Mountainside Resident Turns 101, Boys and Girls from Scout Troops Sing Happy Birthday

Mountainside Resident Turns 101, Boys and Girls from Scout Troops Sing Happy Birthday

Scout troops and other members of the Mountainside community gathered outside the home of local resident Louis Vitale to serenade him on the day of his 101st birthday on Sunday, May 4. Mr. Vitale was presented with an oversized greeting card and a basket full of goodies. A Happy Birthday sing along followed, which also included a rendition of God Bless America. 

Afterwards, the crowd was anxious to hear about Mr. Vitale's incredible lifetime of memories.  In between bites of cupcakes, Mr. Vitale entertained the audience with tales of how he and his sister tap danced together for many years.  In the early 1920s, they had their own act and were known as the "Two Vitales", providing entertainment for all occasions.   Years later, while serving in the Navy in World War II, he entertained his own  troops, and joked with the well wishers that if they came back later in the day, he would tap dance right on the walkway of the house that he built entirely by himself  for he and his wife Helen, who passed away this past December.  

Last year, Jack Skinner, also of Mountainside and Clark Burnett, students at St. Peters Prep, captured some of Mr. Vitale’s war stories on a video production entitled “Lou: A Century in the Making.”  To see the footage of part of this beloved senior citizen’s story, log onto http://vimeo.com/82859925.