JAY — Arthur Benedetto celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post on Sept. 22.

The avid hunter and fisherman also enjoys music and plays weekly at the VFW hall. He played the violin at an early age and plays many instruments. His nephew, Paul, played some of Benedetto’s favorite songs from long ago. Benedetto and his son Rick joined in.

Family and friends came from as far away as California and Singapore.

Benedetto was born Jan. 15, 1919, in Jay, the fourth of 10 children of Ascenzo and Crocifissa Benedetto. He graduated from Jay High School in 1937 and went into the paper mill in 1939, retiring in 1980. On Feb. 5, 1942, he enlisted in the Army at Fort Devens in Massachusetts and served for the duration of World War II.

He married Irene Fleury on April 28, 1947. They made their home on Knapp Street in Jay and had two sons, Steve and Rick. Benedetto has two grandchildren, Christopher and wife, Bethany, and Sara and her husband, Neil Hickey, along with three great-grandchildren, Olivia, Coraline and Emily.

Arthur Benedetto of Jay celebrated his 100th birthday Sept. 22.