We were eating dinner tonight when my father got a phone call.
A very close friend of his passed away today.
He was known as Chief Bill. Chief Bill was a fireman and was eventually named fire chief. When my father was in his teens he would hang out at the fire station. There was a few people who took him under their wing. My uncle Denis, who passed away 10 years ago was one of them. Chief Bill was another.
Chief Bill was like another uncle to me. He was always around for the holiday parties.
He was a big time sports fan especially football. He did watch baseball and basketball, but football was his sport. My father and Chief Bill belonged to a club together. Well every week during the football season he would make sure I would have a football card for that week’s pool to fill out. In the last 5 years or so he would call up my dad and after talking to him for a bit, would ask if I was around. We would talk about football, mostly about the New England Patriots but he knew them all. He also always remembered that the San Francisco 49ers is my favorite football team.
Another thing he had in common with my dad was they both were cigars aficionados. Not only did they enjoy smoking cigars but they knew about cigars and the different brands. They belonged to a cigar smoking club that would meet 4 times a year. However, just about every major city has one of these clubs so if they traveled together, you know they would check where the smoke club was. Even in the last few years, my dad would pick him up once every few months, go for lunch than to a cigar store to relax, smoke and have a few drinks.
Chief Bill enjoyed going to the race tracks. A few times that my dad and I went to a casino, Chief Bill and another mutual friend of theirs along with me, would go to the casino. My dad and I would play the slots and Chief Bill and Al would go to the track room and we would meet up for dinner.
Chief Bill was 88 years old.
He lived a nice long life.
Bill is survived by his wife, 3 children, 4 grand children and 1 great grand child.
RIP
People I known to pass away in the last 10 years that I can remember.
Uncle Denis (my dad’s best friend)
Uncle Gabe (mother’s brother in law)
Rabbi
Punchy (friend of family)
Uncle Joe’s mother
Leo (family friend)
Jared (hs friend)
Matthew (hs friend) *1996
DR. Matthew Schwartz (Temple friend)
Allen Fox (temple friend)
Betty (cousin’s grand mother)
Aaron (cousin’s grand father)
Uncle Toddles
Aunty Sophie
Aunty Ruthy
Aunty Charlotte
Aunty Eva
(either coworkers or client’s of mine)
Desmond
Elcedez
Marna
Rikki
Marti
Teachers (that I can recall)
Mr. J. 6 and 8th grade science)
MR. Bruno (10th grade Chemistry)
Dog
Charley, 1975-92
Baer 1992-2005
psalm 23
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
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