South Greensburg man marks 80th birthday with surprise parade thanks to friends, family

Robert “Boo” Shrader thought he was going to have a quiet 80th birthday celebration on Wednesday with pizza, cake and family.

Until he was instructed to put his coat and shoes on and get outside.

On an unseasonably cool May day in his South Greensburg neighborhood, about 40 vehicles filled with well-wishers streamed past Shrader’s house. He donned a top hat and warmly greeted every driver and passenger as they handed over cards, balloons and birthday greetings.

“It was wonderful,” he said after the surprise.

His daughter Ann Carleton of Hempfield couldn’t let the special day go by without a celebration, albeit a socially distant one during the coronavirus pandemic. She rounded up friends and family to parade down Ashland Street.

Neighbors earlier in the day put up a sign asking passersby to honk for Shrader’s birthday and Carleton had a few old pictures printed that were set up in front of his house. Participants in the parade included friends from various parts of Shrader’s life — the Third United Church of Christ where he attends, the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County from which he retired and the South Greensburg Fire Department where he is a member.

“As usual, Hufftowners show their love,” Carleton said, referring to South Greensburg’s nickname. “He’s lived there almost all of his life. I’m so glad to have so many friends and family in Hufftown.”

Shrader enjoyed the surprise, but was nonchalant about becoming an octogenarian.

“It’s just another day of the week to me,” he said.