AUSTINTOWN Near 90, man works to stay young

He keeps working to stay active and make new friends.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
AUSTINTOWN -- Pete Hirst celebrated his 90th birthday in a strange place -- at work.
His co-workers at Greenwood Chevrolet surprised Hirst with songs and cake Monday in advance of his upcoming birthday Nov. 29.
"He's an inspiration for us all," said Joe Delfre, dealership marketing manager. "I'm 57 years old, and I don't think I'm old. Pete is 90 years old, and he doesn't think he's old, so I guess I can keep going."
Hirst, a courier for the dealership, said he knows plenty of other Steelworkers who retired from the mill and didn't stay active. They just seemed to get old fast, so Hirst has no plans to slow down.
"I'll work as long as I can get up in the morning and keep going," said Hirst, who works 20 hours a week delivering titles and other legal documents to banks, credit unions and license bureaus.
The pay isn't important, he said. What matters to him is staying active and maintaining contact with people.
"I come out here to meet my friends and to make new friends," he said.
Makes connections
Greg Greenwood, dealership owner, said clerks all over the Mahoning Valley love Hirst. If he misses work, the dealership gets calls from people asking if he's OK.
"People are really connected to him," Greenwood said.
Hirst is just as active at home. He enjoys cutting grass with his tractor and crafting dolls and other wooden items in his basement workshop.
He's never been one to sit around, though.
While working at U.S. Steel's McDonald Works in the 1960s, Hirst took a second job in the parts department at a Girard car dealership owned by Marve Minneman. Hirst moved over to Austintown when Minneman opened a new dealership there and stayed on when it was bought by Bud Greenwood, Greg's father, in 1979.
Traveled with wife
Hirst retired as a Steelworker in 1980 and enjoyed traveling the world with his wife, Betty.
Traveling is out now because his wife has ailing knees and hips, but Hirst is content to spend his day delivering documents for the dealership.
About five years ago, he cut back his work day from eight hours to four hours so he can help care for his wife.
Delfre said Hirst still comes to work every day with enthusiasm, so he doesn't think there will be a retirement party anytime soon.
"He might go for another 20 years," Delfre said.
shilling@vindy.com