Restaurant regular gets 100th birthday surprise

For Speedy Iavarone, this week's trip to the Sunmist Restaurant in Addison wasn't supposed to be different than any other.

The Wood Dale man, who has faithfully dined there every week for about 15 years, expected nothing more than his usual lunch with his wife, Adrienne.

Instead, he walked in to discover a table full of almost 15 cheering friends and three balloons floating above them spelling out "100."

Though he doesn't officially turn 100 until today, Iavarone's friends, the restaurant staff, and even Addison Mayor Larry Hartwig, wanted to congratulate him with lunch, cake and a glass of wine.

The retired clothing store owner and World War II veteran was thrilled by the attention.

"I had to wait until 100 to get this kind of publicity," he joked.

Though he's been retired for almost as long as he's been dining at Sunmist, Iavarone is no couch potato. When he's not eating out, Iavarone still cooks a mean Italian meal, holds season tickets for Drury Lane Theater in Oakbrook Terrace, reads the newspaper daily and plays the stock market.

His son, Jeff, said these activities keep Iavarone in "almost as good of health as a 65-year-old."

"He's never really exercised a day in his life," Jeff said. "But he thinks it's important to exercise your mind every day of your life. That's why he has such a great active, young attitude."

But Iavarone insists there is no real recipe for longevity.

"It's a gift," he says, "There is no secret."

Of course, this landmark birthday sparks potent memories for a man who has seen 100 years:

His travel from Italy to Ellis Island as a young boy on the lower decks of the S.S. Berlin;

The years he served in England during World War II;

The four upscale garment stores he owned, including Ruth Jones Town & Country in River Forest, which was named after his first wife who died;

Life with his two sons, Jeff and Greg, and his current wife of almost 50 years;

And even the friends he's outlived.

"Retirement is wonderful, but the worst thing is that you lose all of your friends," Iavarone said.

Still, he's grateful for the love and support of the "young people" who have joined his life. People like Diana Catalano of Lombard, who sat near Speedy Iavarone's side during his party, assuring him, "You look wonderful. God love you."