Thomas Bubba beamed as he found himself surrounded by a jostling hubbub of family and friends gathered at Enrico’s Restaurant at the Caruso Club for his 100th birthday party, Sept. 17.
He had been told that only his immediate family would be attending the party, but said he was thrilled to find a crowd of more than 50 waiting for him.
“My nephews and nieces, grandsons and granddaughters and great-grandchildren are here,” he said. “I’m very happy.”
During his party, Bubba received birthday greetings from Vale, the City of Greater Sudbury and the Roman Catholic Church, as well as several congratulatory certificates, including ones from Premier Dalton McGuinty, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Queen Elizabeth II.
Mayor Marianne Matichuk attended the party.
“I think it’s important to celebrate the people who have built this community,” Matichuk said. “It think it’s wonderful that the family actually invited me.”
According to a biography provided by his family, Tommaso (Thomas) Bubba was born Sept. 15, 1911 in Caraffa, Italy, and emigrated to Sudbury in 1932.
He got a job within two days of arriving in the city, working to build the Sudbury Street Railway on Lorne Street.
“Sudbury has changed 100 per cent,” Bubba, who still speaks with a hint of an Italian accent, told reporters. “When I came out here, Sudbury was just a small town.
“The CPR (railroad) was everything.”
During the depression, Bubba worked as a tap man at the Whitefish Hotel, and just before the Second World War started, he joined Inco, where he was employed for 38 years as a mechanic at the Copper Cliff Smelter.
He also owned and operated the Naughton General Store for 23 years.
He married Elmira (Alma) Grassi in 1940. The couple, who were married for 67 years, had four children — Lydia, Robert, James and Gloria Jean. They also have two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Bubba’s daughter, Gloria Jean, said she has fond memories of growing up in the family’s home in Naughton.
“We always had a swing set before Canadian Tire got into the swing set business,” she said.
“He made me a horse swing with two seats on it. I was in love with the Lone Ranger when I was five. The Lone Ranger’s horse was called Silver. He asked me what colour I wanted the swing to be, and I said ‘silver.’ So I had a silver horse.”
Alma developed Alzheimer’s disease in her later years, passing away in 2008. Throughout her illness, Bubba visited his wife every day at Extendicare Falconbridge.
“He was totally devoted to her,” Gloria Jean said. “He visited her every day. He was with her when she died.
“The thought of her dying alone upset him terribly. He went every day to make sure that she always knew she was cared for by someone who loved her.”
She said her mother and father were like “peanut butter and jam.”
“They were a team,” Gloria Jean said. “They were the old-fashioned married couple. He took care of the outside of the house, and she ruled the inside.”
Bubba enjoyed volunteering for a variety of organizations, especially the Knights of Columbus.
He served as a faithful navigator and district marshall with the organization, and was the first member in northern Ontario to be presented with the Grand Marshall Sword.
In his 80s, he fought and survived prostate cancer. This experience led him to volunteer with the Regional Cancer Program and the Canadian Cancer Society.
Bubba has lived in Christ the King Centre, a local seniors’ apartment complex, since 2005.
He goes for a walk and attends church every day.
Gloria Jean said her father is “amazing.”
“He always says that when you get up in the morning, you’ve got to move, or you’re going to die,” she said.
Bubba said he “never thought I’d be 100.”
“Just take it one day at a time,” he said. “Have three meals a day, and take a walk every day. Just be what you are.”
Young or old, firm or frail, that is good advice at any age.
-Posted by Arron Pickard
