The hardest part of organizing Dan Antonio’s retirement party on June 24, was keeping it a secret.
After 31 years as the woodworking shop supervisor – and so much more – at New Leaf Living & Learning residential services in Queensville, Antonio was finally retiring, at the age of 69.
In fact, he had planned to retire back in April, with a traditional party and send-off at work, followed by a trip with wife Debbie up to Thunder Bay to see a new grandchild.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted those plans.
No parties. No dinners. No unnecessary travel. It seemed that Dan’s retirement would take place without any hoopla.
That’s when Debbie and daughter Joy put their heads together and organized a virtual retirement party and drive-past parade.
Employees of New Leaf past and present, family members and members of their “church family” at Bradford Baptist Church where Dan has been part of the Praise Team, were contacted and invited to drive past on Wednesday morning – honking horns, singing ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’, and delivering cards and gifts.
Joy noted, “He’s the kind of person who gives and never expects anything. I’m super-excited.”
They decided to go one step further, and make it a surprise virtual party.
Participants were sworn to secrecy. Phone calls for more information were directed to another number – mother-in-law Judi Tomlinson’s phone.
And granddaughter Amelia, almost six, came over to provide a distraction, to keep Dan at home on the big morning.
It nearly backfired, though. When the battery in one of Amelia’s toys died, Dan was all set to take a walk to the nearest store, to pick up a replacement.
He was stopped just in time – as a parade of cars, filled with co-workers and friends, drove past his house, and neighbours came out to join the street party, all maintaining social distancing.
It definitely caught Dan by surprise.
“I’m not used to this,” he said, as co-workers delivered cards, gifts, as well as letters and best wishes from those unable to attend in person.
There was also a promise of a retirement dinner, “maybe in September,” if COVID restrictions are lifted.
“I found it so difficult to retire,” said Dan after the parade. “I had such joy going to work.”
He not only ran the wood-working program at New Leaf, but looked after the animals and the gardens, and ran a music program, “working with people with all kinds of challenges, physical and mental challenges, which is something I just loved to do,” he said.
“It’s about interacting with people, almost becoming part of their life.”
While he was employed at New Leaf, the number of residences increased, from 3 to 13. Despite the increasing workload, Dan continued to volunteer within the Bradford community, over the years – with the foodbank, the old library, and more recently Bradford Valley Care Community.
His plans for retirement? More gardening, more fishing, that trip to Thunder Bay, and more volunteering, “now that I have more time.”
