Monroe Weller Celebrates 100 Years

• Name: Monroe Weller
• Date of Birth: February 27, 1911
• Age: 100
• Part of Town: Has lived in Longview in Montville since 1998. He was born on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. His parents then moved the family to Coney Island, then New Jersey, and then to Maine. At 12 his family moved him back to New Jersey where he was dubbed a “Maine-iac” because of the New England accent he had developed while living up north.
• About Montville:  Weller likes the layout of the town, he has made nice friends here, “the politicians are not too bad,” and he has found great medical care in the area.
• Early Township Connection: When he was 17 years old, Weller flew small planes at a little airstrip that was located in Pine Brook. His father had been a WWI flying ace. It was in Pine Brook that Weller met the Medal of Honor recipient and Army Air Force aviation pioneer, General Jimmy Doolittle.
• Family: Weller and his wife, Naomi, have been married 72 years. They have two children, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. “I think we keep each other on our toes,” said Naomi, who is only 95. She was a German teacher and department chairperson. Their son, Dr. Daniel Weller, is a dentist, and their daughter, Judy Paster, is a math teacher in Montville High School.  
• Career:  During WWII Weller began his career teaching aeronautics at a private school. Later, while teaching math, engineering, and physics, at Rutgers University, he also taught night classes, for returning GI’s, who were studying for the GED’s, at Barringer High School in Newark. Ultimately, Weller enjoyed 33 years of teaching at what he calls, “The MIT of New Jersey,” Newark College of Engineering, which later became known as NJIT.  
• Best Year: Weller was “very happy” when he received his first degree, “so happy” when he was awarded his second degree, and “terrifically happy” when he married Naomi.
• Best Memory:  Was thrilled when his daughter was named Teacher of the Year, for a Best Practice Application in the State of New Jersey, and when his son was named Top Dentist in New Jersey by his peers. “Those are lovely thoughts,” said Weller.
• Biggest Surprise: “The biggest surprise?” Weller asked. “I am amazed at what is going on in this world. Unbelievable why people can’t get together.” He added that at 50, he would never have believed that there would still be so much unrest in the world.
• Philosophy: In addition to good genes, Weller says there are four keys to his longevity.
  • #1: “I met the right gal.”
  • #2: “I chose the correct, a good, profession.”
  • #3: “I have two lovely children and, too, their spouses.”
  • #4: “I’m fortunate with the doctors we have.”
• Hobbies: Scouting. “I love camping,” said Weller. Weller is an Eagle Scout. While attending Camp Mohican, in Blairstown, NJ, he broke the national record for Fire by Friction, Flint and Steel. He was also named one of the youngest American Red Cross Life Savers at the age of 15, and he served as the camp’s bugler.
• On Being 100: "You feel very free, you're not tied down so much," said Weller.

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