A great-grandfather has celebrated his 100th birthday by renewing his driving licence.
Elio Balacca is said to be in such sprightly condition that guests who did not know him personally had trouble spotting the energetic centenarian at a recent party held in his honour.
And for anyone looking for the driving force behind his long life and ability still to zip around in his car, he proudly reveals that working in the fields until the age of 98 is the secret behind his remarkable longevity.
The milestone took place in Riccione, a seaside town in Rimini province in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, on 2nd March, when Elio Balacca marked his centenary surrounded by family, friends and members of the local community.
Just days before the celebrations, Balacca had successfully renewed his driving licence and signed his new car insurance policy during the birthday gathering, earning applause from those attending the party.
Born on 2nd March 1926 in Montescudo, he moved to Riccione in 1957, where he helped establish the city’s first wholesale fruit and vegetable warehouse together with his father Giovanni and brothers Lino and Giuseppe.
The family business supplied produce to hotels, guesthouses and shops during the years of the Adriatic resort’s booming tourism industry.
In 1958 he married Flavia Ceccoli and the couple later had two children, Andrea and Giovanna, followed by grandchildren Gabriele and Alberto.
At the end of the 1970s, Balacca entered the hospitality sector when he and his brothers built and managed the Hotel Viking in Viserbella, a district of nearby Rimini, running the business for more than three decades.
Even after stepping away from the hotel trade, he remained active and continued tending a 1,500-square-metre (16,145-square-foot) vegetable garden until he was 98.
Riccione councillor for social and family services Marina Zoffoli attended the birthday celebration and delivered greetings from the city administration.
She told local media that when she first arrived at the party, she did not realise the energetic man greeting guests was the 100-year-old being celebrated.
Zoffoli said: “When I entered the party, I looked around and saw a distinguished, smiling gentleman with a firm handshake and a confident step, and I thought: ‘What a nice guest.’
“I shook his hand, exchanged a few words and then asked: ‘Excuse me, but who is the birthday celebrant?’”
She said the room fell silent before people smilingly replied: “It’s him.”
Zoffoli added that Balacca appeared proud of having renewed his driving licence and praised his energy and vitality while offering the city’s congratulations on his milestone birthday.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below. Story By: Michael Leidig, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
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