Dr. Charles "Sherm" Gleason, long-time pediatrician, Wareham public citizen, and moving force behind the Gleason Family YMCA, turned 90 on Tuesday. And the Y and community celebrated in style: With a brass band, a sea of balloons, and the official kick-off of the public fund-raising effort for the Y's 2010 expansion.

"I don't want to say that you are single-handedly responsible for this whole facility," State Rep. Susan Williams Gifford told the birthday boy. "But I think you are single-handedly responsible for this whole facility."

Gary Schuyler, president and CEO of YMCA Southcoast, remembered 12 years ago meeting with a group of area residents who wanted to know how they could establish a YMCA in Wareham. He told them a minimum of $5 million would be needed, and jaws dropped. He remembered coming back a year later and being asked the same question by much the same group.

"But this time there was a different person in the room," he noted. Dr. Gleason became "a committee of one" -- and the new facility was funded, built, and opened five years ago.

Since then, the Y has expanded its fitness center, doubled the size of its gym and added an indoor running track. The current expansion will bring an outdoor pool this summer and, in the not-too-distant future, expanded locker rooms and indoor exercise facilities. Dubbed "Fulfill the promise," the fund-raising campaign is a reference to Dr. Gleason's original vision for the Y.

The honoree took it all in stride. As Schuyler was presenting him with a "voice quilt" birthday gift -- a recording of various members of the YMCA "family" telling him what he meant to them -- Gleason stood, pulled out a small camera, and snapped a photograph of Schuyler and then other pictures of the assembled crowd.

Gleason used his brief remarks to encourage people to take "the opportunity to see what has happened here in the last few months" and to urge participation in the current fund-raising effort. "All we need is a million dollars!" he exhorted.

On a more personal note, he told the gathering "It's been a great life, and I've enjoyed every minute of it."

The crowd stood to sing along with the band's rendition of "Happy Birthday to You," the cake was cut, and kids began racing about the gym as the band struck up its version of The Village People's "YMCA."