Letters: Alice Watson Celebrates Her 90th Birthday

Alice Watson of Bernards Township, and her twin sister Catherine Cooke McCabe of Montauk, N.Y., recently celebrated their 90th birthdays. 

The twins were born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on May 5, 1920, and their family moved to Staten Island when they were infants. The May twins, as they were known, grew up in Midland Beach and graduated from St. Patrick's High School on Staten Island and Holy Cross Secretarial School in Manhattan.

In 1940, Alice married George Watson, an NYC fireman. They were married for 41 years before he passed away in 1981, and they raised nine children.

Mrs. Watson and her twin, who raised seven children, both went on to college and became school secretaries, working for the NYC Board of Education on Staten Island.

Since April 2005, Mrs. Watson has been a resident of Ridge Oak in Basking Ridge and is a parishioner of St. James Church.

On May 5, she was honored at a gathering in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Bernadette and Bill Koch and granddaughter Donna Andres of Basking Ridge.

There was also a party for the twin sisters in Montauk which was attended by many family members and friends.

Mrs. Watson's other children are: George of Montauk, NY; Cathy of  Kailua, HI; Robert of Oldsmar, FL; Alice of Montauk, NY; Tom of Paris, France, Paul of Oman and Audrey of Amagansett, NY.  A son Joseph is deceased.  She also has ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

This letter was submitted by Bill Koch.