In an era when few people could even imagine identical triplets surviving infancy, Catherine, Marguerite and Frances Kirchner quietly made history. Born on August 23, 1920, in Brooklyn to a mother who had no idea she was carrying three babies, the sisters have now reached their 100th year together — and along the way they’ve turned their family story into living legend.
Raised in the modest community of Floral Park, New York, the Kirchner sisters came of age during the Great Depression. Like many children of that time, they learned thrift and resilience early. They sewed their own clothes, shared chores, and often appeared in public dressed alike — a visual reminder of their unbreakable bond. By the time the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States entered World War II, the triplets were young women watching the world transform around them.
All three attended William Smith College, graduating in 1942 at the height of wartime uncertainty. In a twist of fate befitting their synchronized lives, each fell in love with a student from neighboring Hobart College. Marriages followed, then careers in teaching — an occupation that allowed them to channel their energy and discipline into shaping the next generation. Even as adults, their lives remained intertwined, with family gatherings serving as both tradition and testimony to their extraordinary closeness.
Sports were another shared passion. Frances in particular was known for her athletic drive, playing golf and tennis well into her eighties. The sisters credit their active lifestyles with helping them stay healthy and engaged. Between them, they raised a remarkable legacy: fifteen children, twenty grandchildren and one great-grandchild — a living family tree rooted in one improbable pregnancy a century ago.
Asked for their secret to longevity, the triplets keep it simple: “Good genes” and a commitment to staying active. That explanation rings true; longevity runs deep in their bloodline. Their older sister Grace Haddad, now 93, lives independently on Long Island, reinforcing the family’s reputation for healthy aging.
Beyond genetics, though, there’s an intangible strength to the Kirchner sisters. They endured Depression-era austerity, witnessed global war, and adapted to decades of social change, yet remained true to the values instilled in them as girls: hard work, education, and family first. Their story offers a living counterpoint to a fast-changing world — a reminder that stability, loyalty and shared history can still shape a meaningful life.
Today the Kirchner triplets stand as symbols of resilience and unity. One hundred years on, their lives trace the arc of American history itself — from horse-drawn milk deliveries to smartphones, from ration books to digital classrooms. Through it all they’ve stood side by side, sisters first, icons second. As their sprawling family gathers to celebrate each milestone, one truth remains clear: Catherine, Marguerite and Frances have not only witnessed a century, they’ve filled it with love, laughter and a legacy that will echo for generations.