Greensburg resident gets surprise parade to celebrate 103rd birthday

With horns honking and balloons waving from their windows, dozens of cars drove down Greensburg’s Alwine Avenue to wish Catherine Campolongo a happy 103rd birthday.

Campolongo was a baby during the flu pandemic of 1918, and on Wednesday celebrated a socially distant birthday during another historic pandemic.

Her secret to long life is simple: “Don’t drink.”

(She admits she breaks her own rule from time to time to sit on her neighbor’s porch and enjoy a beer.)

She was born and raised in Greensburg, and has lived on Alwine Avenue since the 1960s.

“It hasn’t changed much,” she said.

Campolongo lives with her daughter, Barbara Doherty, who said she was recently talking with a friend about her mother’s upcoming birthday.

“She said, ‘What are you doing for your mother,’ and I said, ‘We’re going to have cake, but with the virus we can’t do anything,’” Doherty said.

That’s when the idea of the surprise parade started to form.

A Greensburg fire truck led the procession. Participants were handed slices of cake through their car windows.

“I loved it,” Campolongo said.

Gov. Tom Wolf also sent her a happy birthday letter.

“You grew to adulthood during one of the most remarkable centuries in our history,” Wolf wrote. “Your contributions, and those of your generation, have made Pennsylvania and our nation strong and prosperous.”

Neighbors say they can’t imagine Alwine Avenue without Campolongo.

“I’ve lived here my whole life, she’s been my next-door neighbor forever,” said Carla Burke. “She helped raise my daughter. She’s a legend.”

Campolongo worked for many years for Greensburg’s sanitation department.

In addition to her three children — Robert Campolongo, Pete Campolongo and Doherty — Catherine Campolongo has three grandchildren.

Her husband, Peter Campolongo, died in 1999.

Friends and family described her as fun-loving and willing to try anything.

“She’s 103, and she still has a great sense of humor,” said her son, Pete.

Those who participated in the parade said they’re hopeful they can do it again next year.