Then a student at Santa Clara University, Boitano says, "I happened to be looking in the Yellow Pages and there were just three CPAs listed in San Jose before World War II. I thought, 'You know, they could use some competition.'

"Unfortunately, there are now thousands of others, but then, three looked inviting, and I thought I had a chance."

His graduation was postponed for three years because of the war. Boitano served in the U.S. Army in the Philippines and Japan, during which time he acted as a bodyguard for Gen. Douglas MacArthur and was aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, when Japan formally surrendered. Following the war, Boitano finally did graduate in 1947.

He had already passed the public accountant exam prior to graduation, but put in five more years before he had the necessary hours to qualify for the CPA license.

Boitano, who still puts in a full day at his office at 1760 The Alameda, makes a lasting impression on almost everyone he encounters.

To the staff of 27, he's "Mr. B." says Diane Griffin, who's worked as an administrative assistant in the office for six years. She speaks for many when she calls him "a sweetheart."

In addition to running his firm, Boitano taught undergraduates at Santa Clara University for 25 years. There he encountered Frances Sargent, who so impressed him he invited her to join his firm.

"We formed our partnership in 1957—Boitano & Sargent," he says.

Sargent was one of the first female CPAs in Northern California, at a time when "the profession was an all-man's league," says Boitano. "But she was so capable and everybody admired her. They knew her abilities and we had no problem.

"Now we have seven women in the office."

Sargent retired in 1984 and died in 1988, but her name remains on the firm as a tribute.

Boitano changed his firm's name again in the late 1960s to include another former student, Bob Lawrence, who had joined the firm. It became Boitano, Sargent & Lawrence.

Now that Lawrence is leaving to open another firm, Boitano says he's adding Ogden Lilly's name to the company masthead on June 30, making it Boitano, Sargent & Lilly.

"Mr. Lilly has been with us for 32 years and he's a partner, so it's still going to be B,S&L," Boitano says.

Boitano has impressed clients to the point that many have been with him more than 40 and some more than 50 years, including Cupertino Electric and Raisch Paving, and individuals such as Willow Glen businessman Joe DiSalvo and former Santa Clara City Councilman James Viso.

Frank Boitano, managing partner in the firm, sees his father as "an inspiration to everyone here, especially myself."

"He'll be 82 in August and he's pretty on top of things. During tax season he's putting in 60- to 70-hour workweeks. It's pretty phenomenal for someone that age," the younger Boitano says.

Boitano's location on The Alameda seems a natural extension.

"I was born in a house on Vine Street that's now a parking lot. My dad purchased a house on Martin Avenue in 1924, when I was about 2, and I grew up there," Boitano recalls.

His sister Lorraine Denham now lives in the family home on Martin Avenue with her husband, K.O.

Boitano opened his first office in downtown San Jose, but moved to Race Street, near Mariposa Avenue, when Sargent joined his firm.

After investing in property along The Alameda in the early 1960s, he operated out of an old office building, the only part of the 22 acres he couldn't find a tenant for.

"In 1972 the University of Santa Clara wanted that property, and I moved here to 1760 The Alameda," Boitano says.

"I admire this area. I started out at Hester School in kindergarten and went to Herbert Hoover Junior High School, and in ninth grade I got into Bellarmine and went on to Santa Clara."

Along with accounting, Frank Boitano says his father's "two other real loves are family and travel."

With his wife Annette, Boitano had four children—Frank, Steve, Julie and Mark. Frank and Steve both joined their father's firm, but Mark became a civil engineer and is now CEO of Granite Construction. Daughter Julie married Mark Robson of Robson Homes and Santa Clara Development Co., which Boitano likes to point out is also on The Alameda.

All four of Boitano's children and nine of his 10 grandchildren attended Santa Clara University. The exception, Frank's daughter Lauren, graduated from UCLA on June 18.

Annette Boitano died 17 years ago, and Boitano is now married to Florence.

When asked about grandchildren, he says, "I count hers and mine, so we have 23 and two great-grandchildren."

Both Lou and Flo Boitano drove down to Los Angeles, with son Frank and his wife, Gayle, for their granddaughter's graduation festivities, which didn't surprise anyone in the family.

"My father and stepmother have the most active social life," says Frank. "With that much family and so many friends, it wears me out hearing what they do."

Retirement is not something Boitano gives any thought to.

"This keeps me active and I enjoy it," he says simply.

Son Frank says he sees too many people getting caught up with plans for retirement "I see my dad sharp as a tack and almost 82 and I think, 'Forget this retirement business,' " he says.

"The secret to a healthy and productive long life is to keep exercising that brain and working," Frank adds. "People ask me 'When are you going to retire?' and I hope I can work as long as my father has worked. I think it's a healthy thing.

"He sets a very high standard that all the rest of us in the firm aspire to get to."