Celebrating 65 Years of Service!

At 96 years of age, Longwood at Oakmont resident, Mernie Berger, was honored as the very, first member of the Garden Club of Allegheny County (GCAC) to achieve 65 years of active service. For that distinguished length of service she was surprised with an award on behalf of the Garden Club of America at a very special ceremony.

Normally, an award like this would have been given at the annual GCAC June Meeting, but as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions on meetings and gatherings, the GCAC planned a small outdoor group surprise at Mernie’s Longwood at Oakmont residence.

Mernie who joined the Garden Club of Allegheny County (GCAC) in 1955, was humbled by the honor and remarked, “Everyone was so wonderful and kind to hold a ceremony for me, and I was so surprised by the whole thing. I certainly don’t deserve an award, though. I’m just doing what I love and have loved to do my whole life, which is gardening.”

As both a member of the GCAC and the prestigious Carnegie Museum Women’s Committee, Mernie has supported and led countless fundraisers and events throughout Pittsburgh, including the Three Rivers Arts Festival, which she cofounded.

Mernie’s daughter and fellow GCAC member, Mary Knowles Burgess, commented on her mother’s secret to successful living. Mary noted, “I have known my entire life how incredible my mother is, and there is nobody more giving than her. She doesn’t consider her involvement as anything other than doing what she loves and sharing it with those around her. She is inordinately knowledgeable in the field as a gardener and always pitches in to do everything. She is one of the greatest examples I’ve ever had, in spite of also being my mother.”

Interested in learning more about successful living at Longwood at Oakmont? Visit www.LongwoodAtOakmont.com.