City celebrates 90-plus crowd

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

To call it a gathering of experience is a bit of an understatement.
At this year’s 90 Plus Party — for those “90 years old and better” — the honorees topped out at 22,562 combined years of long life. That’s more than 8.2 million days and close to 200 billion hours.

David and Joanna McNeil, 92 and 91 respectively, joined in the festivities at yesterday’s shindig held at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara. The pair met as kids growing up together in Pasadena, and have been together since.
“I chased her until she caught me,” David said.
Newcomers to the Santa Barbara area, the McNeils moved to Vista del Monte Retirement Community about two years ago and recently celebrated their 65th anniversary. Both are retired teachers who keep themselves busy helping out at Vista del Monte, with Joanna in charge of the flower decorations in the dining room and David working at the gift store.
“It keeps me out of trouble,” David said.
Although it’s the first year the couple has attended the 90 Plus Party, they had nothing but good things to say.
“Everyone is so friendly and they are taking good care of us,” David said.
Around 60 percent of the 400 people who attended the event are more than 90 years old, said Jason Bryan, an organizer of the annual party. Caregivers and local dignitaries such as Mayor Marty Blum and several Councilmembers filled the remaining chairs.
At least four in attendance had already cracked the century mark, Bryan said.
Sadie Bellantoni made an appearance at the luncheon, celebrating her 104th birthday yesterday as well. A friend sitting with her said Bellantoni was married for 72 years to the “love of her life,” made uniforms for soldiers in World War II, and has lived in Santa Barbara for the past 14 years.
When asked what her secret to longevity is, Bellantoni waved it off, saying, “Secret? I don’t have any secret. I’m just me.”
As the nonagenarians and centenarians feasted upon their free chow, the Jerry Dokken Band played a few old favorites and Larry Crandell, more affectionately known as Mr. Santa Barbara, cracked wise as the Master of Ceremonies.
“If one more woman tells me that he is better-looking...,” Crandell quipped as his son Steven joined him for a quick tune.
Bryan said when he started helping out with the party 15 years ago, he had no idea it would grow into what it is today.
“Way back when, we were a little group in a little room,” Bryan said.
They slowly outgrew the city’s recreational facilities, he said, and now the Doubletree Resort’s Grand Ballroom is the only spot in town that can hold them.
Along with single-handed community fundraising by Crandell, Bryan said sponsor donations make the event possible each year. Carl Lindrose of the Santa Barbara Foundation, Tom Parker of the Hutton Foundation and Clifford Sponsel backed this year’s soiree.
Nancy Sperry, 92, showed up yesterday for her second 90 Plus Party, having attended last year as well. Sperry came to Santa Barbara 20 years ago to live near her children, who had moved out of her home in Ojai after graduating from high school.
“I waited until I was 92, and my dream came true,” Sperry said yesterday, explaining how her children and grandchildren helped make her wildflower drawings into greeting cards that are now on sale at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
“This is one of the best events of the year,” Councilmember Roger Horton declared. “A lot of these people are my friends.”
Mayor Blum echoed those sentiments as she delivered a welcoming speech at the luncheon.
“I feel very blessed to be in a community that celebrates their 90-year-olds,” Mayor Blum said. As she started to introduce Crandell, he leapt forward to land a big smooch on her cheek, drawing applause from the crowd.
“People just glow afterwards,” Bryan said. “It’s the event of the year for them.”