Editor’s note: This is part three of a four part series of celebrations that was printed in the January/February 2025 issue of Bethesda Magazine.
The centenarian: Buddy Prensky, 100, was born on July 16, 1924, in Manhattan. He grew up in Brooklyn and joined the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving as a communications sonar officer on the USS Otterstetter during World War II. He married Rhona Perlov in 1951, studied pharmacy at George Washington University and later opened Riggs Manor Pharmacy in Hyattsville, Maryland. The couple and their three kids—David, Jay (who is deceased) and Gail—settled in Chevy Chase in 1959. Rhona died in October 2023 after 72 years of marriage, and Buddy lives on in their family home in the Rollingwood neighborhood.
The plan: For years, the family had tossed around the idea of a 100th birthday block party for Buddy. “As he got closer to 100, it became more serious,” says David, 73, a retired attorney. “It was the one thing he latched onto for a while.” Following Rhona’s death, Buddy, who has dementia that has progressed over the last few years, according to his children, fell into a depression. But the thought of a shindig lifted his spirits, they said. So Gail, 67, and the creator of The Jüdische Kulturbund Project (JKP), which raises awareness about Jewish artists in Germany during the 1930s, 1940s, and contemporary creatives today, enlisted North Bethesda-based Jamie Kramer Events to plan the gathering. The party occurred on July 13, 2024.
The theme: The Caribbean inspiration stemmed from Buddy’s passion for St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, one of the locations the USS Otterstetter passed through during WWII. “He worked very hard all his life, but the one thing that gave him real joy was being on the water,” David says. He loved it so much that he and Rhona honeymooned on the island and eventually bought a condo there. (It’s still in the family.) “It’s fair to say they spent half their life there,” Gail says. Kramer and her vendors brought the theme to life via whimsical elements such as palm tree balloon installations: Plush Decorations used 112 balloons in the design.
The block party prep: Kramer’s no stranger to block parties. “It’s a popular request,” says the veteran event planner. It takes a bit of work—obtaining permits, posting signs, adhering to certain hours—but it’s not that hard, she says. Kramer always uses pop-up tents to ensure efficiency during setup and breakdown. And she follows her own advice: Invite all the neighbors so they don’t get annoyed. This event was easier than most, she says, because the entire community was more than happy to honor Buddy.
The special guests: About 120 people attended, some from as far as California and St. Thomas. Among the notable guests was U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Dist. 8). Raskin recognized Buddy for his 100 years of “devotion to family, friends, community and country.” Beth Klein, executive director of the National Capital Council of the Navy League, presented a plaque commemorating Buddy’s service in the Navy. Gail says she thinks it meant a lot to her father that he got to spend time with his great-grandson Felix, 3, of Pittsburgh.
The music: Kramer hired Caribbean Vibe Steel Drum Band, which she had seen on the Today show years ago, to perform everything from Caribbean music to contemporary hits. They provided the music as everyone sang “Happy Birthday.” For Gail, the band was a highlight because it reminded Buddy of St. Thomas.
The food trucks: Gail and David wanted a smattering of food trucks to provide a range of cuisines, from Asian to Mexican. Crowd-pleasing slices were served by Pizza Llama, a connection of Gail’s. “It was such a novelty for many people—a fun way to eat,” she says of the trucks.
The cake: David is a longtime fan of Arlington, Virginia-based Pastries by Randolph (he likes to pick up their challah before Friday visits with Buddy). So he tapped the bakery to make a massive sheet cake, complete with a photo of Buddy in front of his condo on St. Thomas.
The lasting memories: Buddy was comfortably situated under a shady tree for the party, and friends and family visited with him throughout the day. “Buddy acted like he knew everybody and was so happy,” says David, who loved how engaged his dad was. “It was like he was holding court: People sat with him and came by. It was everything we’d hoped for.”
Vendors: Balloon installations, Plush Decorations; cake, Pastries by Randolph; catering (food trucks), Sweet Chili Asian Cuisine, Pizza Llama and Surfside; digital photo gallery, GuestPix; hotel block, Marriott Bethesda Downtown; invitations, Paperless Post; music, Caribbean Vibe Steel Drum Band; planning and design, Jamie Kramer Events; staff and bartending, Prestige; tents and rentals, Sammy’s Rental; video booth, Dan Goldman Events.
