Angelo Chiarot has seen a lot in his 97 years but perhaps few things warmed his heart as much as seeing the community turn out for his birthday celebration on Saturday.

Chiarot lives at Mountview Senior Living facility on Honolulu Avenue and, according to his grandson Robert Wollenweber, things have become rather stale at the facility since the pandemic hit.

“With this quarantine, he is extremely bored in his room,” said Wollenweber.

So members of the local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, which Chiarot is still an active member of, coordinated with Mountview a drive-by birthday celebration for him. And to make it extra special, AL/VFW members Jack Wunderlich and Chuck Hughes arranged to have the Glendale Fire and Police departments and the CV Sheriff’s Station participate.

“Grandpa Angelo was extremely happy to have so much attention on his 97th birthday,” said Wollenweber in an email.

And in case anyone was wondering if the gesture was appreciated, Wollenweber added, “Two of the younger female family members were in tears with emotions from the event.”

Photos by Dick CLUBB and Mary O’KEEFE

  Dick CLUBB, Mary Okeefe