THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 16, 2024 Page 3 ~ The Advocate Asks ~ Louis Fantasia reflects on the happy days and the highlights of his life as he turns 100 today Editor’s Note: For this week’s column, we sat down with Louis Fantasia, just days before he became the latest Saugonian to extend his life to the Century mark today (Friday, Feb. 16). Louis’ wife, Marilyn, 93, also joined her husband in the interview at Saugus Rehabilitation & Nursing Center. Louis was born on Feb. 16, 1924, and grew up in Somerville. He is a World War II veteran and served in the U.S. Navy. He was on board the USS Canberra during a combat mission in the Pacific when an airdropped torpedo from a Japanese aircraft struck the cruiser, killing 23 men. After serving nearly three years in the Navy, Louis returned to Somerville, where he worked as a laborer for many years, building wooden barrels and steel drums for several companies in and around Somerville. His passion for roller skating led to two marriages – the second one to Marilyn, a Gloucester native, who worked as a registered nurse for 49 years. Louis and Marilyn have been married since 1959. At the Board of Selectmen’s meeting last week (Feb. 6), the board’s chair, Debra Panetta, announced that the board had signed a special citation for Louis to acknowledge his personal accomplishment for becoming the newest Saugus Centenarian and wishing him a happy 100th birthday. Panetta said she planned to attend a birthday party for him this weekend and present the citation. Highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: Where are you from originally? A: Somerville. That’s where I grew up. Q: How big a family did you have? A: Five boys and one girl. We lived on Linwood Street. Q: Did you graduate from Somerville High School? A: No. I quit school in the eighth grade. Q: I understand you are a U.S. Navy veteran who served in World War II. A: Yes. I went in the Navy in ’43 and got out in ’46. I was a seaman first class. Q: Did you see any combat duty at sea? A: Yes. I was on the USS Canberra. We were torpedoed and lost 23 people on the ship. We were towed all the way back to 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday A LOT TO CELEBRATE: Marilyn and Louis Fantasia got to share another Valentine’s Day this week. Today, they will be together for Louis’ birthday. It will be a special one, because he turns 100. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Pearl Harbor. One of my next door neighbors in Somerville – Arthur Marchi – was killed when the torpedo hit the ship. Q: What did you do after the service? A: I was a barrel man. I worked at Roche Brothers, Whitney and Ross Barrels. I made wooden barrels and steel drums. I spent my whole life making barrels. The first job I ever had was in a barrel yard. Q: What’s the most exciting thing you’ve done in your life? A: Being a bum! Hopping freight trains to get coal for my dad when I was 13 in Somerville. Q: What does it feel like now that you’re going to be a hundred in a few days? A: I don’t give a darn, to tell you the truth. It’s not really that big a deal. Q: But it’s a personal milestone that few people ever reach. Did you ever think you were going to live to 100? A: Hell no. Never thought I would live this long. But I feel the same as you. I don’t feel like 100. Q: Anybody in your family live to be 100? A: No. My sister Regina and my mother lived to be 97. My father lived to 82. Q: What’s the most fun thing you have done in your life? A: Roller-skating – I met my first wife, Pearl Griffin, roller-skating in Medford at the Bal-a-Roue. And I met my second wife, Marilyn, down at the Revere skating rink. We got married in 1959. It was the second marriage for both of us. She came from Gloucester and was a registered nurse for 49 years. ASKS | SEE PAGE 7 Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $9.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Adult Night 18+ Only Private Parties Private Parties 4-7 p.m. $9.00 12-9 p.m. 7:30-11 p.m. $10. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM $9.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net
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