WILKES- BARRE — At 100 years old, former Rockette Ceil Modrick is as lively as ever.

Modrick began dancing for the Rockettes the first year they began performing at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in 1932. She was with the Rockettes on opening night and danced with them for three years.

“It was so fun and they paid high money,” Modrick said while laughing. “When you’re young, you get paid well, it’s when you get older you’re not so lucky.”

To celebrate this milestone birthday, North Penn Manor held a celebration for Modrick Thursday evening full of cake, dance performances and gifts.

Young dancers from the David Blight School of Dance provided entertainment for Modrick and the rest of the North Penn Manor residents.

Modrick sat front row center wearing a large birthday hat and a cupcake-shaped “Happy Birthday” balloon tied to her chair.

The first group of dancers, The Ring Pops, were announced as “the closest thing Wilkes-Barre has to the Rockettes.” They showed off their high kicks and quick tapping in tribute to Modrick’s successful career.

Modrick clapped when she was particularly impressed by a dance move and tapped her foot along with the beat of the music.

“I love that she’s still young at heart. She still loves men, at her age,” said friend and caretaker, Carol Stachyra. “She fusses with her hair, loves makeup and getting her nails done.”

Stachyra will take Modrick to lunch and to the nail salon, but Modrick’s favorite pastime is her monthly outing to gamble at the casino.

Modrick was born in Lansford, Carbon County, on Nov. 20, 1914. She is the only surviving sibling of eight children.

Her parents sent her to work for a Jewish family in New York when she was about 10 years old, which was when she got her true start in dancing.

“When she was a Rockette, they weren’t allowed to date. They were very strict and you had to go by their rules,” Stachyra said. “Ceil never was married or had children.”

After Modrick left the Rockettes she continued to dance for about nine years, while also taking modeling jobs. She was hired at prestigious supper clubs such as the Latin Quarter and Copacabana in New York City and Cocoanut Grove in Boston.

“She was married to show business,” said George Soberick, Modrick’s nephew. “She bragged at 70 that she could still do the high kicks. She’d try to do it today if you asked her.”

Later on in life, Modrick chose to purchase and manage her own supper club in Northeastern Pennsylvania and a Carvel in Wilkes-Barre. She lived in Kingston and Plymouth before moving into the North Penn Manor senior living home after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Everybody who has ever known my aunt loves her to death. She is a lovely, lovely individual,” said niece, Diane Evans. “I don’t think she has ever said anything mean about anyone.”

After the dancers finished their performance at the senior home, everyone sang “Happy Birthday” as she blew out her candles, one for every decade.

“She’s just the sweetest thing. She’s very proud of her career and she has wonderful manners,” Stachyra said. “The poise that she has today at 100 years old ... she’s amazing.”

Modrick received birthday letters from the president and first lady of the United States, as well as Sen. Bob Casey. Her final surprise was a photo of the current Rockettes gifted by the Rockette Alumnae Association.

“It’s funny, when Ceil was young they were worried about her health. She was born only a year after my mother, so they might have called her a preemie today,” Soberick said. “And now she’s lived to 100 years old.”

cjacobson@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2061