Sunday, August 1 was officially Dollie Day in the Town of Newburgh, but Friday, July 30 was the day when friends, family and elected officials gathered at the town’s new Desmond Center to celebrate the 105th birthday of Olivia “Dollie” Leibowitz.

With Pianist Waylen Roche playing “Hello Dolly” on the keyboard, Dollie made her grand entrance into the main house at the former Desmond Estate where she was greeted with assorted proclamations, followed by a luncheon hosted by the Town of Newburgh Friends of Seniors, the Orange County Office for the Aging and the Jewish Family Service of Orange County.

Dollie lives by herself (with some help from a network of loving neighbors, friends and aides) and was hailed as “an amazing example of aging in place.”

“Dollie is an inspiration in so many ways,” said Anita Manley, Town of Newburgh Friends of Seniors Coordinator. “She manages her iPad, cellphone and today’s technology like someone who is decades younger. She can hold conversations about all current events, remembers special occasions sending cards to loved ones and friends and still has that genteel southern charm that makes everyone around her feel welcome. And she always has a positive attitude!”

She was born August 1, 1916 in Milwaukee, WI, and moved with her family to Nashville, TN a year later. Her father passed away in 1931, when Dollie was in her teens, leaving her mother to raise six children.

Dollie met her future husband Hal Leibowitz from Newburgh in May, 1944 through mutual friends at a party for servicemen. She was a volunteer for the USO at the time. Their first date was in June of 1944. They were engaged in August and married in September of that year, moving things along quickly as it was wartime.

When Hal got out of the service in 1946 they moved to Newburgh where Hal took a job with DuPont. They remained here for 20 years before DuPont transferred Hal to Nashville. After a transfer to New Jersey in 1974, Hal decided to retire and they moved back to Newburgh. Hal passed away in 1990.

Dollie’s younger sister Edna, who was also at Friday’s festivities, lives with her family nearby.

In Newburgh, Dollie and Hal found many ways to give back to the community. She served on the Board of Managers at the Amos & Sarah Holden Home and was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and St. Luke’s Hospital and with numerous committees, events and activities at Moulton Memorial Baptist Church, where she was also the church clerk for 30 years.
“Dollie represents so much, and is so authentic,” said Rev. Dr. Fontella Irons, pastor of Moulton Memorial Baptist Church.

The pastor recalled that Dollie was among the first to welcome her to Newburgh, and first to invite her to sleep over at her house, when she accepted the assignment to Newburgh.

While still commuting to her pastoral assignment, Rev. Irons recalled being invited over to stay the night before an Easter sunrise service. The meal was so filling, that the pastor slept well and almost missed the sunrise service.

Town of Newburgh Supervisor Gil Piaquadio presented her with a proclamation signed by all of the members of the Town Board

“Be it resolved, the Town Board of the Town of Newburgh, on behalf of a grateful public, hereby acknowledges August 1, 2021 as Dollie (Olivia) Leibowitz Day in the Town of Newburgh,” the proclamation read.

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus recognized Dollie as August’s Citizen of the Month.

“We all appreciate Dollie’s many contributions to Orange County and her positive energy and impact,” Neuhaus said. “I enjoyed having the opportunity to spend some time with her and to wish her a happy birthday.”

Chairman of the Orange County Legislature Steve Brescia and Deputy County Clerk Kelly Eskew joined Neuhaus at the event.
State Senator James Skoufis told Dollie that he hopes his four-month-old daughter can aspire to live the good life that the honoree has led.

“You’ve survived two pandemics…,” Skoufis said.

“Three,” she corrected him.

Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson joined the celebration, with a State Assembly proclamation and his own congratulations.

The group shared Dollie’s Pearls of Wisdom, or keys to a long life:
• Care about others
• Have a positive attitude
• Laugh

• Help those in need
• Don’t be critical or judgmental of others

Dollie was asked her secret to a long life.

“I said this in jest on my 100th birthday,” she said, “a good cigar and a bottle of booze.”

After a careful pause, she added one more gem.

“I guess it’s God’s will to keep me here.”