Bud Bennett Turns 101

Bloomingdale resident Laurence "Bud" Bennett celebrated his 101st birthday Sunday with 14 of his closest friends.

The Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department member, for which Oct. 14 was proclaimed "Bud Bennett Day" by the Bloomingdale mayor and council last year, said he began his birthday celebration with breakfast at Butler Family Restaurant and Diner Sunday morning. After that, he spent time with his second family.

"The firemen gave me a party in the afternoon," Bennett said.

Bennett turned 100 last year and the fire department and dozens of Bloomingdale residents came together to celebrate the lifelong tri-boro resident. He has been a member of the fire department since 1956, and still assists monthly with fire department fundraisers and meals, bringing out dishes of food. In 2012, Bennett was named Bloomingdale Citizen of the Year.

Read "'Bud' Still Blooming Even at 100" here.

Last year, shortly after the Bloomingdale Council voted to rename Woodward Avenue after Bennett, Tri-Boro Patch readers voted Bennett the "Neighbor" they would most like to read an update on. Bennett was also the grand marshall of the Tri-Boro Little League Opening Day parade.

When asked if he did anything else special to celebrate his birthday, Bennett said "I had a ride on the old fire truck."

Leave Bennett birthday wishes in the comments below.