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Seniors' Prom A Good Time

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By LAURA FRAZIER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

Updated: 05/23/2008 04:24 pm

BRANDON - Carmen Nunez was escorted to a dance at the Brandon Community Center recently by the same gentleman who was by her side at her 1947 high school prom - her husband of 60 years, Philip Nunez.

They were among about 200 seniors at the community center on Sadie Street for the Hillsborough County Department of Aging Services' Senior Prom.

The dance, held annually during Older Americans Month in May, resurrected memories of Nunez's high school formal in Manhattan 61 years ago.

"Daddy gave me permission to go, but I was to be home no later than 1 a.m.," she said. The couple went straight to the prom as promised, danced to two songs and then hoofed it on the sly to a nearby nightclub.

"And, yes, I was home by 1 a.m.," she said.

Aging services program directors and nursing staff supervised and entertained active seniors and adult day care patients enrolled at seven county-run senior centers throughout Hillsborough.

The community center was decked out in black-and-white splendor with a "Lights, Camera, Action" theme. Many seniors danced to classic tunes played live, while others with limited mobility or physical disabilities sang and clapped in time to the music.

"A lot of them are up in age, but they're still young at heart," said Mary Jo McKay, the county's senior center and adult day care program manager. "They go at a little slower pace, but as you can see in their smiles, they love it."

Many dressed in their black and white Sunday best, but Patty Paternico, 63, wore a peach satin gown. County social worker Sarah Price said Paternico, who is developmentally disabled, represents a growing segment of the senior population.

"There was a time not too long ago when developmentally disabled people didn't live long enough to need aging services," Price said. "They are fairly high-functioning, but they are always going to need someone to take care of them."

Paternico attends the Ruskin Senior Center five days a week while her sister, who is also her caregiver, is at work.

"I'm going to do some dancing," Paternico said. "They taught us how to do Mexican dancing at the senior center, so I hope they play some Mexican music."

Rufus Boyd, 84, went for a spin on the dance floor in his wheelchair with aging services nurse Marline Raphael.

"Rufus is the music man. He digs music ... blues and rock," Price said. He'll never say no to a little James Brown."

Physical therapist Gerry Randolph wouldn't take no for an answer when he asked Hazel Hart to dance with him. Hart is 84 and has two prosthetic legs.

"Come on, Miss Hazel!" Randolph said as he helped her to her feet.

Organizers drew names from a box to select the king and queen of the prom.

Earl Knighton, who celebrated his 89th birthday Monday, was crowned king. Knighton attends the Plant City Senior Center on Waller Street three days a week. He said he would highly recommend the program to older people who don't get out of the house much.

"I really like it," Knighton said. "We have good exercise every day, you know - exercise sitting in your chair. And we have a walking area. I walk one to two miles every time I'm there."

Bettelou Boothe, 63, was crowned queen. She said she spent most of her time at home watching television before she began attending the Ruskin Senior Center five days a week.

"It is a good way to make friends and every day learn something," Boothe said. "It gets me out of the house and gives me new friends and new interests. I would always get so bored just watching TV."

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523 or lfrazier@tampatrib.com.

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