BIOGRAPHY

Florence Foster was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on 13 June 1911. Her parents, Alexander and Victoria Dadoorian, were Armenian immigrants who had arrived in the United States a year before their daughter’s birth. Her career as a singer began when she was just five years old, when she performed to raise money for orphans in Armenia. A few years later, she sang on a street corner to sell World War I bonds. As a young adult, her professional singing career led to her performing in vaudeville, before meeting her husband, a trumpet player named Arnold Foster. The couple were married on 28 March 1939 in Dade County, Florida.

She attributed her longevity to the genes she had inherited from her grandparents, as both of her parents died in their 60s. At the time of her 100th birthday in 2011, she was still living independently in her own home, and would often sing in nursing homes with her church group.

She passed away in Bradenton, Florida, USA on 24 July 2021 at the age of 110 years, 42 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Stefan Maglov, and was validated by LongeviQuest on 23 April 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Singing Centenarian Still Going Strong” – Patch 17 June 2011

* “Bradenton woman celebrates milestone birthday” – ABC7, 14 June 2021

GALLERY