Marjorie Van Cise celebrated her 100th Birthday on June 13 with an open house at The Landing in Brockport, where she lives. Hosting the celebration were her three daughters: Sue Baker of Waterport, and Carol Bott and Ruth Rath of Hamlin. Marjorie was born in 1904 in Canaseraga, New York, third of eight children to Alonzo and Susie Sick. Marjorie and her sister, Celeste, now 101 and living in Sarasota, Florida, graduated from Geneseo Normal School in 1922. Both taught in a one room schoolhouse when it was a rule that teachers could not be married. Her first year, she had twenty students ranging in age from beginner to high school regents. Marge married Earl Van Cise August 15, 1929. They had three daughters and in 1951, she returned to teaching. This time it was kindergarten at Town Pump in the Churchville district. She moved to Brockport and taught kindergarten at the Ginther School for the next sixteen years. She loved teaching five year olds and often stayed late, preparing for the next day. She retired from BCS in 1970 and enjoyed twenty-nine sunny retirement winters with Earl in North Ft. Myers, Florida. They were married sixty-seven years. Shortly after Earl died in 1997, Marge moved to the newly opened The Landing facility on West Avenue in Brockport. Each year, Marge and Celeste visited her daughter Ruth's fourth grade class at Brockport's Hill School to relate memories of life before airplanes and automobiles. They ice skated to grade school on Slater Creek and drove a horse and buggy to high school. Marge is still mad over a spanking from a first grade teacher for her misspelling of a word, according to family members. Marge loved cooking delicious meals for others, crocheting, and playing piano with family and friends singing along. She was fond of saying, "Pick out the good in others, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away." She was active in the Sweden Swingers and the Gingham Gang in Florida. She is a long time member of the Brockport United Methodist Church. She has six grandchildren: David Baker, Doug Baker, Kristen Nordstrom, Sarah Lee, Natasha Marcus and Stephanie Rath and ten great-grandchildren. Marge loves her home and the people at The Landing and welcomes visits from friends and former students. |
