Toymaker Marks 101st Birthday

RIO GRANDE – Ralph Passarelli celebrated his 101st birthday March 9. Born in 1914, he was drafted at the age of 20 and served under General George Patton providing mail and rations to fellow soldiers during World War II. He served all over Europe, particularly France, Belgium and Italy. He survived several near misses on the road.
Upon returning from the war, Passarelli purchased a factory in Vineland next to the railroad that had supplied electric for trains. Turning the facility into a toy factory, Passarelli made cats, lions, teddy bears, dogs and several other stuffed toy animals. Eventually the business was moved to Mays Landing, where it thrived for many years. He was married to his wife Margaret for 68 years.
Lorraine Halliday, executive director of business development for Ocean View Center said Passarelli, “Ran a successful business for approximately 30 years – Garden State Toy and Novelty in Mays Landing.” Halliday further explained that his toys were quite popular. “Due to high demand, he had to supply his buyers with a great deal of toy dogs based on the popular song How Much is that Doggie in the Window. He gave much of the credit to his hard-working dependable staff of 75 employees. He fondly remembers taking four members of his team to New York’s World’s Fair in Long Island and later having dinner at a restaurant on Broadway. At the restaurant, Passarelli and his employees met the famous prize fighter Jack Dempsey.”
When Jennifer Hess, administrator of Ocean View Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation viewed a post on Facebook that Rio Station Restaurant had a new special, she was intrigued. Hess observed the restaurant had a policy that reads, “On your birthday, your age is the percent of the discount on your meal.”
Hess contacted owner and chef Richard Rutherford of Rio Station. Committed to his policy, Rutherford decided to help make the birthday outing a special event for Passarelli, who lives at the assisted living center facility at the Ocean View Center.
Dressed in his finest suit, Passarelli said the keys to living a long life include, “Stay busy all your life. Don’t sit in a chair all day. Eat good food. I like seafood. I like a good scotch! I never had time to think that I would be 101. I have no idea – time went so fast – it went just like that! It’s all downhill now.
“I had a good wife – a good family. I was married 68 years. She was a nice lady. I met her at a party and we started going together. We married and she gave me two sons. I had a good life with my wife – she helped me in the office. I made all kinds of toys – stuffed animals – bears and lions. I liked it. I made them all. You name it, I made it. You learn by doing things.”
Passarelli was well traveled and enjoyed his time in Italy where his parents had been born. “I went through Italy and was impressed with Venice.”
At the end of the meal, Passarelli was presented with his discount plus 1 percent cash back.
Passarelli has two sons, Ralph and Michael, and five grandchildren. He likes to keep fit by exercise. He enjoys walking. “I love to walk, but I have to walk with a cane – I feel like an old man. Stay active – don’t sit around doing nothing. I did the right things in life – I didn’t break into houses. I drove until I was 95 years old. Always keep busy.
“The first 100 was the easiest,” he said. “I’m turning 1 today.”