According to the latest estimates, one in three babies born today will live to see their 100th birthday. Stephen Chromiak, of North Catasauqua, celebrated his 100th birthday Jan. 31.

Stephen was born of Slovak immigrants in their home on Limestone Street in Catasauqua. He is the youngest and last surviving of eight siblings.

He graduated from Catasauqua High School in 1938 and then worked as a mechanic at Bethlehem Steel for 24 years.

The Chromiak siblings were a tight-knit family. With Stephen’s mechanic abilities he acquired throughout the years, he and his brothers built five family homes, including his own home, during the 1950s.

In his younger years, Stephen loved to dance and traveled to dance and listen to big band groups in the area. He also bowled in the Thursday night Coplay Saengerbund bowling league for more than 40 years.

Stephen’s passion was golf. He started playing golf at the Old Lehigh Country Club in 1936, where he caddied, tended the driving range and practiced golf for hours on end. His golf talent grew, and he turned professional in 1958, acquiring his Professional Golfer’s Association card in 1969. In 1969, he also became pro-manager of Willow Brook Golf Course.

While at Willow Brook, he instructed hundreds of people in golf, fitted golfers with equipment, ran yearly club tournaments, held several night golf charity benefits and oversaw the Suburban North Family YMCA Miller-Danko tournament.

Stephen was known for his spiffy golf attire and assortment of matching hats. Astonishingly, he had four hole-in-ones during his career. He often said his four hole-in-ones were one for each of his daughters.

Stephen retired from Willow Brook in 1995.

During his retirement years, he spent most of his time maintaining his and his wife’s farm, North Oaks, in Danielsville. He continued to play golf until he was 90. He cut the farm lawn until he was 98.

Stephen and Sally, his wife of 66 years, have four daughters, Gail Carpency, Lynn Burkit and Janice Frantz, all of Danielsville, and Karen Hendricks, of Northampton. They also have nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

North Catasauqua Mayor William Molchany proclaimed Jan. 31 as Stephen Chromiak Day in the borough.

His celebration included a drive-by, brunch and fireworks. An extended family and friends celebration will be held at the family farm this summer.