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Copley veteran turns 100 — Credits dance, olive oil and nightly vodka for long life

Posted at 3:31 PM, Mar 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-20 16:21:10-04

A Copley veteran turned 100 on Monday and shared his secret to living a long life: dance as much as you can, enjoy olive oil and a nightly drink won't hurt you.

Joe Saiani, who served in the army during World War II, said he uses pure olive oil often when he cooks and he usually drinks one vodka and tonic before he goes to bed each night.

Saiani also still drives and only takes one daily pill for his blood pressure.

"I just don't think about how old I am. I really don't. It doesn't bother me," he said.

Saiani, who was born when Woodrow Wilson was President, sold meat and fish for most of his life and retired from a Cleveland company at the age of 95.

The centenarian also believes his love for ballroom dancing contributed to his longevity.

Saiani and his wife, Posie, danced for decades across the country, including inside dance halls in Cleveland, Canton, Illinois, Missouri, Florida, New York and West Virginia.

"I think it's good exercise. I think that kept me alive really."

Posie passed away in 2014.

Saiani has three children, seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.