BIRTHDAY GIRL

Popular local waitress turns 99

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. >> Ethel DeGroff has a simple strategy for staying happy and healthy.

“I worked from the time I was 17 until I was 80, and I like everybody,” she said, while celebrating her 99th birthday on Wednesday.

A Halfmoon native and long-time Round Lake resident, DeGroff was joined by her daughter, Tina Curcio of Malta, and several dozen friends.

The party was held at Meadow View at Clifton Park, where DeGroff lives.

A popular friendly waitress, well-liked by local residents, DeGroff worked for many years at Snyder’s Restaurant at the intersection of Route 9 and Old Route 146 in Halfmoon.

Her favorite part of the job?

“All the good looking men,” she joked.

Born during World War I, DeGroff lost her father to a tragic accident when she was still a young girl. Going to work as a teen during the Great Depression, her first waitressing job was 60 hours a week.

“I got $3 per week!” she said.

DeGroff graduated from the former Nott Terrace High School, in Schenectady, and married her late husband, Walter, in 1946.

The couple raised their daughter, Tina, while living on English Road in Round Lake.

During her career, DeGroff served thousands of grateful customers and also worked at several other local eateries such as the original Malta Diner, Dunster’s in Malta, the Alibi Restaurant and Bohem’s Brauhaus in Ballston Spa.

But her longest-tenured employment was at Snyder’s.

“Everybody loved her, whoever came in,” said Susan Snyder Ryan, whose fa-

ther opened the restaurant in 1965.

Representatives for Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh and state Senator James Tedisco read official state proclamations honoring DeGroff’s contributions to local community life, in addition to congratulations for her 99th birthday.

Clifton Park Supervisor Phil Barrett turned out, too, to wish DeGroff well.

She has two grandchildren, Tom Curcio of Malta and Trisha Munoz of New Jersey; and two greatgrandchildren, Brodey and Tyler Curcio.

Friends showered DeGroff with cards, balloons and presented her with a large colorful cake.

She only wished for two things.

“I want to stay healthy and I only want the best for my daughter and her family,” DeGroff said.

PHOTOS BY PAUL POST — PPOST@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM Ethel DeGroff holds an official state Assembly proclamation congratulating her on her 99th birthday.

Close friends turned out to help Ethel DeGroff, lower right, celebrate her 99th birthday on Tuesday. At back, left to right, are Carol Yates, Eeleen Williams and Susan Snyder Ryan. At lower left is Yates’s grandson, Trevor Yates.

PAUL POST — PPOST@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM Ethel DeGroff served thousands of customers during her years waitressing at Snyder’s Restaurant in Halfmoon.