Senior Center hosts Father’s Day Luncheon

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The Johnston Senior Center’s annual Father’s Day Luncheon will be remembered for fun, food, and familiar faces, as well as an introduction of two people who helped make the day extra special.

Dietary manager Brenda Martin and volunteer servers like Connie Laorenza, Carol Nanni, Barbara Santa Maria, Linda Benoit, and Roberta Strezo made sure each of the dear old dads enjoyed their lunch, which was prepared in part by chef Joe Fanning and included pasta and bean soup, pot roast with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, and Spumoni ice cream.

The center’s “Cribbage Crew” – 101-year-old Orlando Ricci, Carmine Spinella, Harlan Hersey, William Doboszynski, Ray Landry, and Angelo Gazzerro – began last Friday the same way as they’ve done for many moons, with their friendly game. It continued until lunch was served, and was played with background music provided by the center’s special guest and long-time disc jockey Jimmy Tunes.

“His real name is Jim Fuoco,” Millie Santilli, the center’s assistant director, said while chatting with long-time volunteer handyman Chris Giardina. “He used to own Tunes Bar on Plainfield Street.”

And as has been the case with other senior center entertainers, Jimmy Tunes treated the dads – and even some moms – to a variety of old-time tunes that seemingly everyone inside the multi-purpose room could sing word for word.

The day’s official greeting came from a familiar face, Ellen Trementozzi, who recently assumed the role of center program coordinator – a title that was formerly held by Marie Venditti, who has decided to retire.

“Good afternoon and welcome everyone,” Trementozzi said. “Happy Father’s day to all our fantastic fathers, and please enjoy the day.”

It wasn’t long thereafter that Trementozzi conducted the center’s traditional raffle held during such special occasions.

“If you thought today’s luncheon was special,” Giardina told Joe Teolis, another of the center’s volunteers, “just wait until next Friday.”

Giardina was speaking of tomorrow’s annual Nifty Nineties Luncheon, at which all the day’s honorees – who Santilli noted “must be at least 90 years old or older – will be treated like royalty.

“We will have 50 participants Friday,” Santilli said of the day’s grand guests who are all age 90 or over. “We have a special day and lunch planned for our Nifty Nineties.”

For starters, the center’s longtime friend Linda Giorgio, who serves as marketing director at Golden Crest Nursing Centre in North Providence, has made arrangements for each of the Nifty Nineties to have a special photo taken before lunch.

“We can’t thank Linda enough for her many ongoing contributions to our special theme days,” Santilli said. “Words alone cannot thank Linda and the Pezzelli family that owns and operates Golden Crest.”

Diane Miller, who has photographed the Nifty Nineties celebration in previous years, will have special equipment set up for the pictures that will be given to the day’s honored guests as they leave the center.

“It is remarkable to see how many people have reached the milestone,” said center Executive Director Tony Zompa. “It gives us a new outlook on what the benefits are for living a good, healthy life. We definitely need to pass the secret on.”

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