Ralph Hauser has the kind of longevity that makes him pause when asked about his age.
The World War II veteran is silent for a while before turning to his wife of 63 years and asking, "When was I born?"
On Aug. 22, 1925, says Jackie Hauser.
Hauser is 92 years old. Jackie is 88.
For more than 60 years they've lived in a 2-bedroom, 1-bath home on Central Avenue in Fort Myers. The couple can't quite remember their move-in date, but the Lee County Property Appraiser first recorded the building on its tax roll in 1956. They live there today with their 60-year-old son, Frank, who is disabled.
"That used to be woods," Frank said as he pointed across the street. "Fowler used to be a dirt road."
The family subsists on Social Security and a disability check. And that's why, when a letter from Fort Myers' code enforcement was sent to their home in May, Frank began to worry.
The 10-day notice was about the home's roof.
"The City of Fort Myers needs your help in improving the appearance of our community," the notice states before it goes on to say, "you can reduce blight and increase property values within our wonderful community..."
A blue tarp has covered the roof for about a year, said the younger Hauser. It is one of at least three homes on the same street that have a blue tarp.
A call to code enforcement left Frank with bad news: Fix your roof, get rid of the tarp or this problem could lead to condemnation from the City of Fort Myers.
Records show the home has been plagued with roof issues since at least 2016 when the elder Hauser was cited for a damaged carport. But without expendable income, and then the arrival of Hurricane Irma, the problem grew worse.
"I can't imagine what people do that have to pay rent," Frank said.
About a week ago, the family mentioned their issue to a friend who then told another friend.
That friend, Tony D'Angelo, started a fundraiser on Facebook. He was hoping to raise $20,000. It quickly spread. By the third day, donations were at $3,000 and as of Friday morning, people had pledged more than $11,000.
"I'm not a fund-raiser," D'Angelo said. "I'm sitting here thinking what do we do to help this guy."
"At (92), can you imagine trying to tell someone they have to get out of their house?" D'Angelo said. "It boggles the mind.
"In a perfect world, we would be able to get him a roof and an A/C."
While the fundraiser on behalf of the Hausers spread, by Friday night, D'Angelo decided to pull it down because some people had asked for their money back.
On Facebook, he wrote to those that donated to send donations to the Hauser home address.
While it's unclear if the Hausers will receive the cash, the news of their letter from the City had spread and numerous companies stopped by the small home last week to offer help.
Frank Hauser said a roofing company stopped by Thursday and said they would do the repair for free, while a second company offered free air conditioning installation.
On Friday, a permit had been filed for the Hausers, according to code enforcement. Crown Roofing, of Fort Myers, will do the reroofing job.
Lee BIA Builders Care has also come by the home to see what can be done, Frank said. The nonprofit has targeted the bathroom in hopes to convert it to a more user-friendly shower for the elder Hauser, who uses a cane to get around.
Christi Pritchett, a spokeswoman for Lee BIA Builders Care, said the nonprofit would be working on the home after the roof is fixed to make it more accessible for the family.
D'Angelo has known Ralph Hauser for years. He likens him to the animated character Carl Fredricksen, the surly widower in Pixar's Up.
Except that unlike his animated doppelganger, Ralph Hauser "is just a sweetheart," D'Angelo said.
The elder Hauser was a mechanic and owned a shop in downtown Fort Myers.
"If you needed your car fixed, he'd fix it," D'Angelo said. "Now he needs help, but he didn't mention it to anybody."
The inside of the home has a small portable A/C that blows air, but still, the heat is unbearable.
"It's about 80 in there," said Frank Hauser.
A thermometer that hangs from the home's window takes the temperature outside: a balmy 90 degrees.
The summertime is the hardest, said Ralph Hauser.
"The sun comes out the brightest," he said. "It's just typical Florida weather."
The veteran is thankful for the community's help, but he doesn't find it unusual.
"We've always helped each other out," Ralph Hauser said. "That's how it's supposed to be."