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Woman marks 100th birthday with skydive

Eleanor Cunningham and tandem master Dean McDonald make a safe landing at Saratoga Skydiving Adventures in Gansevoort, N.Y., on Saturday. (Associated Press)
Associated Press
Eleanor Cunningham and tandem master Dean McDonald make a safe landing at Saratoga Skydiving Adventures in Gansevoort, N.Y., on Saturday. (Associated Press)

GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – Eleanor Cunningham of Howes Cave, New York, has bested former President George H.W. Bush.

He celebrated his 90th birthday by skydiving; she made the big leap to mark her centennial.

Cunningham kissed her 7-month-old great-great-granddaughter before suiting up for her 100th birthday jump Saturday at Saratoga Skydiving in Gansevoort. It was her third jump, after taking up the sport at age 90.

Cunningham lives with her granddaughter in their Schoharie County home in central New York. Her doctor signed off on the skydiving expedition, saying her health makes her more than capable of doing what she loves.

Dean McDonald of Saratoga Skydiving said Cunningham is his oldest jump partner yet.