“This is my kind of music,” exclaimed Marie Venditti, the Johnston Senior Center’s activities director. “I love Jerry Vale!”
Venditti and many others enjoyed a musical trip back in time – courtesy of Warwick resident and entertainer extraordinaire Joe Martini – last Friday during what center Executive Director Anthony Zompa called “our regular lunch that included a trial-run-like musical backdrop.”
It seems as though Millie Santilli, the center’s assistant director, was dining with friends in Warwick and heard Martini’s music, which includes volumes and volumes of songs from the 1940s through the 1970s.
And although last Friday’s lunch was more like an indoor cookout featuring hot dogs and hamburgers, Santilli decided to book Martini – who owns and operates Remember When disc jockey and entertainment services – for the event.
“This man is indeed a great entertainer,” Zompa said after listening to Martini’s unique musical selection. “And these people are really into it; look at all their smiles.”
Martini’s music included songs from artists such as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, the Beach Boys and many more.
There were two other interesting sides to Martini’s musical visit to the center.
He came bearing mini-gifts – things like fold-out, hand-held fans he personally presented to a number of the ladies, and poker-chip key chains for the men, who also enjoyed each and every song Martini played.
“Our weekly card players who came early also loved Joe’s musical presentation,” Zompa said. “He gave our people and valued seniors a real treat.”
Likewise, Martini brought along his dog Broadie, who looks like a collie but is an extremely well groomed Shetland sheepdog.
“Oh, he’s so cute,” Venditti told Martini while she and others admired Broadie before and during the luncheon.
Santilli, meanwhile, heaped words of praise upon Martini.
“Joe was new to the center, but he made a lasting impression on all of us,” she said. “He entertained us with trivia games that revolved around a variety of songs from old to new, and he gave prizes to the winners. He made the day special.”
Other attendees also raved about the day’s menu, which began with a bowl of snacks on each table top and included lemonade, cole slaw, and a choice of a hot dog or hamburger on a roll, corn on the cob and freshly-cut ice cold watermelon.
People danced and others clapped in unison to Martini’s music while volunteer servers like Carol Manni, Beneitia Johnson, Karla Roper, Connie Laorenza, Regina Rega, Barbara Santa Maria and Robert Stezzo and the JSC’s Dietary Manager Brenda Martin cleared the way for a special treat.
“We’re having ice cream sundaes for dessert,” Santilli said while greeting Nicole Tartaglione and Ryan Whalen who were setting up a special serving and display table.
“They’re from Genesis HealthCare on Plainfield Pike in Greenville and are donating the ice cream and toppings today.”
For the next 15 minutes or so, Tartaglione, who is an LPN and admissions director at Genesis HealthCare, and Whalen, who’s the food service director, scooped out three different flavors of ice cream.
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