Papa Joe reaches 100 after raising six kids
Manhattan Beach Police and Firefighters arrived with sirens blaring at the home of Joe Arrigo last Thursday to present him with a City commendation on his 100th birthday.
Papa Joe with (in truck) granddaughters Dani, Lauri, and Katie Bongard; and Carla Dupin St Cyr; and (standing) granddaughter Patty Steward, daughter in law Janeen Arrigo, daughter Gena Duarte, granddaughter Sophia Duarte, daughter Anne Marie Sircy, granddaughter Rachel Arrigo and daughter Mary Jo Bongard.
Arrigo raised six children, and countless racing pigeons at the 26th Street home he bought in 1952. The children attended American Martyrs Elementary School and Bishop Montgomery High School.
Great grandson Talyn Stewart (foreground), with Papa Joe, family, and police and firefighters.
Arrigo grew up as the second of seven children in Los Angeles. His oldest sister Eloise lives in Oregon, and is 102. His parents were from Luca, Italy.
Papa Joe with the Manhattan Police Department’s Lt. Andy Harrod, Officer Connor Hedde, and Officer Luis Yepez and Firefighters Tom Desmond, Robert Estrada, and James Stratton.
Arrigo served as a navigator aboard an Army Air Corp B24 bomber during World War II. He flew 10 combat missions over the Japanese island of Deshima, a six hour flight from his carrier.
Papa Joe is escorted from the 26th Street home he has lived in for 70 years by granddaughter Dani Bongard and son Rod.
Following the war, Arrigo worked as a civil engineer for Metropolitan Water District, where he retired five decades ago.
Papa Joe with granddaughter Katie Bongard and future son-in-law Mike Condon.
Though he no longer plays tennis, he plays bridge weekly at Hesse Park in Palos Verdes. ER