Lynn man celebrates his 100th birthday happily

LYNN – Adam Mednis? doctor always joked that if any of his patients lived to be 100, he?d be awarded with a toaster. And now, he finally has one.On Monday afternoon, Mednis, a resident of Phillips Manor Nursing Home in Lynn, gathered with family and friends to celebrate his 100th birthday.?I can?t ask for anything,” Mednis said, noting how good he feels for the ripe age of 100. “I don?t have any aches or pains!”Mednis, who family members call “an incredible influence for good,” was the second of three children born to Latvia immigrants. Growing up in Boston, he began playing the violin at 8, forming a musical trio with his brother and sister. He said they even got some airtime on an early television program.In 1929, Mednis graduated from Boston Latin, where he was part of the track team and served as concertmaster in 1928 and 1929. Over 80 years later he still reeks of school spirit and pointed out his prized golden class ring, which he still wears.?You know, girls would borrow this for two or three months at a time,” Mednis joked. “I can?t believe I actually got it back.”Mednis graduated from Northeastern University in 1939 with a degree in business – though he says he should have majored in music, but doesn?t dwell on mistakes. He then served in the Coast Guard until 1946.He continued to hone his musical skills by playing what he called “long-hair music,” or the classics, on his violin and singing with different choruses. In 1952, he performed in Paris and continued to sing in the choir at Lynn?s First Lutheran Church until a few years ago.Mednis also owned his own business, A.A. Light Delivery, which he called an “early version of UPS.”?Except I delivered the same day. They deliver the second day,” Mednis said.After retiring in the 1980s, Mednis moved to Lynn, where he worked for several years as a greeter at Walmart.A living piece of history, Mednis? memory is sharp and filled with the dates and events that shaped America. Although he was only 7 at the time, he said he remembers the end of World War I. “I remember some of the songs from it and I know we won it,” Mednis said.Along with his great sense of humor, Mednis attributes his longevity to the science of nutrition and his family, including his three nephews, Phil Mednis, Gerald Ashby and the late Paul Mednis as well as his 6 grand-nieces and nephews and four great grand-nieces and nephews.?I have a good family. They held me up,” Mednis explained. “They dress me up now so I look normal!”As for his words of wisdom, Mednis offered this: “Follow God?s laws, including the laws of nutrition, and respect your body. You are what you eat!”