Nothing all that unusual for a Minnesotan to clear the walk of a neighbor who is out of town. But then again, how many of those lifting the shovel are 101 years old?
101-year-old St. Paul man puts winter in its place, shoveling neighbor's walk
St. Paul man was helping out neighbor who is away.
January 15, 2016 at 8:05AM
Richard Mann, born March 8, 1914, looked out last week and saw what a light snowfall had left, then did what had to be done for his traveling next-door neighbor in the 1500 block of Western Avenue N. in St. Paul
Another neighbor across the street made a visual record of Mann's gesture, put it online and the rest is viral history: more than 575,000 views in less than a week.
"Mr. Mann, I was looking out my window and I'm filming you right there at this time Mr. Mann," said Keven O'Bannon as he tromped across the street toward the stocking-capped centenarian with the posture of a man decades younger and a strong, clear voice. "You're 101 years old, and you're out here shoveling the neighbor's snow?" Mann, a great-grandfather, chuckled as he leaned on the upright shovel and replied, "Well, he's out of town, and I'm not exerting myself. I'm not going to overdo it. I can use the exercise. … I know what my limitations are."
O'Bannon said neighbors usually get to Mann's walk first, right after a snowfall, but he was out there ahead of them this time.
"We usually try to come out here and catch your snow," O'Bannon told Mann. "It was such a light snow … that we didn't really get out here."
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
