Community is the secret to Hoboken’s livelihood. It’s a small world of colorful personalities, familiar faces, and shared history. And nobody knows that better than Poppy, Hoboken’s 100-year-old resident and war veteran. John A. Zarro, known affectionately as Poppy, is a Jersey City native who has spent the past few years embracing Hoboken life.
Poppy sat down with HG to tell his story of spending a century in New Jersey and the Hudson County area. From one-of-a-kind stories to life advice, he had a lot to share. Poppy was born in Jersey City on January 27th, 1926, and grew up on Bergen Avenue, by St. Aedan’s Church.
