CHICAGO — A retired Chicago Public Schools teacher and lifelong Chicagoan celebrated her 109th birthday with friends and family on Sunday.
Daisy Driss was born Jan. 1, 1907, the year in which the Cubs won their first World Series, before there were 50 states and while Theodore Roosevelt was president. On Sunday, she was joined by her family and friends — with Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) among them — for cake at Ann Sather, 909 W. Belmont, a restaurant she's loved for decades.
Driss and many of her relatives, including three sisters, pursued teaching in the city. The Lakeview resident who was born in Hyde Park taught first and second graders in Austin until she had to retire in 1971. She loved teaching reading and continues to read and listen to the news regularly.
In her teaching days, Driss loved when students "blossomed, and they learned ... when they gave back what I had given to them," she said. "It was wonderful."
Jan Bensdorf, Driss' great-niece, said her aunt used to bring home her work: She read with family and would help Bensdorf's daughter with coloring. Driss loves to keep up with people, Bensdorf said.
In fact, one of Driss' students from decades ago bumped into the family, recognized her and visited with her for Passover Seder just a few years ago, Bensdorf said.
"She's very interested in other people, and she keeps up with what other people are doing," Bensdorf said. "We talk all the time about what's new in the world. ... It's great fun."
And Driss had advice for current teachers: "Be kind," she said, and don't be too hard on students.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
