Happy 100th Peter Iaffaldano

Happy 100th birthday to Peter Iaffaldano. A Resident of Bay Village for over 10 years and resident of Rocky River over 50 years, Peter is WWII Veteran in Navy on the Ammunition ship USS Paricutin in the South Pacific (ammunition ships were named after volcanoes because they often exploded if attacked).

Iaffaldano’s father died when he was 9 years old. His Italian immigrant mother didn’t read, write, or speak English so he learned very early “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” He graduated second in his class.

Peter put himself through college on the work/study program and became an engineer. “I was fortunate to have a few wonderful mentors along the way that fostered my talent and encouraged me,” he says. “I worked for General Motors and then Norton Company which I retired from over 35 years ago.”

Peter is a proud father blessed with 6 children (one deceased), 6 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. “I married and buried two wonderful women that made me a better person just to be with them,” he says.

Working on cars was always his first love. He has always enjoyed solving problems and working on projects with metal, amazed at what you can do with the right tools. He has also been a lifelong hunter.

“My children think I’m the energizer bunny. In the last year I fell and broke my hip, had replacement surgery, was hospitalized a few weeks with C-Diff, and then had covid!” he says “I’m grateful to be here.”

His secret to a long life? “More than eating right, exercising, and being grateful, you need love in your heart and the support of family, friends, and neighbors to live a long life.”