Good genes, good luck & great cake

By Julie Druker

Long time Verona resident Ted Lansdell celebrates his 90th with friends and family

Family and friends of Ted Lansdell gathered at the Rivendell Golf course on Oct.4 to help him celebrate his 90 birthday. His wife Irene, their three children Joanne, Bill and Jim, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren were all in attendance, as well as his older brother Norman and his wife and their children’s families, who all made the trip from Kintor near London, ON.

Born in London ON in 1919, Ted moved to Verona in 1952 and started up Verona Motors, where he sold cars and worked as a mechanic until he retired in 1995. He still has a passion for cars and owns three antique cars that he works on: a 1927 Chev, a 1929 and a 1932 Oldsmobile, and he’s been known to lend a helping hand to his grandkids when their cars are having problems.

Before opening his Verona business Ted served in the army, four years overseas and three years in the combat zone and those memories are still fresh. “I was in the first Canadian Division who invaded Sicily in 1943. We waded ashore at 8:00 in the morning on the 10th of July, 1943”.

According to Ted he has reached the ripe age of 90 solely due to good genes and some very good luck. He ex[plained, “It’s definitely in the genes. "My mother Edith lived until she was 107 years old and was healthy right up until she had a stroke two weeks before she died.”

After talking with Ted it seems he’s also had his fair share of good luck. "I was in two car accidents where both cars were demolished but I was unhurt. I was also struck by lightning once when I was working on a car. And I was knocked out by carbon monoxide twice.”

Ted is thankful for his good luck and his good health. He has been a member of the Legion for 50 years and is still a member of the South Eastern Ontario Antique and Classic Car Club. He continues to volunteer with the Verona Lions and the Verona Festival Committee and was busy flipping burgers at various events this summer. Many know Ted as the long-time official time keeper for the Verona duct tape boat races.