VETERAN FETED ON 103RD BIRTHDAY
Balloons waved, music played and Travis airmen led a birthday car parade Tuesday for a retired Vacaville Navy veteran celebrating his 103rd trip around the sun.
Seatedoutside Vacaville Retirement Community/Happy Living by COGIR in Leisure Town, Gerald “Gerry” Simoni held court with his girlfriend, Jean Eldridge, sharing memories and embracing well wishes from from family, friends and the community at large.
Simoni, a Richmond native, enlisted when he was 23. Japan had just attacked Pearl Harbor, America was at war and young men like Simoni were re- evaluating their priorities.
“I felt it was time to enlist and do something for our country,” he explained.
He was “old” as an enlisted man compared to the others, he said, but he didn’t care. Simoni admitted being scared sometimes but was not one to give up, serving three years before exiting the military.
“There’s a lot of things I’ll never forget,” he advised. “There’s things you remember wen your life’s in danger.”
He remembered serving in the Philippines aboard a 117foot landing craft tank he described as “small.”
“We were headed for an island with tanks and troops,” he recalled. “I was at an engine and the captain said ‘All engines ahead full!’”
They had trouble getting to their destination, a beach, because bullets were flying.
“We called the Army Air Force,” he said, and they took care of the problem.
“We reached the beach,” he emphasized. “They had the island and we got it back.”
When his time with the Navy was done, Simone invested in his education, getting a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree. In fact, he climbed the ladder in that industry.
“I was Dean of Vocational Technology at Solano Community College,” he said, adding that he spent 40 years there.
“I established many vocational programs,” he said. “I was very proud.”
From police science to fire science to automotive courses, he had a hand in it all. Seeing students who at first were
unsure of their futures find a career through his programs was everything, he said, as you’d see their eyes light when it clicked.
“My secret (to a long life) is I had a job that I loved. I loved that job for 40 years,” he mused.
Simoni encourages others to find that special career.
“Have a job that you love to do,” he pointed out. “You don’t want to wake up every day and go to a job you hate.”
His job was memorable, he said, because no day was the same.
Like the time the FBI descended on his office in search of an elusive student.
“They said, you got a stolen plane in there,” Simoni said. And there was — turns out the student just wanted a plane so he went to another county and flew it back to the college. He was later arrested.
The centenarian admitted that life is sweet now, too. Three years ago he met his girlfriend, Eldridge. They bonded over a snack at Napoli Pizzeria in Vacaville, sharing their memories of World War II. They are inseparable and adorable.
They love to laugh and dance. Last year he did the jitterbug on Good Day Sacramento, Eldridge said.
On Tuesday, he shared a quick dance with her following a f lag ceremony and vehicle parade performed by members of Travis’ 60th Medical Group.
Sgt. Kimberly Hoh said it was their pleasure to support the veteran.
Eldridge volunteers at the base in various capacities so when they heard about her significant other’s birthday, she said, they happily engaged.
For his part, Simoni was floored.
“This is the most memorable birthday EVER,” he said, sharing a big smile before being led away to a birthday lunch.