By J.J. Huggins/The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass.
Friday, February 29, 2008 9:38 AM CST

METHUEN -- Dwello "Dewey" DePippo lived through the Great Depression, met President Franklin Roosevelt, translated for Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, and escaped the infamous Cocoanut Grove fire of 1942.

But technically, he's only 24. The Methuen resident turns 96 today, and it's a rare occasion that he is celebrating his birthday on the true anniversary of his birth.

Born Feb. 29, 1912, DePippo is a Leap Day baby. Feb. 29 is a date that ends up on the calendar only once every four years.

"My 24th birthday, and I gotta live to 2012 because I'll be 25," DePippo joked.

The peppy, talkative senior celebrates his birthday on March 1 during nonleap years. Today, he will celebrate with his family and friends at the Pond View Restaurant in Kingston, N.H.

One of every 1,461 people is a leap baby, according to Raenell Dawn, co-founder of The Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies, an Internet-based club for people born on Feb. 29.

The club has 7,000 members worldwide. It serves as an online meeting place for Leap Day babies, lists Leap Day events and information about the plight of people born on Leap Day, like how their date of birth causes confusion on legal documents.

Dawn, an Oregonian, turns 48 today. So technically, she's 12. People inquire about when she celebrates her birthday.

"People ask me that often -- Feb. 28 or March 1? And I tell them, 'Both, because I can," she quipped.

At 96 -- or 24, whatever you choose to call it -- DePippo is going strong. He has a full head of straight gray hair that he combs behind his ears and shows few marks of age on his face. He walks on his own, can easily carry on a conversation about current events, lives independently, cooks and writes poetry.

He credits vitamins for his good health and longevity, but it seems like timing may be on his side.

He and his wife of 64 years, Catherine, went to the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston on Nov. 28, 1942, but left because DePippo suddenly had an impulse to go elsewhere. He noted the time -- 10:10 p.m.

The next day, DePippo, who was not the impulsive type, read in the newspaper that the blaze that claimed 492 lives started at 10:10 p.m.

"It's like you go over a bridge and it collapses behind you," he said.

DePippo was a boatswain's mate in the Navy, serving on the USS Quincy. He left the Navy in 1939, after meeting the love of his life, Catherine. Three years later, the USS Quincy was sunk by the Japanese in the Battle of Savo Island on Aug. 9, 1942, during World War II. In all, 370 men were killed.

DePippo also lived through the Great Depression, World War II and met Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini when Mussolini boarded his ship at the time of the Spanish Civil War. The son of Italian immigrants, DePippo could speak fluent Italian.

"He couldn't speak English, so I interpreted for him," DePippo said.

DePippo later worked as a machinist and as a barber. He cut hair at Harry's Barber Shop in Salem, N.H., for 30 years.

"I was 92 when I retired," he said.

He lost his wife five years ago. He has no children, but relatives keep him company. His life has given him plenty of stories to share. But if he's ever short of ways to strike up a discussion, he can always joke about the fact that although he's pushing 100, he's technically in his 20s.

"I have a lot of fun with that," he said. "It's quite a conversation piece."

1912

What was going on the year Dwello DePippo was born?

New Mexico and Arizona are admitted as the 47th and 48th states, respectively, on Jan. 6 and Feb. 14

Girl Scouts USA is founded, March 12

Washington, D.C., recieves 3,000 cherry blossom trees from the mayor of Tokyo as a token of friendship, March 27

The Titanic sinks with 1,494 on board, April 15

Fenway Park opens April 20, and the Boston Red Sox defeat the New York Giants in extra innings to win the World Series, Oct. 16

Woodrow Wilson is elected president, Nov. 5

What's a leap year?

Every year divisible by four is a Leap Year. An extra day is added every four years to align the calendar with the true solar year, which is 366.2422 days long. Without Leap Year, the calendar wold drift 24 days ahead of the normal seasons after 100 years. The odds of being born on Feb. 29 are 1 in 1,461. Approximately 200,000 Americans are "Leapers."

Who are the famous "leapers?" celebrating a birthday today?

- Former "Law & Order" star Dennis Farina (1944)

- "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson (1952)

- Motivational speaker Tony Robbins (1960)

- Rapper Ja Rule (1976)

- Former Boston Bruin Lyndon Byers (1964)

 
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Copyright © 2008, The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass.

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