Afghan Affection : A Simi Valley retiree crochets for the community and celebrities. So far, he’s given away more than 500 creations.

When his first wife died eight years ago, Jimmy Consolo needed something to occupy himself. So his daughter taught him to crochet. The 81-year-old Simi Valley resident has been hooked on the hobby ever since. And he has made and donated more than 500 afghans, mostly to residents of local nursing homes.

Last month the retired barber was honored for his community service.

Consolo was the sole Ventura County resident among 10 winners of the “Remarkable Senior Contest,” held June 7 at the “Time of Your Life Expo” in Los Angeles.

“Winners were selected from hundreds of nominees,” said Jerry Beigel, editor of Southern California Senior Life newspaper, which sponsors the contest.

Consolo won a gift certificate to visit the Reagan Library and two nights lodging at the Radisson Hotel in Simi Valley.

Since Consolo remarried a year ago, he and his wife, Ruth, who is 69, have lived quietly in a small, two-story apartment building resembling a converted motel. Like many senior citizens, the Consolos are retired, disabled and live on a fixed income.

But two heart attacks have not stopped Jimmy from crocheting.

A “Parking for Italians Only” sign in Consolo’s living room window confirmed my impression of him as a gregarious, good-humored man. A collage on the living room wall displays photos of celebrities and Consolo’s paisani Perry Como and Tommy Lasorda.

And there are letters of appreciation for afghans from celebrities including Lasorda, Barbara Bush, Dolores Hope and Sally Jessy Raphael.

“I made afghans for Nancy Reagan and the other first ladies when they visited the Reagan Library last November,” said Consolo. “It was my birthday. And I wanted to present them in person. But a staff member took the box and said he would give it to Nancy Reagan. I was so disappointed, I took back the other afghans and had my son drive me home.”

Last spring Consolo made an afghan for Rodney King and presented it to his aunt at the Simi Valley Courthouse.

“He made one for Frank Sinatra in green, red and white--the colors of the flag of Italy,” said his wife. “But when he found out he couldn’t present it personally, he got so mad he took Sinatra’s name and musical notes off and gave it to somebody else,” she said with a chuckle.

Consolo enjoys his contact with celebrities.

But his real passion is making afghans for local charitable organizations and the homeless.

Some groups even raffle his creations during fund-raising events.

“Last Christmas he made 127 lap robes for all the residents at the Hallmark Nursing Center in Simi Valley,” recalled Robin Hahn, activities director.

“Jimmy Consolo piled them under the tree. And the residents picked out which one they wanted,” she added.

Consolo also began a tradition of making a blanket for the first baby born each year in Simi Valley.

Consolo said he can make a 46-inch lap robe in two days. But it requires nearly two months of constant work to produce a bedspread seven feet long.

“I love the work I do for the community,” he said. “But it got to where I couldn’t pay for the yarn anymore. So I put an ad in the paper. And people have been real nice about giving me yarn.”

Recently, my son and I went to see the feature film, “A Stranger Among Us,” about a community of Hasidic Jews in New York.

I noticed that several older members of the audience became nostalgic when Yiddish was spoken.

If you would like to rekindle your childhood language or want to learn Yiddish, classes emphasizing Yiddish vocabulary, humor and music will start in September at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks.

For details, call 497-1639.

The Goebel Center is now closed on Sundays.

The facility’s new hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays noon to 4 p.m.

The Seventh Annual Ultimate Dining Experience to benefit Conejo Valley Senior Concerns will be held Sunday, Aug. 9, at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza Hotel, 880 Westlake Blvd. in Westlake Village.

A silent auction and cocktails are scheduled at 5 p.m. and a gourmet dinner prepared by preeminent chefs of Southern California will be served at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person and reservations are requested by tomorrow.

For more information call 495-2361.

* FYI

To donate yarn for Jimmy Consolo’s afghans, call 584-1831.