38 / matters magazine / winter 2019 petting zoo during intermission. For details, visit sosym- phony.org. Progressive The- ater Company, a new nonprofit theater compa- ny formed by Maplewood resident Gregory Omar Os- borne, will celebrate Black History Month with a produc- tion of Kirsten Childs’ Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, star- ring Jasmin Richardson, at the Burg- dorff Center for Performing Arts in Maplewood February 16 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and February 17 at 2 p.m. The launch of The Progressive Theater Company, which aims to tell cultural- ly-enriched stories that empower peo- ple of color and captivate all audiences, was made possible through the sup- port of the South Orange/Maplewood Coalition on Race and Maplewood Township. For details and tickets, call 862-283-1235 or visit gregoryomaros- borne.com/progress. The Maplewood Green Team will hold a meeting February 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Maplewood Memorial Library. The Society of Musical Arts will hold a free concert, A Celebration of Viennese Classical Masters, February 24 at 3 p.m., with Stephen Culbertson conducting. Local piano virtuoso Drew Petersen is the guest soloist. The Society has outgrown its venue at Maplewood Middle School and is now performing in the Maurice Levin Theater at the JCC Metrowest, 760 Northfield Ave- nue, West Orange. The orchestra hopes its Maplewood/South Orange followers seek out the new space. For details, visit somaorchestra.org. Seton Hall University’s Theatre program presents Approximating Moth- er, by Kathleen Tolan, February 28, March 1 and March 2 at 8 p.m. and March 3 at 2 p.m. at the Theatre-in- the-Round at Seton Hall University. In this contemporary comedy about today’s maternity boom, two women, friends from the city, and a pregnant midwestern teenager discuss the pros and cons of parenting, motherhood and shady adoptions. Admission is free. The play is presented by the Seton Hall Univer- sity Arts Council, part of the College of Commu- nications and the Arts. For details, visit shu.edu/ theatre/season-production- schedule.cfm. The Achieve Founda- tion is seeking volunteer hosts for its signature fun- draiser, Nights of 100 Dinners. Last year, this event brought more than 1000 friends and neigh- bors together across SOMA to more than 40 private gatherings. The concept is sim- ple: private hosts open their homes to friends and neighbors for a party or event. The theme can be anything – karaoke, a dinner party with wine pair- ings, pizza & movie with kids, game Tap dancer Karen Calla- way Williams will perform with the South Orange Symphony at its con- cert February 10 at South Orange Middle School. The new Progressive Theater Company, formed by Maplewood resident Gregory Omar Osborne, will pres- ent Kirsten Childs’ Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chame- leon Skin, starring Jasmin Richardson, at the Burgdorff Center February 16 and 17. Drew Peterson will be the guest soloist at the Society of Musical Arts concert Febru- ary 24 at the Maurice Levin Theater, JCC Metrowest, 760 Northfield Avenue, West Orange. At 102, Bill Hildebrand is one of Maplewood's centenarians who still lives on his own. The proud owner of a colonial since 1960, Matters Magazine profiled him on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Two years later Bill has checked in with us again, thankful for a full life, his only complaint being his failing eyesight. Hildebrand wrote us this note sketch- ing out a life that has been well-lived. William Baldwin Hildebrand was born on Summer Avenue in Newark, NJ to Her- man and Juanita Aston Hildebrand on October 22, 1916. They moved to 413 Centre Street, South Orange, in 1921. He grew up with his brother Bob and sisters Sue and Jan. Both were into athletics at Columbia High School. Bob was captain of the undefeated 1936 football team. Both boys were members of the track team. Bill ran the quarter mile and the long jump. During his junior and senior year, he coached football for the 6th and 7th graders in the South Orange Maplewood district. On February 1942 he entered the U.S. Army and served under General George S. Patton, 4th Armored Division. He served in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Czechoslovakia. He received the Presidential Unit Citation, three Battle Stars, the Bronze Star and Victory Medal. He came home in December, 1945. On June 7, 1947, he married Jane Marilyn Brodie of East Orange. They had three children, Bill Jr., June and Marilyn. Bill was employed at the Walworth Company, a valve manufacturer, for 31 years as an estimator. Retiring in 1978 he then joined a family business, The Evergreen Development, in Roanoke, Virginia, where he served on the board of directors as vice president for 15 years. He took up a hobby of repairing and making clocks for his family and friends. He has 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. His daughter June DeRose hosted a birthday dinner at her home in Long Valley, NJ. Bill says with a grin, “It was a wonderful life.” A Favorite Centenarian Shares his Story Bill Hildebrand at 102 BY ELLEN DONKER Bill was on the Columbia HIgh School track team. He competed in the long jump and quarter mile. Photo by Chad Hunt continued from p. 8