A vehicle parade took place on Saturday morning at the Villages at Pine Valley to celebrate the belated 100th birthday of Aurelio (Ray) Patrick Lodise.
Residents waved American flags as Lodise watched Warriors’ Watch Riders, the Rockledge Volunteer Fire Company, Philadelphia Fire Department Engine 56, the Philadelphia Police Department and Mission BBQ ride by the clubhouse at the Villages, located on Verree Road in Fox Chase.
State Sen. Jimmy Dillon presented Lodise with a citation. Event organizer Kathy Wersinger also secured citations from City Councilman Brian O’Neill and state Rep. Kevin Boyle.
Warriors’ Watch Riders gave Lodise stars of an American flag and a coin.
The Marine Corps League gave Lodise a hat and a plaque and made him an honorary member.
Mission BBQ provided lunch.
Lodise was born Aug. 23, 1923. He grew up at 1733 N. 3rd St., attending John Moffitt Elementary School and Northeast High School, at 8th Street and Lehigh Avenue, graduating in 1941 with a diploma in vocational art. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942-45 and 1950-52.
In 1952, he began a career in accounting at Elisha Webb and Son Company, and later earned a degree in business administration from La Salle and a master’s in business administration from Drexel. He became president of Elisha Webb in 1972. He retired in 2018, but still works part-time, giving him a 71-year career at the company.
In 1953, he married Charlotte Bowen, and they remained married until she passed away in 2019.
Lodise has five children, 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and enjoys playing poker at the Villages. ••
