Tony Gatti's friends and relations were on a mission spanning 1,500 miles and as near as Westport Island and Wiscasset Community Center. The goal: a surprise 80th birthday party Saturday, Dec. 15 for the Wiscasset planning board member and longtime resident.

Sister-in-law Lynn Murray, 77, of Gainsville, Florida flew in Wednesday, Dec. 12 and hid out at the Westport Island home of longtime friends of Gatti, Andy and Cathy Fuller.

If Gatti saw Murray or others coming to Maine for the surprise, it would tip him off. "I only went to Shaw's once, and that was when I knew he was in Cape Elizabeth for the day," she said.

Making the trip was important because he's family, and because time goes by so quickly, she said.

Murray and about 70 other local and out-of-state relatives and friends gathered in WCC's senior center Saturday afternoon for the party Gatti's daughter Lisa Gatti planned. Her mother Nancy Gatti was in on it, too. Nancy said later, she and Tony have been married 56 years. She added, "We've been together 60 because we went together four."

To get him to WCC, where Lisa works, Nancy pretended they needed to drop off their daughter's keys.

It worked. He did not see it coming and was thrilled to see them all. "This is too much," he said seconds after he arrived. Then he circulated, sharing hugs and handshakes and thanking each person for coming.

"I just can't believe it, to see all these people and the ones who traveled so far," he said in an interview. Asked about turning 80, Gatti said he still feels 39.

"I just look a little different. But I stay active and I'm in pretty good health, so I feel young." Gatti worked at Bath Iron Works 30 years and now buys, sells and repairs antiques.

Andy Fuller worked many years with Gatti at BIW. Cathy Fuller said of Gatti, "He is the kindest man."

"Always has been, genuinely kind," her husband agreed. Tony Gatti III said his father would do anything for anyone. He has been consistently nice, Murray said.

Lisa Gatti said her father's party turned out awesome. "Everybody who said they would come did. I am overwhelmed."