elizabeth raised her family and worked actively in Chelsea politics. There, she led a Bluebird Troop, President of the PTA, and head of the School Committee, and was a strong advocate for teachers and education and; 

Whereas, Elizabeth was a delegate of the Democratic Party and the first female member of Kiwanis in Massachusetts. She received the NEA Lifetime Achievement Award and;

Whereas, Elizabeth resides at the Lighthouse in Revere, Massachusetts, and;

Whereas, on February 6, 2021, Elizabeth will reach the impressive age of 100 years.

Now, therefore be it resolved that the Mayor and the City of Revere, on behalf of the citizens of Revere express our sincerest congratulations on the occasion of your 100thbirthday.

Be it further resolved that in recognition of your 100th birthday and your love for your family that February 6th be celebrated as:

Elizabeth McBride Day

Further, that the City of Revere extends to Elizabeth McBride and her family our best wishes for continued good health and happiness for all the days to come.

This proclamation is issued in the Executive Chamber of the City of Revere this eighteenth day of October in the year of Our Lord two-thousand and twenty-one and of the Independence of the United States of America the two- hundred and forty-fifth.

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