NEW YORK – Maria Mastoridis-Moschatou celebrated her 100th birthday on August 3 surrounded by children grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, cousins, ??and friends, who gathered at the Sun & Surf restaurant in Atlantic Beach from throughout the New York area and from as far away as Seattle, WA.

The celebration was simple but rich in surprises and sentiment. Her children, George Moshatos and Irene Moschatou-Vrahnas and her grandchildren and great grandchildren prepared a video that told the story of the family’s journey from the island of Symi to Ohio, Manhattan and finally, Long Island.

The honoree smiled as guests greeted her, but she most enjoyed watching her great-grandchildren photographing her with smartphones.

John Koumpiadis, one of the leaders of the Kimisis parish of Island Park, was among the first to contact TNH, said it was a special event for the Greeks of Long Island, saying it is rare to find someone that age in such good health and with such a sharp mind.

He praised the centenarian for “raising her children and grandchildren with love for Greece.”

Mastoridis-Moschatou was born in Simi on October 17, 1914, the third child of Michael and Katerinio Mastoridis. She had four other siblings, Fotini, Nicholas, Foti and Nora (Evdokia).

Her father came to America in 1913 with his brothers and settled in Tarpon Springs, but jobs were scarce, so they decided to go to Campbell, OH to work in the mines and mills.

After a decade, Michael decided to bring his wife, Katerinio, and their four children to Ohio.

The Great Depression forced them to move in 1933 to in Far Rockaway where they daughter Fotini and her husband, Anthony, lived.

Maria Mastoridis married Demetrius George Moschatos, and bore two children, George and Irene.

Her husband was in the shipbuilding business and established his own company, Argo Boat. He died in 2002 at age 90.

“We had fun, but most importantly, we showed our children and grandchildren the history of our family,” said George Moschatos, who expressed his gratitude to TNH and everyone else who came to celebrate his mother’s 100^th birthday.