HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WENY)- Oliver Lindblad turned 100 years old on December 8th. He reunited with his family for the first time since the start of the pandemic on Saturday to have a special celebration for his centennial birthday. 

Lindblad was born in VanEtten, N.Y. and attended VanEtten Central School followed by EBI Business School.  He was married to his wife Gloria for 66 years before she passed away in 2011.

Lindblad was a jack of many trades. He spent most of his life playing the accordion and giving lessons to students until arthritis forced him to stop. He loves music and was passionate about teaching kids how to play the instrument. He explained today's music is not like it was back in his day.

"In the old days, you had the nice songs you could sing to, with music today, I don't even understand what they're singing, what they're saying," Lindblad said.

He also worked in a factory for 32 years at the Bendix Corporation in Elmira Heights and had a few part-time jobs including working at a butcher shop with his dad.

"Run a farm, dealt with cattle, had some apartments and helped at the slaughterhouse. You can do four to five jobs when you are young but when you get older, it takes the whole day just to look after yourself," Lindblad said.

The secret to his longevity is quite simple, he explains.

"There's no secret I've never smoked or drank in my life! Keep on working as long as you keep moving it gives you another day," Lindblad said.

Although his memory is not what it use to be he says, it's hard for him to remember the names of his kids and grandkids so he has a strategy for that.

"So I got them all written down because I can never remember, I have three children, five grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren," he said.

In 100 years in life, there's one thing that remained etched in his mind.  As a teenager, he tried to enlist in the service but got rejected three times because of a heart condition.

"I remember the doctor said, young man, I was about seventeen or eighteen, you better take care of that heart you won't be with us much longer. Guess what, they're all dead and I'm still here," Lindblad said.

He added he is lucky to be alive, turning triple digits, and looks forward to turning 101 celebrating the same way, with loved ones.