Albert Einstein once said, “Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” That’s the thing about wisdom: it cannot be taught. We gain it over time through our own life experiences and sage advice from those who know a thing or two about living a long, meaningful life.
Over the years, as the human population and life expectancy have increased, so have the number of people who live to 100 years of age. According to the United Nations, there are over 570,000 centenarians in the world currently, with the United States being home to 97,000 of them.
One of our local centenarians, Marguerite Wagner, is no stranger to our monthly magazine. In 2020, when she celebrated her 100th birthday, she was featured in Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors magazine, and again in 2022, when we recognized National Centenarian Day. This month, please join us in wishing Marguerite a Happy 105th Birthday, which she will celebrate on March 17th!
When you stop to think about it, Marguerite has lived and experienced more life-changing events than our future generations will ever imagine. She has lived through the Great Depression, World Wars and Civil Wars. She has witnessed the invention of television, the golden age of radio, the innovation of air travel, the exploration of space, the digital revolution, and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. Marguerite has lived and seen it all in one lifetime!
Born in Malvern, Marguerite grew up in Paoli with her parents and brother Paul. After Marguerite graduated from Tredyffrin-Easttown High School (now Conestoga HS), she worked as a Dental Assistant. She later also worked for 18 years as a Secretary at Haverford College. During World War II, Marguerite worked with the Red Cross, taking First Aid and Home Nursing Care courses and going through some practice field situations, like mock air raid response drills. She never signed up to join the Army or Navy because her experience caring for local dental patients was so greatly needed and appreciated.
She met her husband Gus when they both joined different neighborhood choral groups. Both groups were losing members, so a decision was made to
combine groups. The rest is history. Gus was a Design Engineer. “He was quite clever,” Marguerite said. “There wasn’t any broken thing that he couldn’t figure out a way to fix or find a solution for.”
After getting married, the Wagners lived in Ardmore for 25 years before moving to Newtown Square in 1980. They became quite active in the choir at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and also enjoyed working on some Marple-Newtown Players’ productions, mainly behind the scenes.
Marguerite and Gus had two amazingly creative children: Carol and Richard. Carol enjoyed a career as a horticulturist at Haverford College for 35 years after graduating from Longwood Gardens. She recently retired and enjoys spending more time with her Mother. Utilizing her horticultural background, Carol also supports the township as a member of the Shade Tree Commission. Richard and his wife are both artists, and their son David is musically talented. “Carol and Richard got their artistic talents from their father,” recalled Marguerite. Gus passed away in 1995, and her daughter Carol lives with her.
Marguerite’s home is filled with history and charm. The walls are adorned with many of Richard’s paintings, each telling a story about their lives and the places they’ve been. The front porch and sunroom are full of beautiful plants and bushes that Carol cares for. There are framed family portraits from many years past and furniture that has withstood the test of time, including a wooden toddler chair where Marguerite once sat.
Her home is also filled with her favorite books, puzzles, yarn and Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles memorabilia. “Mom is a huge Phillies and Eagles fan,” Carol said. “We watch every game, and although she can’t see the television that well, I’m happy to call out every play, every yard, every homerun and every touchdown.” Besides watching sports, Marguerite and Carol spend their days reading books by their favorite author, Clive Cussler, an American adventure novelist and underwater explorer.
Marguerite and Carol also enjoy jigsaw puzzles of all varieties. “Carol and I typically work on 1,000-piece puzzles that can be pretty challenging,” Marguerite said. “We recently completed one of Citizens Bank Park and are now working on an English Cottage and Garden puzzle.” Carol added that although they enjoy working together, they have different techniques. “I like starting with the border pieces, but Mom goes right to the center.”
For years, Marguerite and Carol have enjoyed a fall vacation at their favorite spot in Ocean City, NJ. They spend little time on the boardwalk and more time on the beach, surf fishing. It’s a team effort: Carol does the casting, and Marguerite reels them in. “Mom always catches the first and the most fish,” admits Carol. Marguerite boasts that 
her biggest catch was a 28” striped bass on October 6, 2022. Yes, you read that right! Marguerite caught a 28” striped bass from her beach wheelchair when she was 102 years old!
In addition to her record-setting surf-fishing at the beach, Marguerite has enjoyed knitting over 750 baby hats that she donated to local hospitals. Her latest project is knitting baby blankets that she enjoys gifting to young family members. Marguerite also loves sitting on her heated, enclosed back porch, watching the birds at the feeders in the winter and her vegetable garden flourish in the summer. Marguerite’s father always had a garden, so when she got married, she decided to have one also. From tomatoes and string beans to peas and lettuce, Marguerite’s garden has it all. Marguerite shared this sage advice: “You always plant your peas on St. Patrick’s Day, when the air and ground are just warm enough. It’s an old proverb.”
Obviously, being almost 105 years old hasn’t slowed Marguerite down. “I don’t feel my age, and I’m not sure how it’s possible that I will soon be 105. I feel like I’m only 20 years old. And my mind is still going strong,” she said proudly.
If the weather cooperates, Marguerite will be planting more peas on her birthday, and she looks forward to celebrating her special day with her children. “I think we will go to my favorite restaurant, Sampan Inn on Brookline Boulevard in Havertown,” she said. “I might even have a little slice of cake, even though I’m not supposed to!”
Marguerite’s advice for a long, fulfilling life? “Take a long walk and a short nap every single day. You can do it if you take it one day at a time.”
On behalf of your Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors, we would like to wish you a very happy birthday and a year filled with lots of love, puzzles, books, sports, fishing and perhaps a little slice of cake!
Do you know a Newtown Square family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com.