1. Oral History Archive
  2. Fred Sorocki

Fred Sorocki

101-year-old reveals the Coney Island secret to longevity

Interviewer:
Charles Denson
Interviewee:
Fred Sorocki
Interview Date:
June 2026

Languages

English

Interview Highlight Bookmarks

  • Being 101 years old
    •
  • Moved to Coney Island
    •
  • 1932 fire
    •
  • Coney Bungalows
    •
  • Swimming in Coney Island Creek
    •
  • Working on the rides
    •
  • Coney Island during the depression
    •
  • Trolley cars on Railroad Avenue
    •
  • Surf Theater
    •
  • Cold water swimming for heath. The Iceberg and Polar Bear clubs
    •
  • Drafted in World War Two
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  • Became a vegetarian in 1960
    •
  • Polar Club vs. Icebergs
    •
  • Joe Rollino
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  • Working on the rides
    •
  • Moving to Sea Gate
    •
  • Fred and Donald Trump
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  • Draft Board at the Half Moon Hotel.
  • Urban renewal and closure of Steeplechase Park
    •
  • Meeting Brooklyn Dodger Pee Wee Reese at the Tornado
  • Wife Ann joins the Polar Bear Club
    •

    101-year-old World War Two veteran Fred Sorocki grew up in Coney Island and lived there for 61 years. Fred is a cold water swimmer and former member of the polar bear club and the Coney Island Icebergs. He’s also a life-long vegetarian. In this interview he describes how his family moved to a Coney Island bungalow in 1932, meeting Pee Wee Reese on the Tornado Roller Coaster, and how cold water swimming leads to longevity.