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WORCESTER – Thursday, June 1, 2023 – A 102-year-old Worcester resident received an honorary high school diploma on Thursday, June 1, from the Worcester School Committee, Mayor Joseph Petty, and Superintendent Rachel Monárrez.
Antoinette “Ginger” Rinaldi was born on January 8, 1921, to Italian immigrants. She grew up on Shrewsbury Street, where she still lives today.
At age 12, Mrs. Rinaldi worked as a nanny. At 14, she became one of the first women to work at the American Steel and Wire Company. She later became a seamstress at Worcester Knitting.
Later, after the birth of her two sons, Mrs. Rinaldi served as a cafeteria worker at Forest Grove Junior High School and at Doherty Memorial High School. She was instrumental in developing and coordinating food distribution for the Head Start Program.
Mrs. Rinaldi was also active with her church, Elder Services of Worcester, and Worcester Senior Center, coordinating or volunteering in numerous volunteer outreach efforts. She previously received the American Red Cross Disaster Services Award for helping families affected by the Cold Storage Fire that claimed the lives of six Worcester firefighters in 1999. She was previously recognized with the Key to the City of Worcester and the Distinguished Citizen from The Sons and Daughters of Italy.