Welcome to Freyda Siegel’s 100 th Birthday Celebration

Welcome to Freyda Siegel’s100th Birthday Celebration

When Freyda was born July 27, 1909…

• Theodore Roosevelt was replaced by William Taft

• Marconi won the Nobel prize for the invention of the radio

• The Wright Brothers buzzed the Statue of liberty dragging a canoe as an emergency personal flotation device.

1909 crop of babies are quite memorable!

Errol FlynnJoseph R. McCarthy

Al CappBenny Goodman

Joseph L. MankiewiczJessica Tandy

Eugene IonescoFreyda Siegel

The early years• Born in West

Medway, MA• Mother went into

labor when she fell out of hammock

• 2 months early- Freyda was in a hurry !

• Grew up in North End, West End, then Winthrop

Very Close Knit Family – Great Sense Of Humor And Wit:

A young talentElocution lessons – 25c each

Dancing, Theater, Radio

EducationEmerson College,

Bachelor of Literary

Interpretation, 1930

Boston University Masters in

Education, 1954

Married Pete

(Herman) Siegel1938

George Siegel born in 1940

Moved to Chicago in 1943

Courageous move to go so far

away!

A great life in Chicago –

speaking, active in PTA, friends,

etc.

Kindergarten teacher in Winthrop

Steve Rosenthal was a student

School Adjustment Counselor in

WinthropHead Start Program

in the summer

Lexington Schools recruited her to be an elementary guidance

counselor

Remarkable career there –

Popular, respected, effective, insightfulMany accolades from parents and students"It's (Freyda's office)a place where I can go and talk about something bad and not get in trouble for it."

One parent wrote about Freyda’s talents in helping her daughter overcome a very difficult time:

“ It is very rare to find someone who is able to combine unusually sharp

insight and the ability to communicate this in a way that becomes very useful.

You always manage to bring the focus back to the child – as a child!”

From a 1994 letter from parents of a graduating Lexington High

senior:“You are in large part responsible for who he has become. When things weren’t going well for our son, adults had disappointed him and confusion seemed to be the rule – you believed in him. That has always meant so much to him and to us!”

Developed highly regarded talks • Based on her training and

experience• Reducing Parental Frustration• What Not to Say to Children• The Pros and Cons of Children

Friendships• Discipline That Works• Raising Money-Wise Children• Minimizing Sibling Rivalry• Raising Children in a Modern

World

Talks for local schools

Revere, Natick, Wareham, Springfield, W Townsend, Newton,

Lenox, Hamilton, Provincetown, Marlboro, Lakeville, Duxbury,

Needham, Worcester, Wareham, Somerville, Sturbridge,

Foxboro ....and dozens more !

One school system superintendent wrote:

“Thank you for inviting me to your parent meeting . I was impressed by your gentle, straightforward manner and your ability to engage parents

in discussion and problem-solving. “

Courses Freyda has taught

Leadership workshop (BU

School of Nursing)

The 4 L's: Love, Listen, Limit

Let Go!

Talks over the years - all over the US!

Lesley, Wheelock, Middlesex, Framingham, Boston CollegesMass. Conference on Social WelfareMA Girl Scout ConventionOswego NY - special conference on emotional developmentAmerican Society for School Health, Las VegasParent Effectiveness Training, California

National PTA

• Active Board member for over 50 years

• National PTA Chairman of Parent and Family Life

• Honorary Life Member, 1993• Life Achievement Award in

1998• Special Recognition Award in

2003 for 50 years of service

Co-author of 3 books

Awards

Counselor of the year, Mass. State Guidance Counselors Assoc.

Oswego University - One of 3 top guidance counselors in the US!

Massachusetts State Legislature

Most important accomplishments

Helping parents to see kids as kids, not adults

Conveying the importance of respect for every individual

Hobbies

GardeningReading

SocializingCrochet

Games - cribbage , upwardsBargain hunting

Family - so important to Freyda!Siblings, Son, nieces and nephews,

grand-nieces and nephews, great grand nieces and nephews

Freyda’s Positive Impact Affects So Many Lives- Family, Friends, Children, Parents

All Of Us Here Are Better Because Of Our Relationship With Freyda !

LIVING A LONG LIFE WELL18 Tips by Freyda

1. Live in the present, not the past Trans- Generation

Living !

2. Enjoy personal relationships

3. Respect every individual regardless of age, status, education, ability, or political affiliation

4. Stimulate your mind (reading, games, politics, sports)

5. Help other people5. Help other people

Thanks to everyone who has given Freyda such wonderful care

!

6. Eat well

7. Splurge once in a while

8. Exercise and get fresh air

9. Avoid perfectionism

10. Find the positive in situations

11. Don't waste energy on things you can't change

12. Avoid bearing grudges

13. Kvetch not

14. Be a good listener

15. Beware of giving unsolicited advice (especially in political campaigns)

16. Think creatively

17. Remain curious

18. Have fun !

Happy Birthday Freyda!