Small celebration for former Cabinet Minister's big 80th

A former Cabinet Minister, Jacob John Olaf Netzler, has celebrated his 80th birthday with his family in a low key manner due to the coronavirus pandemic State of Emergency lockdown restrictions.

Mr. Netzler, of Moto’otua and Alafua, turned 80 years old on 25 April 2020.

While the family had prepared a massive celebration in the months leading up to the big day, the S.O.E. changed that given the limited number of people allowed for a public gathering. 

So the family and the birthday boy settled for a small intimate dinner to mark his special day.

Mr. Netzler did not mind.

Grateful for the gift of life, Mr. Netzler said he hopes God will grant him another 10 more years so he can thank his family and children for their effort in caring for him.  

He reminded that big celebrations are usually an indication people like himself would not make it to their next birthday.

But he said the small feast put together by his family for his birthday meant everything to him. 

“This is the most important thing in the life of any parent is the wellbeing and nurturing of his children,” he said. 

Mr. Netzler entered Parliament in 1982 as one the Members of Parliament for the Individual Voters seat.

He exited in 2001 after having served many roles in the public service, including being the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Transport.

A former student of Samoa College, Mr. Netzler was married to the late Leinatioletuitoga Cecilia Pereira Netzler. 

They have five children, 26 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.