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Christmas lights and a star tree topper decorate the Christmas tree during the Christmas tree lighting event at Peterson Space Force Base, Colo., Dec. 6, 2024. (Jaime Sanchez/ U.S. Space Force)
(Tribune News Service) — Elise Novak is getting a special gift this holiday season: the chance to see her grandfather celebrate his 100th birthday.
Henry Schmitt, a resident of the Hover Senior Living Community Green Houses in Longmont, Colo., turns 100 on Christmas Day this year. On Christmas Eve, Schmitt sat beside his granddaughter in his nursing home, wearing a cozy holiday sweater.
“He’s a Christmas baby,” Novak said.
Raised in Rochester, N.Y., Schmitt joined the U.S. Navy when he was 19. He served in World War II as a radioman from 1943 to 1946.
Schmitt is deaf with dementia, which makes it hard for him to communicate. He has, however, kept an extensive catalog of his life through journal entries. Several Christmas, and birthday, celebrations are noted in his entries, including a few from his time in the Navy.
In 1944, Schmitt spent Christmas Day — his 20th birthday — in Panama.
“The escorts went up between the convoy columns to serenade the convoy ships with carols,” Schmitt wrote in his journal entry from that day.
For Novak, Schmitt is “Papa Henry.” Growing up, every Christmas doubled as an opportunity to celebrate her grandfather’s birthday.
“Papa and I have a very special bond,” Novak said. “I wouldn’t be where I am in life without him, on so many different levels.”
Schmitt’s mom also made it to 100, setting a family precedent for longevity. On top of good genes, Novak said community, family and friends have kept Schmitt going over the years.
“There was a good likelihood, at least, that he would be living this long,” Novak said.
This year, Schmitt will celebrate his birthday surrounded by family at his nursing home. Novak said Hover Senior Living staff are also preparing a birthday cake for the occasion.
Schmitt’s centennial birthday comes with bittersweet moments for his family members. Novak said the occasion is a reminder that her grandfather won’t be around forever.
“We all feel very grateful that we’ve had him in our lives for as long as we have,” Novak said. “For us, it really is the last big hurrah. It means a lot to us.”
When Novak asked her grandfather how it feels to turn 100, he told her: “It feels like turning 99.”
Schmitt has been living at the Hover Green Houses since 2022. His birthday is marked on the community calendar, letting everyone at Hover know about the centenarian.
Novak said her grandfather has come to love Colorado, especially Longmont.
“It really is a very comforting place to him,” she said.
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