"If you need to sit down and rest, let me know. I don't want to tire you out."

These words were directed at me (a 30-something reporter) by 97-year-old Julius Loewenberger, volunteer and coffee-maker extraordinaire at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, as I followed him on his daily rounds early one summer morning.

Being out-walked, out-talked and out-worked by this agile nonagenarian was humbling, to say the least, but being in the company of Mr. Loewenberger is to witness a life that has been fully lived.

"I'm old and I know I'll be called sooner or later, but I'm not afraid of death. I enjoy every day," said Loewenberger.

Three days a week for the past 15 years Loewenberger walks the hospital halls from 6 a.m. to noon with his ubiquitous coffee cart, greeting friends and strangers alike with a fresh cup of coffee, a smile and hearty hello and --- for the lucky ones --- a song on his harmonica.

Loewenberger is a bit of an institution at the hospital. His open spirit provides not only a lift for patients and their families but also for the staff who sometimes schedule their days by the ring of Loewenberger's coffee bell.

"Julius brings a sense of values to the staff because he treats everyone so well," said pharmacy director Muno Bholat. "It can be busy and hectic here, but there's always time for coffee and Julius."

And this day in the pharmacy could be described as more hectic than normal, but Loewenberger wasn't deterred from his precise schedule of rounds.

"They expect to get their coffee at the normal time," said Loewenberger of the staff. "If I'm late they're waiting for me."

The pharmacy posed a bit of a problem on this day since Torrance police officers were guarding the doors and had a man in handcuffs in the waiting room --- Loewenberger's coffee territory.

After a steely glare at the officers, Loewenberger made a detour to the locked employees door and knocked until the security door was opened. When they saw it was Loewenberger, the activity stopped and employees came over for their "Julius time."

"We knew you'd find us," they laughed.

"Julius brings a smile to everyone's face and diffuses the tension and confusion," said pharmacist Karen Matsui. "We always look forward to seeing him."

Julius Loewenberger was born in "a tiny town" in Germany as one of five children to a very poor family. He immigrated to Chicago in 1924 when he was just 17 years old.

During his lifetime Loewenberger has had two wives and four children, owned one of the most successful bakeries in Chicago and says it is hard work and family that keeps him going.

Despite suffering the loss of his second wife of almost 50 years less than two years ago, Loewenberger says it's her spirit that helps guide him. He tells the story of seeing her while at a stop light on Hawthorne Boulevard a few months ago.

"I know there's a God in heaven because I saw an angel of my wife while I was driving," he said. "I know she is still by my side keeping me safe. She was a lovely woman and I still love her deeply."

Loewenberger is a practicing Jew who still attends synagogue every week, but his wife was a very devout Catholic throughout their marriage and he said they never had a problem of conflicting beliefs.

"We both believed strongly in God, had no secrets, taught our children good values and lived a good life," he explained. "Of course we had good days and bad days like everyone else but we enjoyed life."

After he retired from business, the Lowenbergers moved to Torrance to be near their youngest daughter. But even through retired, sitting around was never an option.

The astute businessman is still evident in the way that Loewenberger runs his coffee cart. He buys his "daily special" coffee in bulk to get the best deal and is always on the lookout for new flavors that might appeal to his regular customers. But all this he does to give people a little joy in their day, not to make a profit since there is no profit in free coffee.

As Julius makes his rounds in the emergency room he jokes with a nurse. When Loewenberger asks her if she wants the special coffee, she replies, "Is that the one with the alcohol in it?" He scolds a doctor for taking too much sugar, telling him, "That's not good for you," as the doctor sheepishly puts a packet back.

"It's important to keep busy. I just can't sit around. On the days I'm not at the hospital I play bridge and I see my children a lot." he said. "I get a big satisfaction here at the hospital. I have lots of friends here and people like me."