Born on Leap Day, died on Leap Day
A mathematician calls it a 1 in 2.1 million probability to both be born and die on Feb. 29; His family says he was simply a loving father, grandpop and uncle
ON SUNDAY, the day before his birthday, Paul Knebels strolled into the Big Heads Pub in Warminster to celebrate his "21st birthday" with his son and grandson.
As with most family celebrations, it was to be a day for just the three of them: playing pool and having a couple of beers.
Yes, at "21," Knebels was with his son, Stephen P., and his grandson, Stephen J.
For Paul E. Knebels was a leap-day baby, born on Feb. 29, 1932.
While he was really turning 84 on Monday, it was only the 21st time in his life he could celebrate on his actual birthday because, of course, leap years come around only every four years.
"It's been a long-running joke that one of these days, everybody will have to stop looking the other way when he goes into a bar, because now he's finally 21," his grandson said.
So his family threw him a surprise party at the pub.
There was a glittering green "Happy 21st Birthday" banner, and Knebels wore a white cap with a red "21" on it.
The red and white colors were for his old high school, Northeast Catholic High School for Boys.
Knebels could be seen smiling and laughing and shooting pool in a feature on CBS3 on Sunday.
He really seemed surprised about the party. "This is a shock," he told the television reporter.
But the joy and laughter of Sunday turned to sadness on Monday, Knebels' birthday, Feb. 29.
Minutes after he had appeared in a television promo for a segment on Fox 29 about getting ready to take what was jokingly called his first legal drink, Knebels collapsed and slumped onto his son's shoulder.
His grandson said they tried to revive him with CPR until paramedics arrived. He died later at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, on his birthday.
"As sad and shocking and unexpected as it was, we believe at least my grandfather wasn't suffering," Stephen J. Knebels said. "The doctors said he didn't feel any pain." He had not been complaining of feeling ill earlier, his grandson said.
Family members are taking comfort in the fact that Knebels was having a blast over the last two days of his life.
"He is usually a very quiet and reserved person, but he really had a good sense of humor and was having fun with the idea of celebrating his 21st birthday," the grandson said.
"He died in the arms and presence of his only son and his only grandson. He was with people he loved, and he was happy."
The three men started out early Monday with birthday cake and another television segment at CBS3 at 6:30 a.m.
After that, they made their way to the Plough & the Stars about 8 a.m., where Fox 29 was planning to do a segment with Knebels having his first "legal" drink at the bar.
But Knebels collapsed during a commercial break before the segment could air.
Temple University mathematics professor John Allen Paulos said the probability of someone's being born on a leap day and also dying on a leap day is about 1 in 2.1 million.
The exact calculation can be shown as 1 / 2,134,521, Paulos said.
Aside from the rare coincidence of Knebels' birth and death on Feb. 29, Knebels made an impression on friends and family because he was calm and patient with everyone.
"He was a real gentleman," said John Knebels, a nephew. "He was everybody's favorite uncle."
John Knebels said Paul was the youngest and last of four brothers who grew up in Rhawnhurst.
Paul Knebels was a Philadelphia Soap Box Derby champion at age 15 and took part in the national championships in Akron, Ohio.
Later, he loved playing pool and shuffleboard and watching the Phillies, even when they had struggling seasons, his grandson said.
Knebels, who lived in Warminster, served in the Korean War. He worked as a mechanical engineer at Yale & Towne Manufacturing, once on Roosevelt Boulevard near Haldeman Avenue.
In addition to his son and grandson, he leaves his wife of nearly 61 years, J. Kathleen (née White) Knebels.
He was a great-grandfather to Stephen M. Knebels, and was a special uncle of Loretta Carper and Patti Knebels. He is also survived by many other nieces and nephews.
A viewing will be from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Visconto Funeral Home, on Vista Street near Large. A funeral Mass will follow at 10 a.m. at Resurrection of Our Lord Church, Shelmire Avenue at Castor. Interment will be at Our Lady of Grace Cemetery.
215-854-5987 @ValerieRussDN