Pazzelli celebrates 100th

Cathy Perfect
Kern Valley Sun

A group of about 50 friends, neighbors and family gathered at Reita and Dick Hamilton's Wofford Heights home on Saturday to celebrate Beth Pazzelli's 100th birthday. Pazzelli, widow of Primo Pazzelli, the original owner of Primo's in Kernville, is Dick's "great-grand auntie Beth."

Pazelli, crowned with a gold birthday tiara, "held court" as the lively group of well-wishers came bearing gifts and memories for the centenarian's celebration.

Born Sept. 28, 1905 in San Francisco, Pazzelli shared her memories of the tent cities that peppered the San Francisco landscape after the city was rocked by the earthquake of 1906. She recounted tales of riding her bicycle to a neighborhood pharmacy during the influenza pandemic of 1918, which struck every member of her family except her.

After graduating from Hollywood High School, Pazzelli went to millinery school and later established a shop on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. She plied her trade in the entertainment industry, making all the hats for the 1939 classic movie "Gone with the Wind."

She also traveled to Italy with Hollywood High classmate and longtime friend, Fred Hall, for the movie "Cleopatra" in the early '60's. Hall also worked in the movie industry.

Hall, 101, was on hand for the centennial celebration. "I think it's so nice that they've remained friends for all these years," Reita Hamilton said.

In her toast to the birthday girl, Reita Hamilton countered Pazelli's comment that "I'm such a pain in the butt" with, "Yeah, but you're worth it."