Simon Redditt Celebrates 106th Birthday

Simon Redditt has been a proud resident of Council District Nine for more than 60 years and currently resides in the Juanita Tate Legacy Towers.

A native of Bartlett, Tennessee, Mr. Redditt was born on August 25, 1906. He lived a colorful life after leaving home as a teen, he said, “To make me some money.” 

Seeking that goal, he enjoyed many adventures working as a ‘policy or numbers’ writer in Memphis and Chicago.

In 1933, Mr. Redditt married the late Ollie Vernal Redditt and the union lasted 66 years. Still in Chicago, he worked at Firestone Tire and Rubber.  A few years later, he requested and was denied a transfer to the LA plant, so he resigned, moved to Los Angeles and applied for a job a Firestone.

As God would have it, Mr. Redditt was hired and remained employed there for the next 25 years before retiring in 1970.

Acquaintances agree that Mr. Redditt loves the card game, ‘Tonk,” often telling opponents, “I hate to skin you, but I need your hide,” as he prepares to win.  He also loves the LA Lakers and Dodgers.

A gentle man who is also self-sufficient, Mr. Redditt rode the bus until the age of 100, traveling to Beverly Hills, Westwood and Culver City.

“I did it to meet new people, but people were so amazed to see someone my age on public transportation and independent, that strangers would place $5 or $10 in my hand just for me to have,” he remembered.

A friend noted that, “Simon is a kind man who shows much love, particularly towards family members. Whether he is amazing you with his recall of history or his jokes and poems, or enjoying good food, you cannot but know that his presence is something very special.”

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