Philip Anthony Caruso Spokane

In 1907, when Philip Anthony Caruso was a young boy, he sold newspapers on downtown Spokane corners, calling out, “Read all about it.”

Caruso, who was born April 15, 1900, in Cosenza, Italy, celebrates his 100th birthday today.

When he was 6, he and his mother and three siblings boarded a steamer and immigrated to America. His father, who was already in the United States, had found work in Spokane.

Caruso and his brother Fred opened The Linoleum Shop on North Division in 1933, and he worked there until his retirement last January.

He and Margaret Hunter, who were married in 1940, are parents of four children: Ray Caruso, China Lake, Calif., Phyllis Stephens and Bill Caruso, both of Spokane, and the late Lou Caruso.

Philip Caruso said he attributes his longevity to his beautiful family.

“The Lord has truly blessed me,” he said. “Especially with my wife. As George Burns says, `You can’t help but get older but you don’t have to get old.”’