Around the world in 80 great years

Buffy Bailey and Dan Orr

If anyone knows how to do birthdays with style, it’s Omar Oliver Orr.

While this longtime Newport Beach resident has had several surprise

parties and taken a ride in an authentic World War II airplane on

previous birthdays, the year 2004, which marks his 80th year on this

Earth, would bring him a birthday extravaganza like no other.

A little island known as Cozumel provided the perfect setting for

an 80-year-old’s birthday playground. Located off the coast of

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel has been Omar’s favorite

destination spot for more than 30 years. With its lush tropical

flora, warm Caribbean waters and low-key tourist atmosphere, no one

would have second-guessed Omar’s pick for the festivities.

But this birthday bash would not be complete without all 15

members of Omar’s closest kin. These family members spanned four

generations and included two surviving sons and their spouses, one

daughter, five grandchildren, one grandson-in-law, two

great-grandsons and two ex-wives. But 15 was not enough for Mr. Orr,

so he also brought 28 “Orr-nots,” a conglomeration of his Newport

Beach Yacht Club buddies and longtime friends of the family.

After two three-hour flights, one of which included a special

“Happy Birthday to Omar” sing-along presented by the flight

attendants and passengers, all 42 members of the Orr and the Orr-not

party landed safely in Cozumel on a humid July afternoon. The large

group then flocked to the Hotel Playa Azul, managed by Fernando and

Martha. Having known Omar for many years, these gracious hosts

happily greeted the birthday boy and his family at the door.

The Hotel Playa Azul proved to be an excellent spot, as the

premises offered everything a vacationer could wish for -- a large

swimming pool, comfortable air-conditioned rooms and a cozy

restaurant that switches from breakfast to lunch to dinner with ease.

And with a palapa bar right on the beach, the Orr party had no reason

to leave.

While everyone initially planned to just hang out at the hotel, a

few of Cozumel’s entertainment highlights got in the way, such as the

new 18-hole golf course, parasailing, Scuba diving, Chakkanaub Lagoon

National Park, shopping in town and Carlos ‘n Charlie’s nightclub.

Omar made every dinner a special event as well. Each evening, he took

a small group to a new restaurant. The most popular was “La Mission”

-- part mansion, part restaurant and part zoo. Delicious meals were

served in the courtyard and on the grounds of the owners’ beautiful

home, next to their private collection of animals that included two

aging circus lions, monkeys and exotic birds.

However, the best dinner of all occurred on the second-to-last

night of the trip, which Omar designated as “Birthday Night.” While

Omar had turned 80 in March, he also wanted to honor several other

big birthdays of 2004. His ex-wife Melody turned 75, his oldest son

Dan was now 55 and the date of the big celebration was daughter

Diane’s birthday.

Prior to all of the festivities, the Orrs wanted to pay tribute to

one missing family member. Omar’s youngest son, Douglas Ray Orr,

passed away two years ago. His siblings have been busy ever since

spreading his ashes in the places he loved, like China Cove, Big

Corona, Angel Stadium, the Coliseum, the Rose Bowl, Wrigley Field and

even Notre Dame Stadium. Now it was time to deliver him to Cozumel.

After everyone spoke of fond memories, his sister Diane spread a

portion of his ashes across Cozumel’s sparkling waters.

After Doug’s remembrance, everyone gathered on the beach to mingle

before dinner. Each partygoer wore a specially made shirt that

boasted a caricature of Omar’s face and a “Happy Birthday!” message.

One group of Orrs revealed a surprise pinata. Cheered on by the

crowd, Omar stepped up to take a whack. Unfortunately, gravity was

not on his side that evening, as he took a small tumble and landed

headfirst onto a walkway. He luckily sustained only minor injuries

and the great-grandkids sought revenge on the unruly pinata for their

“Boompa.”

Omar returned to the party after getting cleaned up and insisted

that the festivities continue. The Playa Azul chefs prepared two

lovely dinners -- filet mignon and grouper -- for everyone to feast

upon, and the Birthday Night continued until the bar closed.

The Orrs and the Orr-nots spent the last day of the trip

recovering from the Birthday Night and soaking up every last ray of

sun that Cozumel offered them before their departure. Omar’s 80th

birthday extravaganza will be a week of fun and laughter fondly

remembered by all of his family and friends.