Pomerance 100 Years Young

Written by Wendy Kreitzman Friday, 08 March 2013 00:00

Eric Pomerance had a wonderful day celebrating his 100th birthday at Ethos Restaurant in Great Neck last Saturday afternoon, March 2. This long-time Great Neck resident and his wife, Diane, celebrated their love of life and the joy of a great party with special family and friends. 

And how does it feel to be 100? “Well, to tell you the truth, it’s very reassuring that the square root of 100 is still 10,” Mr. Pomerance told the Great Neck Record. “I haven’t changed and I guess I never will,” he jokingly added. 

Family and friends, neighbors of all ages and backgrounds, spoke of the interesting, engaging Eric Pomerance, a man with a rich history. And at the party Mr. Pomerance was also honored by the mayor from his home, the Old Village. Village of Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman presented an impressive certificate honoring Mr. Pomerance’s more than five decades in the village: “The Great Neck peninsula is a better place because of you … you are a kind and caring person.”

The village also honored Mr. Pomerance helping found the Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy so many years ago. And for Eric Pomerance, this was a very moving moment. His wife, Diane, told the Record that this award meant so much to her husband, as he helped start SANE during the McCarthy years when he had to work quietly. Now he was “moved and honored” to have this effort recognized in public, by a government official.

Mr. Pomerance has been involved and active all his years in Great Neck. He was  recently instrumental in having leaf blower usage banned during the summer in several of the local villages. At one point he fought for and won his right to ride his bicycle to the Great Neck train station and leave it there while he was in Manhattan. Today bike racks are available at the train station. 

It has been a full life for Eric Pomerance since he first hopped a on ship to Argentina when he was 16. He worked as a baker on shipboard and then went on to work as a maintenance manager in Queens, an architectural assistant in Manhattan and a cameraman in an animation studio in Holland. Since retirement, he has worked as a volunteer at the Sands Point Preserve restoration shop, carving two of the horses on their carousel. Over the years he has also had watercolor displays.

Eric Pomerance married his wife, Diane, in October of 2011. At the time the groom was almost 99 and the bride was 59. They had been together six-and-a-half years, having met “by accident” at a garden party/film opening. 

It’s clear to all that Eric and Diane are true “soul mates.”

“We are proud to have such a long-time and very involved resident in the community,” Mayor Kreizman told the Record. 

With yet another family birthday party the day after the formal 100th birthday party, after all the celebrating wound down, Mr. Pomerance spoke of how “wonderful it is to have such friends, such concerned people.”

And he is filled with plans for the future.

Happy 100 years to Eric Pomerance! And here’s to future joy!