Photo submitted
Vincent Drago is now 100 years old as he celebrated his birthday yesterday. Drago says that staying active has been a key to long, healthy life.

Vincent Drago celebrates 100th birthday.

By Heather Tressler

Record Staff Writer

Vincenzo (Vincent) Drago was born on Jan. 1, 1909, in Palermo, Sicily. He was the son to Matea and Luigi Drago. At the age of three, Vincent and his parents emigrated to America. Upon arrival at Ellis Island, the Dragos moved to St. Louis, Miss. where the Dragos established themselves in America.
Drago is the second oldest son out of his five brothers, Charlie, Joe, Tom, Mike and Steve. When Drago was in sixth grade, he quit school and went to work delivering ice to help support his family.
Later at the age of 20, he married his first wife whom he met in a hat shop where they both worked. Drago said he would walk her home often, and they ended up running off together to unite in marriage. With his wife, he had a daughter named Carol. After several years of marriage, Drago and his wife decided to get a divorce. Drago said that because he was a single father, he needed to get a better paying job, and he moved onto a job working as a construction worker being paid $3.25 per hour.
Drago said after 10 years of being employed for this company, he was fired so he ended up starting his own business. Vincent opened a fruit stand in St. Louis, Miss. where he operated for many years. During this time, he met his current wife, Hope who was the reason Drago ended up in Pennsylvania.  Drago explained that Hope’s family is from Lake City, and in 1973 they decided to go see her folks. Drago said when he came to Ridgway that year he really enjoyed it here because it was a very prosperous place.
“When I came to Ridgway, I thought it was a nice town,” said Drago. “There were many stores; men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, etc.”
Drago explained that he was near retirement, and wanted a quaint place to live. He then happened to stumble upon a few acres of land and decided to purchase the land.
Drago said he then bought a trailer to put on his land, and ventured back to St. Louise to sell his business and his home. As the years went by, Drago said he began to shape his home, but once that was complete, he got bored.
Drago said he then got a job at a fruit stand in Daguscahonda, where he stayed for eight years.
After that job fell through, Drago said he needed something to do, so he looked for a job at Broad St. Auto Sales and Service. Since 1997, Drago has been working for Broad St. Auto Sales and Service free of charge. He said he does this to keep moving, and get out of the house a couple hours a day.
Drago shares his tips and tricks to reaching 100 years with virtually no health problems.
“You’ve got to keep moving,” emphasized Drago. “I know I’ll die someday, but I’ll die working or moving. I’m 100, and I’ve worked all my life, hard.”
When he is not working at Broad St., Drago said he is exercising. He said he can still do 15 pushups. Many would think he had a strict diet regimen, but Drago says he does not restrict himself in regards to food. He says that he still eats whatever he wants, and his key to a long and youthful life is to just keep moving.
Through 100 years, Drago has many memories, but he says the best time of his life was buying his trailer and moving to Ridgway.
“Everybody I’ve met and seen here in Ridgway has been real nice,” said Drago. “I like Ridgway. It is a nice town. The best time of my life was when I moved up here, and bought a trailer.”
Amazingly, at 100, Drago continues to do his own work such as painting, mowing, and any other household work that may be done. He says he even often still cooks.
Drago is a father of five, a grandfather of eight, a great-grandfather of five, and a great-great grandfather of three.
His daughter Pat Hicks says, “he has always been there for family as well as friends. He is passionate about his home, his life, his family and always cares for others less fortunate than him.”