Daddy passed away at the age of 55 from a third heart attack. He was a heavy smoker and loved beer. Just prior to this he had been living with his mother, (Stella Kemper, Irish) since my mother had divorced him; sadly she passed away 6 weeks before he did. He was an ardent Catholic and very involved in St. Teresa's church. He would even have golf dates with the priests!

​

For hobbies he played both a small organ and the harmonica. He also was an early adapter of home movies, for which he would make titles from letters shot on a rug, and movies split by hand when necessary. 

​

He was a radio operator for AT&T in New York at a time when messages were being sent via Morse Code across the Atlantic, and as a little girl I remember when he brought me to work and seeing large pneumatic tubes from floor to floor which carried messages.

 

This career stood him well in WWII when he was a radio operator although he began in the cavalry in the U.S. His discharge papers and where he served are in the photo on this page. He is buried in the Veterans Cemetery in Farmingdale Long Island. While away he wrote to my mother and when he returned they were married in a room in St. Patricks Cathedral in NY.  Because my mother was Lutheran they could not have a Catholic ceremony. 

​

A big argument in their marriage after I was born was whether I should be baptized Catholic. My mother was opposed. When I was 3 years old my father walked me town to the church and had me baptized without her permission. She never forgave him for that.

​

He had one sister, Shirley who married Johnny Terito. What I remember about Shirley was her stunning Christmas trees, must have taken her hours to drape the tinsel!

​

My father worked nights so I did not see him much, and unfortunately this left an opening for a vile neighbor, a police officer, to rape my mother. She never reported it to anyone. 

​

They sacrificed to send me to the quite expensive Notre Dame High School. Hope there is an afterlife to see them again.

​

​

​

​

​

_____________

​

​