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Fermin
Montes de Oca, 105
Mr. D's
Wonderful Life |
Fermin
Montes de Oca was born on Pine Street in
Tampa, Florida, on December 14, 1903. His
family’s name – Montes de Oca, meaning
forest of oak - speaks volumes about this
105 year old, who is affectionately known as
Mr. D around his retirement center. Mr. D,
like the sturdy oak, has been a stalwart for
his family. For him, family means
everything.
By the age of 10, Fermin’s work ethic
had already taken root. He and his brother
shined shoes outside a cigar factory,
charging a nickel for black shoes and a dime
for brown. After shining 12 to 15 pairs of
shoes, young Fermin would race home and
joyfully give all of his earnings to his
mother.
When he was 15, his father moved the
family back to his native Cuba and young
Fermin went to work for a cigar factory. He
met the love of his life at an early age and
they were married for 76 years. They moved
to New York where he got a job as a barber
at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
Mr. D has lots of
stories about |
Fermin Montes de Oca - "Mr. D"
|
the many famous people he met there,
including Gary Cooper, Al Jolson, Douglas
Fairbanks and many other celebrities. Gary
Cooper became one of his regular customers
and they developed a rapport; the actor
nicknamed Mr. D “Shorty.”
After WWII, Mr. D and his family,
which now included two sons, moved back to
Tampa. His uncle ran a nightclub at Rocky
Point where the movie “Hells Harbor” was
being filmed. On a visit to the set, Gary
Cooper recognized his friend “Shorty” and
rekindled their friendship.
Mr. D was a cigar maker for 39 years.
During his last few years, before machines
replaced his craft, Mr. D worked in the
shipping area, where he personally mailed
off cigars to Winston Churchill. He never
smoked a cigarette or cigar in his life and
he never stopped serving others.
Mr. D built his own home, where he
and his wife raised their two sons. In the
backyard of the new home were fruit trees,
and each week he would hang bags of fruit on
his neighbors’ doors. Today, members of
those families still visit and write.
His goal throughout his life has been
to bring beauty to others through his
prolific paintings of landscapes given to
friends, his joyful singing of inspirational
songs – most recently “What a Wonderful
World” – and his faith in God. Over the
years, he has volunteered for many jobs and
organizations, but none have meant more to
him than the “Country Store” he opened and
runs at the retirement center where he has
lived for several years. His store provides
some necessities and lots of “treats” for
the residents, including his very popular
"Mr. D’s Popcorn." For years, he has
risen each morning at 4:30 a.m. to make the
fresh popcorn to sell during the day at his
store, which is staffed with other
volunteers. At the end of each day he gives
the proceeds of the store’s sales to the
hospice workers. |
Mr. D with a few family photos.
|
“The people depend on me,” he says of his
rigorous schedule. It was even difficult to
get him to take time off to celebrate his
105th birthday. But, every week he does make
time to share a meal with his son who comes
to visit.
The walls of Mr. D’s apartment are
covered with photos of his family. “They
mean the world to me,” he says, with pride.
This Father’s Day will be filled with the
laughter and storytelling of his son, six
grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and
his special gift – a great, great
granddaughter who will turn one year old
this month. |
Respecting the privacy of this centenarian
and all centenarians on our website, we ask
all media (or other businesses) to please
direct inquiries to Lynn Adler:
adler@ncap100s.org. |
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