Joel Bassuk

Meet Ethel Caterham. The world’s oldest living person. Born August 21, 1909. Now 117 years old. Think about how much history fits into that one lifetime. She has lived through: • The sinking of the Titanic • World War I • The 1918 flu pandemic • The Great Depression • World War II • The first Moon landing • The fall of the Berlin Wall • September 11 • The COVID-19 pandemic She was 2 when the Titanic sank. She was 30 when World War II began. She was 59 when humans first walked on the Moon. During her lifetime, the world gained: • Televisions • Microwave ovens • Polio vaccines • Microchips • Mobile phones • The World Wide Web • Artificial Intelligence Entire famous lifetimes have unfolded within hers. She was born before, and has outlived: • John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) • Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) • Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) • Elvis Presley (1935–1977) But 117 years have also brought profound personal loss. She has outlived: • Her husband: Norman, died in 1976 • Her sister: Gladys, died in 2002 at 104 • Her daughter: Gem, died in 2005 at 71 • Her daughter: Ann, died in 2020 at 82 Her husband and both of her children are gone. Today, her family includes three granddaughters and five great-grandchildren. One comparison puts it all into perspective: Ethel was already 16 when Queen Elizabeth II of England was born. Queen Elizabeth grew up, became Queen, reigned for 70 years, and died at 96. Ethel is still here.