Retired San Jose firefighter Sam Seibert celebrates his 105th birthday

It’s always a pleasure to visit the Fire Museum in downtown San Jose, but being there for retired Fire Captain Sam Seibert’s birthday celebration was truly special.

Seibert turned 105 on Monday and was the guest of honor at a party at the Market Street firehouse-turned-museum on Tuesday. He sat on a throne, was serenaded by retired firefighter Jim True and blew out the three candles on his chocolate birthday cake. (Had it been 105, that might have set off some alarms.)

Seibert acknowledged that few people have reached his age and lived as good a life as he has, particularly his work as a firefighter and his involvement in the founding of the San Jose Fire Museum, which includes many of his donated items and even has a gallery dedicated to him in the entrance hall.

“This fire department is very special to everyone who is in this building,” he said. “Most people have come here because they want to see me die, but I’m not leaving for another week or two,” he joked. “It’s a joy to be in this organization.”

John McMillan, another retired firefighter who is president of the museum, said, “We are so lucky to have Sam in our lives. He told me and some other friends that his goal was 105. But I expect we can start planning for 110 now.”

Seibert may already be the oldest living firefighter in the United States, as New Jersey native Victor Dransfield died in June at the age of 110.

McMillan said Seibert looks better than he has in years and attributed that in part to the people who take care of him. But some of Seibert’s secrets to longevity were revealed at the party: He recommends not sitting around too much and says drinking too much water causes pipes to rust. “He drinks beer and soda,” McMillan said, laughing.

I don’t think my doctor would agree. But Seibert managed to live more than twice as long as I did, so you can’t really argue with the results.

CHEERS: Philanthropist Al Castellano also had a milestone birthday last weekend: He celebrated his 90th birthday and partied with friends and family – including his new great-granddaughter – at the Saratoga Country Club on Saturday evening.

Castellano is best known for winning the then-record $141 million California Lottery jackpot in 2001, which he and his late wife, Carmen Castellano, turned into a family foundation that provided millions of dollars in grants to Latino causes in the Bay Area and elsewhere over two decades.

Looking dapper in a black tuxedo, Castellano talked about his childhood in Hollister, where he met Carmen and raised his three children – Armando Castellano, Maria West and Carmela Castellano-Garcia – in the Cambrian Park neighborhood of San Jose. Mariachi Azteca performed for the crowd, but “Happy Birthday” was played by Armando Castellano on French horn and his son – and Al Castellano’s grandson – Wim Castellano on guitar.

STAGE PRESENCE: The reading tour of US Representative Nancy Pelosi from San Francisco – undoubtedly the most powerful politician in US history – and her autobiography “The Art of Power” brought people to San Jose on Monday and to a full house at the California Theater.

Pelosi spoke for over an hour onstage with Bay Area philanthropist and education advocate Laurene Powell Jobs, discussing her life in politics and her hopes for the future. The appearance, sponsored by the Kepler’s Literary Foundation, was accompanied by two standing ovations, many outbursts of applause and loud protests in support of Gaza from the balcony, prompting Pelosi to raise her volume to what she called her “mother-of-five” voice.