Heart BEAT

He's The Voice For Booker Residents

DAYTON -- Eightyone year-old Booker Rest Home resident Louis Razzolini is no stranger to making his opinions known.

But to Razzolini's fellow tenants he is more than just a friendly neighbor; he's a megaphone for people who often can't speak up for themselves.

Razzolini, who is best known as just "Louie," is a representative to the Columbia County Health System's board of commissioners for the Booker Rest Home. He visits board meetings on the fourth Thursday of every month to bring up suggestions and complaints.

"I keep my eyes and ears open," Razzolini said.

Razzolini, who has been living at Booker for one year has been a representative for the rest home for about four months and he says his input has helped improve life at Booker.

"I try to keep my mouth shut to a certain point, but when I see something that doesn't seem right to me, I say something," Razzolini said.

And say something he has.

Razzolini said his main focus has been attitude around Booker and since he started speaking up, he said there has been considerable improvement with certain situations.

"When they asked me to be spokesman (for Booker), I said I would take the job but you might not like what I have to say," Razzolini said with a chuckle.

Razzolini was asked to take the position by City Councilman Charlie Button and he has been helpful to the people at Booker, said Booker Rest Home so- cial services staff member Tammy Brown.

"He's very vocal, nice and very congenial," Brown said.

He isn't hesitant to let people know what he thinks and this mindset has been a major factor in the improvements at Booker because the tenants are able to communicate with the board through Razzolini about any issues they come across.

Razzolini said he goes around Booker and talks to the residents and listens to what they have to say.

"He's going to tell you what he's going to tell you regardless and you've got to take it with a grain of salt," health system board member Lisa Naylor said. "He comes to the board meetings and stays the whole time to offer his input. He raises his concerns and once it's to the board we can take action and fix it."

Naylor said what Razzolini does for the Booker residents is something other residents are often not interested in or not in any position to do.

"He's quite a guy," Naylor said. "We're really happy that he's there and representing all of the residents."

While Razzolini has only been at Booker for one year, his wife, Clara Louise Razzolini, has been there for five years and Louis said he was happy to be able to live with her again.

The couple, married for 58 years, used to be inseparable. They did everything together, Razzolini said. And they never, ever swore in front of their four children, he said. Two of their sons currently reside in Walla Walla while another lives in California. Their daughter recently passed away at the age of 52.

Before his time at Booker, Razzolini was in the 101st Airborne Division for two years where he tore some ligaments in his leg after a jump from an airplane. After his injury, Razzolini was transferred to the Seventh Army where he taught Judo. Outside of service, Razzolini used to spend his time doing crafts and working with his hands building model clipper ships and even a family crest which now resides on the wall in his room.

Razzolini's time is now occupied with more intellectual issues that come from helping others solve problems. He said he wants to make sure the people at Booker have a voice.

"I do what I can for them," he said. "Don't tell these people to shut up; it's their right to talk."

Razzolini said as long as he is able to he will continue to help the people at Booker. He said he enjoys doing things for people and this is a great way for him to do just that.

"I'm on the downward path and you can't go back," Razzolini said. "As long as I've got life left in me and however many years I've got left I'm going to keep helping people."