Longwood residents dance through the decades at senior prom

Eckard Münck had never been to a prom before, but that changed Saturday night.

Münck and about 130 other residents at the Longwood senior retirement community in Oakmont danced the night away at a senior prom held at the facility.

“It’s the first time I heard the words, ‘wrist corsage,’ ” said Münck, who attended high school in Germany. His school did not have a prom.

Emma Winkler and Alex Merlino, both 16-year-old Longwood employees, came up with the idea for the prom. They have worked at the facility for only six months, but they quickly developed a bond with the residents and wanted to plan a fun event for them, said Winkler, an Oakland Catholic High School 10th grader.

“We made really good relationships with the residents here, and we wanted to do something for them,” said Winkler, of Cheswick.

To prepare, Winkler and Merlino advertised the event throughout the senior-living community and solicited donations from businesses in Oakmont. Winkler estimated more than 10 Oakmont businesses donated.

“The stores … we got donations from are excited (for the event),” said Merlino, who lives in Oakmont and is a 10th grader at Central Catholic High School.

The pair coordinated a photo booth, basket raffle, appetizers and a DJ. They even had “dance cards” placed at each seat, an ode to a prom tradition where promgoers could keep track of dance partners and corresponding dances.

“Every aspect of this, Emma and Alex have been wonderful,” said Bruce Harris, Longwood’s assistant culinary director.

Merlino noted it is prom season for local high schools, and having a senior prom for Longwood residents is fitting. He also said Longwood recently lifted its covid social distancing restrictions, and residents were looking forward to interacting in bigger groups again.

Longwood resident Barbetha Miller also noted the excitement of having a larger event at the facility since the covid pandemic. She attended her high school prom in Baltimore in 1951, then her college prom in 1955 at Western Maryland College, now McDaniel College.

“This is a true senior prom,” Miller said.

The prom’s theme was “Dancing Through the Decades.” Winkler said there are many different ages represented at Longwood. Music included songs from the 1950s, ’60s and ‘70s.

On the dance floor, Charles Ashe and Sheila Bain said they enjoyed the event. Bain attended her high school prom in 1958 at Wesleyville High School, near Erie.

“I was excited,” Bain said. She noted that, before this prom, other women were discussing what they should wear to the dance.

Stan and Maryan Yoder went to the senior prom to support Merlino and Winkler, Stan Yoder said. He went to his high school prom in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1949; Maryan attended hers in 1947 at Shade High School in Somerset County.

Maryan Yoder said she enjoyed watching people dance.

Merlino said a lot of people were excited to attend another prom.

“They’re already asking about next year’s event,” he said.