SDUN Staff Report

Leonard Sylvester Chicoine, a North Park resident since 1953, marked his 100th birthday on April 24 at Art and Lori Bowen’s home in Burlingame. More than 100 family members and friends shared in the celebration.

Chicoine, whose birthday was three days earlier, served 23 years in the Navy, including time on the USS Hornet at the Battle of the Midway and on the USS Lexington. He played in the NTC Band at the opening of the Fox Theatre (now Copley Symphony Hall) downtown. Under his baton, the band played a half-hour show every Sunday night on KCBQ 1170.

After retiring from the military, Chicoine was an electronics technician at General Dynamics, and he sold products for Electrolux and Fuller Brush.

His married his wife, Patricia, in 1936, with whom he had seven children, 27 grandchildren and 20-plus great-grandchildren. Patricia died in 1995.

Chicoine – who still enjoys working in his garage – continues to live with daughter Susan and her husband, Ted, in his original home on Redwood Street, which they bought six years ago and are now renovating.