At 100 years old, Alcide Perez still enjoys good conversation.
On Oct. 16, his chat was with Miami Lakes Mayor Josh Dieguez, who stopped by the centenarian’s home on the east side of town in honor of Perez’s birthday.
Joined by longtime friends and family, they celebrated Perez and his long life.
Alcide and his wife Celina, now 95, and daughters Celina and Cecelia came to the United States from Pinar Del Rio, Cuba in 1962.
The family settled in West Hialeah. Perez worked 30 years in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and taught at Southwest Miami Senior High School and later, in South Miami Senior High School, while Celina was a homemaker.
“He still has students that still visit him after 30 years, and call him,” Celina Carpintero said.
Perez had the largest club at Southwest Miami Senior High School, the Spanish Spirit Society, with 300 members, she said.
“He won Teacher of the Year four times and District Teacher of the Year as well,” Carpintero said.
During the birthday gathering, Perez, wearing a Basque beret, sang songs in Spanish while Celina played the piano from memory; the piano is an instrument she studied in Cuba.
“We used to have friends come over and play [their own instruments on Saturdays],” Carpintero said.
She described growing up in a house filled with music and people constantly coming and going.
After Perez retired from the classroom in 1995, the couple moved to Miami Lakes. But they didn’t stay still for long.
They began traveling.
“I would take them to either the airport or the cruise port,” Carpintero said.
When they weren’t off on an adventure, the Perezes cared for their grandchildren.
They enjoy seven grand-children and nine great-grandchildren.
Their love of life may have contributed to their longevity.
Staying active may have done the same.
Until he reached age 87, Perez would average three-mile walks around town.
He drove until he turned 96.
Now friends come to see him, and lovingly refer to him as “Tio” in Spanish, or uncle.