With nearly 102 years of life experiences, Rose Tomits maintains more memories than many people could even fathom, most of which relate to her hometown of Mansfield.
Tomits grew up on Richland Avenue, off of Sturges Avenue and Wood Street and later moved to Mendota Street.
Born in Germany, Tomits moved to Mansfield with her father and mother when she was 1 year old. Although she’s not sure how her parents landed on Mansfield, Ohio, she commented, “They loved it here.”
Her father worked at Ohio Brass and her mother kept house. Tomits said that her parents attended a school for immigrants so that they could learn to speak English.
She remembers when her father purchased a Victrola phonograph and he would play German music in the house.
“We didn’t have whole lot of fancy stuff, but what we had we enjoyed,” Tomits said.
Tomits attended Mansfield St. Peter’s Parish and School. She noted that church building is just one year older than her.
After graduation, she worked at Westinghouse for five years. During that time, she witnessed the devastating effect that the Great Depression had on the economy. “Count your blessings for what you have,” she advised.
She was married at 23 to Latzi Tomits, who worked as a barber. Together, they had three children: Carol, Judy, and John.
To help pay for her son’s way through college, she worked at the Mansfield City School’s cafeteria, she recollected.
She said that her son went on to become a high school principal. “I was so proud of him,” Tomits said.
Among the most drastic changes that she has witnessed throughout her life pertains to transportation.
“When we were little, we didn’t know what it was to ride a street car or bus. We walked to St. Peter’s School every day of the week and never thought anything of it,” she said.
And yet, nothing has changed the way she feels about Mansfield.
“Mansfield has been good to me,” she said. “I love this town.”
Tomits currently spends some of her time at the Lexington Senior Civic Center. “I have a lot of fun down here,” she said. “There’s good conversation.”
She will be celebrating her 102nd birthday on Sept. 20. She mentioned that no one in her family has ever lived as long as her.
Summing up her life story she said, “It’s been a good life, and I have no complaints.”
“When we were little, we didn’t know what it was to ride a street car or bus. We walked to St. Peter’s School every day of the week and never thought anything of it,” she said.
