A milestone birthday bash

The parties didn’t seem to end for Long Beach resident Irving Spitalnick last week. It was, after all, his 100th birthday.

Bhanu Gadde, the owner and principal pharmacist at Long Beach Chemists on Park Ave., said it would be fitting to hold a birthday party for Spitalnick, one of the store’s favorite customers, a longtime Long Beach resident and new centenarian.

The dozen or so employees of Long Beach Chemist and friends of the Gadde family watched as Spitalnick cut his 100th birthday cake.

Mona Goodman, Vice President of the City Council, kicked off the party at Long Beach Chemists on March 26 with a citation honoring Irving, a master electrician in his day, who said he loves living in Long Beach for the beach and ice skating.

“It’s good to honor the elderly and we are all very fond of Irving,” Gadde said.

Gadde brought along his five children and friends whose four children play the viola, violin and piano in a mini-concert for Spitalnick, who was serenaded and feted. On March 25, the Long Beach Housing Authority also held a party for Spitalnick’s birthday.

“Everyone wants to throw a party for me,” Spitalnick said.

Mr. Spitalnick was born in 1911 in Russia and came to America as a child. He and his wife lived in the Canals neighborhood for many years.

“It’s a privilege to share Irving’s 100th birthday with him and all his friends,” Goodman said.