Susquehanna Valley centenarian is still getting in his regular workouts

Even on his 100th birthday, a Lebanon County man didn’t want to miss his time at the gym.Frank Stellar’s Monday morning workout at the Lebanon YMCA took a bit of a turn when he was greeted by a celebration he didn’t expect.”That was the biggest surprise I’ve ever had,” he said.Why have a celebration at the Y? Stellar has been a member for 56 years.These days, Stellar still works out three times a week for 45 minutes each day.He wasn’t always so health conscious.”When I was 7 years old, I was smoking,” he said.He needed surgery at 12.”When I came out of the hospital, I lit up a cigarette and started gagging and coughing. And I said, ‘That’s it. No more smoking.’ And I never took a puff after that,” he said.Stellar was drafted into the Army Air Corps during World War II.After the Battle of the Bulge, “I was one who was picked to go back to England for infantry training,” he said.The war ended before he saw action.He eventually made his way home, got married and had three sons.He worked at the Cornwall Iron Mines.”Twenty-six years underground I worked. It’s darker than dark,” he said.He had a few close calls but said overall, he’s a lucky guy.He credits his good genes, routine workouts and great friends for his long life.

LEBANON, Pa. —

Even on his 100th birthday, a Lebanon County man didn’t want to miss his time at the gym.

Frank Stellar’s Monday morning workout at the Lebanon YMCA took a bit of a turn when he was greeted by a celebration he didn’t expect.

“That was the biggest surprise I’ve ever had,” he said.

Why have a celebration at the Y? Stellar has been a member for 56 years.

These days, Stellar still works out three times a week for 45 minutes each day.

He wasn’t always so health conscious.

“When I was 7 years old, I was smoking,” he said.

He needed surgery at 12.

“When I came out of the hospital, I lit up a cigarette and started gagging and coughing. And I said, ‘That’s it. No more smoking.’ And I never took a puff after that,” he said.

Stellar was drafted into the Army Air Corps during World War II.

After the Battle of the Bulge, “I was one who was picked to go back to England for infantry training,” he said.

The war ended before he saw action.

He eventually made his way home, got married and had three sons.

He worked at the Cornwall Iron Mines.

“Twenty-six years underground I worked. It’s darker than dark,” he said.

He had a few close calls but said overall, he’s a lucky guy.

He credits his good genes, routine workouts and great friends for his long life.