100-year-old 'Pop' moved to tears at surprise curbside birthday party

"He said, 'I never saw anything like that.'"

ByNicole Pelletiere via logo
April 24, 2020, 2:07 PM

A grandfather had a tearful reaction to a surprise birthday parade in celebration of his 100th birthday.

Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," was greeted by friends and family outside his Toms River, New Jersey, home on April 12. The centenarian's actual birth date is April 13.

"He was trying to get close and hug but I couldn't," grandson PJ Franovic of Hoboken told "Good Morning America." "He was definitely crying, overwhelmed -- he said, 'I never saw anything like that.'"

PHOTO: Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," was greeted by friends and family outside his Toms River, New Jersey, home on April 12. The centenarian's actual birth date is April 13.
Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," was greeted by friends and family outside his Toms River, New Jersey, home on April 12. The centenarian's actual birth date is April 13.
PJ Franovic
PHOTO: Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," was greeted by friends and family outside his Toms River, New Jersey, home on April 12. The centenarian's actual birth date is April 13.
Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," was greeted by friends and family outside his Toms River, New Jersey, home on April 12. The centenarian's actual birth date is April 13.
PJ Franovic

Zagara was born in Sicily and fought in WWII for Italy. He was a prisoner of war for five years in England, Franovic said.

Zagara and his late wife Grace had two children together. After she died, Zagara remarried a woman named Luda.

"I firmly believe he wouldn't have made it to 100 if it wasn't for her and the bond they have," Franovic said.

PHOTO: PJ Franovic of N.J. and his grandfather, Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," pose in an undated image.
PJ Franovic of N.J. and his grandfather, Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," pose in an undated image.
PJ Franovic
PHOTO: Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," was greeted by friends and family outside his Toms River, New Jersey, home on April 12. The centenarian's actual birth date is April 13.
Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," was greeted by friends and family outside his Toms River, New Jersey, home on April 12. The centenarian's actual birth date is April 13.
PJ Franovic
PHOTO: Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," was greeted by friends and family outside his Toms River, New Jersey, home on April 12. The centenarian's actual birth date is April 13.
Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," was greeted by friends and family outside his Toms River, New Jersey, home on April 12. The centenarian's actual birth date is April 13.
PJ Franovic

Franovic and his family had a 100th birthday celebration planned for Zagara, which they canceled due to the novel coronavirus.

PHOTO: PJ Franovic of Hoboken, N.J. poses with his wife, Theresa Bufano, in an undated photo. Franovic had arranged a 100th birthday parade for his grandfather.
PJ Franovic of Hoboken, N.J. poses with his wife, Theresa Bufano, in an undated photo. Franovic had arranged a 100th birthday parade for his grandfather.
PJ Franovic

Instead, Franovic's sister, Stefanie, and his wife, Theresa Bufano, called loved ones and local fire and police departments asking if they'd be willing to participate in a birthday parade.

PHOTO: Peter Zagara of Toms River, New Jersey poses with his grandkids, Stefanie and PJ Franovic in an undated photo.
Peter Zagara of Toms River, New Jersey poses with his grandkids, Stefanie and PJ Franovic in an undated photo.
PJ Franovic

A fleet of cars drove by as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin songs played. Franovic's video was shared by the popular Instagram account, @tanksgoodnews, where over 652,000 viewed the footage.

PHOTO: Peter Zagara, 100, of Toms River, New Jersey poses with his grandkids, Stefanie and PJ Franovic in an undated photo.
Peter Zagara, 100, of Toms River, New Jersey poses with his grandkids, Stefanie and PJ Franovic in an undated photo.
PJ Franovic
PHOTO: Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," was greeted by friends and family outside his Toms River, New Jersey, home on April 12. The centenarian's actual birth date is April 13.
Peter Zagara, lovingly known as "Pop," was greeted by friends and family outside his Toms River, New Jersey, home on April 12. The centenarian's actual birth date is April 13.
PJ Franovic

"He feels like a rock star right now," Franovic said. "He feels like it's his world and we're all living in it and that's how I want it to be."

Zagara is expecting his first great-grandchild from Franovic and his wife.

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