RANCHO CUCAMONGA (CBS) — A Fontana man has a guardian angel, who not only saved his life, but also serves up a mean dish of ice cream.

To the tune of more than 40 years, Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant has been Ron Herman’s haunt.

It’s where he wooed his wife as a teen.

“We started dating at Farrell’s,” he said.

But on his most recent visit, Herman was served something that he did not order — a second chance at life.

It was the usual dinner rush at the Farrell’s in Rancho Cucamonga. Herman, his wife and grandchildren were celebrating his 60th birthday.

But a happy event soon turned into chaos.

“Took a bite of my sandwich and that was it,” he said.

Herman started having a seizure and stopped breathing.

Waiter Michael Boles did not wait around for help, he immediately began CPR.

“His life was in my hands at that time,” Boles said. “At that time it wasn’t about me, it wasn’t about anyone else but him.”

Within minutes, Herman was breathing again.

“He breathed life into me,” Herman said.

“There was a huge relief off my heart,” said Boles, who is a former U.S. Navy medic.

Herman was once in the Navy too.

“He’s my new best friend. My new best friend — My brother,” Herman said. “I believe in angels now.”

As you might imagine, Herman has quite the appetite now to dish the details about his hero.

“I want shout to the world what happened here,” he said.

But how do you repay someone who saves your life? What kind of tip do you leave?

“A huge hug is good enough for me. Knowing that he can see his wife and grandchildren one more day in his life,” Boles said.

But Herman said the act calls for a lifetime of gratitude.