“It all began in Paterson. Sept. 6, 1920,” mused an introspective Viola E. Hatab (born Viola E. Vitale), just one week following her 101st birthday. She gladly shared her story with The SandPaper at her kitchen table in Surf City, where she lives with her daughter and son-in-law, June and Ken Finn.

“First of all, whatever I did, I did in moderation. And I kept active all my life.” To the disappointment of many, Hatab revealed there truly is no secret recipe to living an extraordinarily long…