Life's Much More Than Fun and Games for 'Bingo Guy'

When Tony Bellasalma and his wife, Marie, moved to Moorpark from New Jersey in 1988, he had no idea how busy he would become.

After 37 years as an employee for Jersey Central Power and Light, he was looking forward to visiting with his son John (who also lives in Moorpark), relaxing, and enjoying the California lifestyle. Now, 22 years later, he has become one of Moorpark's outstanding volunteers.

"My wife got me involved with the senior center," he said. "She was the push behind my volunteer work. It became very exciting after I got involved."

In fact, after he and Marie, now deceased, joined the Moorpark Social Club, they became volunteer partners.

"She worked on a lot of my paperwork and kept the books. She also cooked a lot of spaghetti dinners for fundraisers," Bellasalma said.

Bellasalma's volunteer activities are numerous. After they moved to Moorpark, he joined the board of directors of the Moorpark Social Club and helped run its senior center and thrift shop. In 1990, when the senior center was turned over to the city of Moorpark, he served as its president. In addition, he's been running the center's bingo operation since 1989.

In cooperation with Foodshare, a Ventura County food bank, Bellasalma helps coordinate the local brown bag program by providing sacks of groceries to use for senior meals in Moorpark. He is also active in delivering those meals.

In 1992, he was appointed by the City of Moorpark as its representative for the Area Agency on Aging. In addition, he served for four years as a commissioner for the Area Housing Authority.

Tony was also instrumental in bringing the important Lifeline Medical Alert Service (http://www.lifelinesys.com/content/home) to Moorpark. Lifeline provides pushbutton emergency service for seniors who fall or have a medical crisis at home and are unable to reach a telephone. He helped secure a grant from AAA to buy the machines used in the program and distribute them to seniors at no cost.

"Now, when any of those 50 machines have a problem, they call me," he said with a smile.

He knows firsthand why they are important. One day, while delivering meals to a senior citizen, he heard her call out. Tony grew concerned and called the police. When they entered her home, they found her collapsed on the floor. She was taken to the hospital and survived.

"She had passed out and couldn't move," he said.

Tony has been acknowledged by several organizations in his community for his outstanding volunteer work. In 2004 he received the Community Service Award from District Eight of the California Parks and Recreation Society. In 2007, he received a citation from the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce as Senior of the Year.

Peggy Rothchild, the supervisor at the Moorpark Active Adult Center, spoke highly of Tony's volunteer service.

"We rely on volunteers. They are the backbone of our organization. I think Tony is remarkable. He routinely volunteers over 600 hours each year," she said.

From bingo, to meal deliveries, to recycling, Tony has become a lynchpin among seniors. What drives him to be so active?

"It's the contact," he said. "Also it's important to keep them [seniors] informed about things like Medicare, health benefits and benefits from the Area Agency on Aging."

From nutrition, to Medicare, to housing, Tony has spent the last two decades serving the Moorpark community with spaghetti dinners, casino trips and bingo gatherings. For Tony, his life has become lively and fulfilling. For all the seniors who have benefitted from his service, their lives are made easier and more enjoyable. Tony summed up the breadth of his volunteer work with a wry smile and a matter-of-fact quip.

"I'm the bingo guy."

For every senior in Moorpark who has gotten to know Tony, that seems to say it all.