Just 0.003% of Americans reach the age of 105. A former Haddam resident of Turkey Hill Road for more than 75 years, Diana Link hit that milestone birthday on February 5, 2026. Diana (or “Dee” as she is commonly known to her friends) now lives with one of her daughters in New York State. However, when she lived locally, she established a record of civic involvement in Haddam that is hard to believe. For example, she worked in the Haddam school system for more than fifty years, most notably as the first librarian at Burr School from 1971 until her retirement in 1986. In addition, she also served Haddam in the following ways:
Charter member of the Haddam Scholarship Committee
HES PTA member
Burr School Building Committee
10+ years as a 4H Club advisor
10-year member of the Haddam Travel-Camera Club
Member of the Haddam Historical Society
Member of the Haddam Art League
Member of the Haddam Craft Bee Club
Trustee of the Brainerd Memorial Library
Leader of the Friends of Brainerd Library group for decades
Member of the Haddam Bulletin staff
Polling place worker
Lifelong wildlife rehabilitator
I have known Dee for 50 years. We worked on obtaining and evaluating scores of book estates for library fundraisers. She used to drive her Dodge van, and we’d load it up with books for a library sale fundraiser.
One year I was working on a book estate in Ridgefield. Dee (photo above, right, with her daughter, Bobbi) took her van, and I drove my truck with a trailer. We took several trips and brought back about 4,000 books to the old art room in the former Haddam Junior High. Others pitched in as well. Then we had a well-publicized three-day book sale and sold every book. We raised more than $8,400! It was amazing. She was in her mid-80s but commonly worked 10-12 hour days to set up and to run the sale. She always seemed full of energy. Remarkably, at age 89 she did a bungee jump!
Born in Chicago in 1921, Dee moved to the Bronx, New York when she was an infant. Her family maintained a home on Turkey Hill Road when she was growing up. At age 18 she moved full-time to Haddam where she lived for more than 75 years. Friends of the Brainerd Library hosted a 90th birthday party for her in 2011. More than 50 people were delighted to attend and to honor such a quality person. It was great fun.
The Haddam Board of Selectmen proclaimed February 5, 2011 as “Diana Link Day” in Haddam to honor her 90th birthday. A proclamation announcing that honor was read. In part it accurately stated that Diana Link “touches the lives of everyone in Haddam, provides an unmatched example of service to the community, and is an inspiration to all.”
Not many people get to take 105 trips around the sun. Diana Link is one of that very select group, and everyone in Haddam who knows her is absolutely delighted— and not surprised— that she has reached this milestone birthday. Congratulations, Dee!
Photos provided by Philip Devlin
Dee this is Bob Smalley, long retired principal of Burr District Elementary School. Just read the wonderful news of your 105 birthday. Congratulations.