A 97-year-old California man died at his own birthday party moments after dancing to the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” — a “dramatic outing” the fun-loving senior reportedly wished for.
Los Angeles baker Eden Malinoff, 24, revealed her neighbor Vito’s remarkable story after throwing him a Halloween-themed 97th birthday party last week.
Vito was seen clapping, swaying and smiling while dressed in a black button-down shirt and dress pants as the ’70s disco classic played during the celebration, in footage posted by Malinoff to TikTok on Monday.
The eldest appeared to be having the time of his life before the celebration took a tragic turn and he died suddenly at the party – shortly after guests sang “Happy Birthday” to him.
“Last week was Vito’s 97th birthday and, in true Vito fashion, he wanted to celebrate by throwing a Halloween birthday party,” said Malinoff, who runs the Baked cake and cookie company.
“So of course I made him a cake. When I asked him the secret to living this long, he said it was to never drink cheap alcohol,” she continued, explaining that she made him a chocolate and red wine cake in his honor.
The Baker praised Vito for his youthful energy, saying he was a beloved member of his friend group, even though he was decades older than most of its members.
“If I learned one thing from Vito, it’s to never let your age stop you,” Malinoff said.
“This man lived his life to the fullest, until his last moments, literally. At 24, I couldn’t keep up with this man, he was the life of the party,” she continued.
Malinoff said the evening took a heartbreaking turn, but Vito’s final moments were still filled with the people and music he loved.
“Unfortunately, the evening did not end as planned and Vito made a dramatic exit. But if he could have chosen to exit, it would have been like this,” she added.
“He was surrounded by people he loved, we were celebrating his long and full life, and I am so grateful to have been able to be a part of it.”
Vito’s best friend also confirmed his friend’s death on social media, saying the 97-year-old had health issues that those around him didn’t realize were so serious.
“He had medical issues that we didn’t know the severity of, and he passed away peacefully to the sound of his favorite music,” the friend posted.
Malinoff’s tribute video has since attracted 9.5 million views on TikTok.
“RIP to an absolute legend,” she captioned the video.
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