Thursday, September 17, 2015
Our family has suffered a great loss. We have lost our Captain who guided us through every storm. He was always there for us no matter what obstacle we faced. He was a simple man yet a complex person; a giving man, never asking anything in return. He appreciated the simple things like a birthday card, the Macy's parade, a walk on the boardwalk, s big band concert, my mom's home made Eggplant Parmesan, a slice of pizza or lemon meringue pie. He taught us how to throw a baseball, how to ride a bike, to change our oil, to fix a leaky faucet and to save our money for a rainy day. He attended every parent/teacher meeting, every school play, every dance recital or baseball game and every graduation. He served in the US Navy aboard the USS Rochester CA 124. He guided the ship safely through rough seas around the world. He worked for Singer Kearfott and though they wouldn't know it - through his engineering and design skills he helped guide every military pilot and military flight to a safe landing around the globe on the deck of an aircraft carrier in the middle of the night and helped guide every astronaut to the moon, the space station and safely back home to their families. He led a simple life and spent his retirement years looking after my mom instead of traveling or playing golf. He had his grandpa way about him always letting you know what he thought in his own way Ie. turn that damn thing down. He'd call you just to let you know you were missing something important on TV. His famous telephone message went something like this - Greg it's me, or Greg it's me - turn on Fox News or turn on CNN... I'm glad we got to go to DC to his ships reunion where he was honored as one of the ships last surviving original crew members and he was given a plank from the USS Rochester. He reminisced about the old days and made new friends who still kept in touch with him. He fought cancer like a champion without chemo, palliative care, or hospice; knowing everything that was going on around him, and still barking out orders to us until his last breath. Greg - let's go, Greg get my clothes, grab my shoes, let's get the hell outa here. Every nurse knew my name! he was one of a kind, old school, tough as nails and proud of his country and his flag and I am proud to call him my dad. We will miss you always and look forward to being with you again in Heaven. Rest In Peace now you deserve it.
