Upland man celebrates 100th birthday
Frank Mistretta, a longtime resident of Upland, recently celebrated his 100th birthday at a party at his home, with about 100 family members and friends attending.
Among the guests was Upland Mayor Bill Velto, who grew up with two of Mistretta’s children, according to the Mistretta family. At the celebration, Velto gave a speech and presented a 100th birthday certificate of recognition from the city of Upland.
Frank Joseph Mistretta was born March 13, 1923, in Detroit, to Catherine Leoni Mistretta and Antonio Mistretta, who was a fruit vendor. As he was growing up in Detroit during the Great Depression, his family had very little but he had fun with cousins who lived across the street, according to his family.
When he was in his late teens, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Saipan as a medic during World War II.
After the war, he moved to California and became a real estate broker and land and property owner. He started his business, O.U. Realty, in Ontario and later moved his business and family to Upland.
He met his future wife, Margaret Orlando, when he traveled from Detroit to Cucamonga (now part of Rancho Cucamonga) to visit friends of his parents from Sicily. He said that when he met their daughter Margaret, he “saw a vision,” she was so beautiful, according to his family.
They were married May 7, 1949, in Ontario and will celebrate their 74th anniversary this year.
Their children Cathy Mclafferty, Orlando Mistretta and Frank Mistretta Jr., all of Upland, Connie Lanford of Baton Rouge, La., and Joe Mistretta of Templeton, Calif., attended the celebration. Son Anthony Mistretta died in 1996.
They also have 20 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Frank Mistretta is a former Kiwanis Club and Sons of Columbus president and has been active in community events. He also has been a donor to San Antonio Regional Hospital, where his children were born. The Mistretta Family Foyer is part of that Upland hospital.
An avid golfer, he still golfs weekly and won the senior golf championship at Red Hill Country Club in Rancho Cucamonga when he was 99, according to his family.
He also plays gin rummy with a group at his club, reads newspapers daily, cooks, drives to grocery stores and fixes things around the house.