- April 28, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Judy Endean snaps a photo of husband David with Jimmy Loftis and the Endeans' dog Gidget.
The Longboat Key Fire Department hung the birthday banner on the truck to drive by and celebrate Jimmy Loftis.
Patty Poole grabs a gift from a drive-by well-wisher.
Jimmy Loftis accepts a singing card from Mara Bell.
Posted signs celebrated Loftis.
Balloons and handwritten signs abounded to celebrate Loftis' birthday.
Eric Bell and Jimmy Loftis bump fists instead of shaking hands.
Jimmy Loftis bumps fists with longtime friend Joe Callahan.
June Sturges, Joe Callahan and Jimmy Loftis
Larry Poole bumps elbows with a friend who came by to say happy birthday to Loftis.
Liana Vitorino and Jimmy Loftis
June Sturges and Jimmy Loftis
David Endean, Jimmy Loftis and Gidget
For his 95th birthday on Aug. 4, Jimmy Loftis' friends aimed to surprise him.
And surprise they did. From the time he returned from church that morning until well after lunchtime, Loftis was whisked into celebration after socially distanced celebration. First, longtime friend Eddie Tobin brought a piano keyboard up to Loftis' condo to play "Happy Birthday" before brunch and prosecco, then, friend June Sturges led Loftis back downstairs for his party. In the age of the coronavirus pandemic, it was naturally a drive-by party, led off by a procession of Longboat Key police and fire-rescue vehicles.
"It's unbelievable!" Loftis exclaimed, thoroughly surprised.
Then came the well-wishers. Throughout the morning, about 40 cars came through to hand out cards, balloons and gifts to Loftis. The goal was to get 95 birthday cards for the man, and longtime friend and surprise co-conspirator Larry Poole said they were pretty close to the goal. Poole's wife Patty filmed the whole thing to send to Loftis' family in Maryland.
"We realized they couldn't get here and we landed on a couple options," Poole said. "We took a page out of the graduations we've seen with folks driving by."
