SACO — Richard Dabrowski sat in a common room at Seal Rock at Atlantic Heights Monday afternoon, surrounded by people, among them friends, fellow residents and the mayor of Saco.

“Today’s a wonderful day,” said Dabrowski. “All these nice people have come.”

They came to honor Dabrowski, who turned 102 in March, as the eldest resident of Saco, presenting him with a hand-carved mahogany cane, carved by local resident Ernie Merritt.

Dabrowski is the first recipient of a cane from Merritt in the newly established program.

Mayor Don Pilon said Merritt approached him earlier this year and asked him about starting a cane program, giving a hand-carved cane to the oldest person in the city, with the cane staying in the family after the recipient dies. Merritt, who is a member of the Southern Maine Chronic Pain Association, said he wanted to bring awareness to the group.

“I thought, ”˜That’s a great idea,’” said Pilon, and city staff did some research.

“We found the oldest person in town,” he said. “We found Richard.”

Longevity runs in the Dabrowski family, as Dabrowski’s son, also named Richard, said his grandfather and great-grandfather were Boston Cane recipients.

When asked what his secret to longevity was, Dabrowski joked, “I’ve breathed air for a long time.”

Dabrowski followed the Dean Ornish diet for many years, according to his son, and walked on a treadmill regularly. Dabrowski lived on his own until he had a stroke at the age of 101.

Dabrowski retired to Kennebunkport in the 1980s. A noted artist, he was very involved in the community until his stroke, after which he moved to Seal Rock.

“He had the most active retirement you can imagine,” said his son.

Dabrowski once designed mannequin heads and he worked at Raytheon Company in Massachusetts for many years. He also served as a captain in the Signal Corps in World War II in Alaska, according to his son.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].