Long-time Valley resident has blue and gold birthday

WASILLA -- Sometimes a little persistence pays off in unexpected ways.

Last week, longtime Valley resident Jay Nolfi was presented with a legislative citation -- and a surprise luncheon -- in honor of her 80th birthday, and to allow Mat-Su Sen. Lyda Green to deliver a gift Nolfi had been reminding her about for many weeks.

Green, at the PeKing Chinese Restaurant in Wasilla, joked about a telephone call she had received during the legislative session from Nolfi. The former assembly member, Green said, gently reminded her that her 80th birthday was around the corner and asked what it would take for someone to get an Alaska flag.

At the time, Green told Nolfi she could probably find a flag for her and, unbeknownst to Nolfi, set about writing up a legislative citation to honor Nolfi for her commitment to her Mat-Su community -- and to Alaska.

Nolfi moved to Alaska with her husband Adrian via the Alaska Highway in 1947. She went to work for the Department of Taxation in Anchorage upon her arrival in Alaska and, by 1959, had helped her husband carve out a homestead in Big Lake. Nolfi worked for the Anchorage Borough School District for more than 20 years, helping to form a support staff bargaining unit dubbed the Totem Association.

Closer to home, Nolfi served on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly for two terms, is a past secretary for the Pioneers of Alaska, was secretary and president of the Big Lake Community Council and Big Lake Chamber of Commerce, and has served on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly Committee on policies and procedures, as well as serving on the borough's Board of Ethics as a member and chair.

The citation passed the Senate unanimously May 18 and the House unanimously on Nolfi's birthday. And despite calls from Nolfi after that date inquiring about the flag she had been hoping for, Green was able to keep the citation a secret.

"I really felt kind of bad because I knew she was getting a little steamed about that flag," Green said.

But the heat from Nolfi paid off when she arrived at the restaurant to find a gathering of well-wishing friends. Although Nolfi refused to believe the party was in her honor, Green convinced her by handing over the long-awaited flag and revealed the legislative citation.

The citation will go on the wall next to one presented in 1995 by Rep. Beverly Masek, R-Willow, to Nolfi's husband who was instrumental in building several roads throughout the Valley, worked in coal mines in Palmer and, during WWII, was stationed on Attu Island.

A disbelieving and self-effacing Nolfi was, according to attendees, uncharacteristically speechless about the honor.

"Is this for me? You're kidding!" was Nolfi's aghast response.