Victoria E. Freile

Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle

ROCHESTER, NY - Joe Aiello never planned to rappel down the side of a skyscraper.

He also never expected to slip on his first step.

"I was like, 'What am I doing up here on the edge?'" he said following his descent. "But after you get going and learn the hang of the rope, it works out fine."

But at 89, the Henrietta man said he didn't let the bobble deter him from skipping the opportunity to try something new and raise funds for a close-to-home cause.

Aiello on Friday was among nearly 85 area residents to rappel 309 feet down the side of First Federal Plaza Building as part of 21 Stories for Scouts, an annual fundraiser for the Boy Scouts of America. Money collected supports Seneca Waterways Council's Urban Scouting program, which supports more than 800 Scouts within Rochester's city limits.

"It was a great experience and I'll do it again," he said after his descent.

At 5 feet, 1 inch tall, Aiello trained for the event with regular gym workouts and about a half-hour of training by Over The Edge, a Canada-based company that operates the fundraiser. Aiello donned a friend's Boy Scout shirt underneath his borrowed gear.

Although he was a Scout for only one year (as a 12-year-old in 1938), Aiello said the organization had a great impact on his life and he wanted to do his part to help others.

A former restaurant worker and eatery owner, a Navy veteran and amateur home builder who dabbled in real estate, Aiello attempted to retire in the mid-'90s and barely lasted three weeks. For the past 23 years, he's worked as a part-time bartender at the Country Club of Rochester.

Not only is Aiello the oldest Rochester-area resident to tackle the challenge, but also he raised far more than any other participant in the event's seven-year history.

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89-year-old man rappels 21 stories

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