**Source:** Unknown
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The Bucciaglìa family paid a very special type of homage to their patriarch yesterday. Fifty members of the clan turned out in true festival regalia to celebrate the 100th birthday of the family’s oldest member, Joseph Bucciaglìa.
A native of Sparinze, Italy, new centenarian Bucciaglìa presided over the afternoon affair, danced his favorite Italian folk dances, smoked his special Italian cigars and imbibed in his favorite spirits, good Italian wine.
Surrounded by relatives at the Olympia Club in Shrewsbury, Bucciaglìa, accompanied by the Bill Storey trio, even sang one of his favorite Italian songs, “O Marie.”
The sprightly, mustachoied Bucciaglìa, who worked for the Worcester Parks Department for many years, still delights in planting and cultivating flowers. He putters in a small garden at his home at 12 Shamrock St., where he lives with his daughter, Mrs. Emil Dumas.
The birthday party yesterday came a few days late. His birthday was Nov. 22 and he received special citations on that day from the state House of Representatives and the Office of Social Security.
Always active, according to family members, Bucciaglìa still delights in a daily constitutional around the family yard followed by a few glasses of wine.
“I’m sure he can walk further than I could,” says son Anthony, “and he’s never been sick a day. He doesn’t know what the inside of a hospital looks like.”
A slight five feet tall, Bucciaglìa moved his own lawn until about 15 years ago. Fifteen years seems like a long time, but he was 85 then.
Joseph Bucciaglìa, seated behind his birthday cake, applauds after being treated to a birthday song by his relatives at a party yesterday to celebrate his 100th birthday.