I am an Octogenarian. How do you like that word? It means much water under the bridge. Some bad times and many good times that I enjoyed and I want to thank many people.
First, my Mother. No matter what time I came home, she was always there. Her first words to me were always the same: “Are you hungry?”
Dinner at our house was always a very important hour. All seven children and Mom and Dad sat around the table and talked about the events of the day. My sister Connie was always the high point. She always had very funny stories, all about where she worked. She was always a very happy person to listen to. Connie enjoyed her job very much.
I remember this very clearly. It was the Great Depression. No matter who knocked on our door during this time, my parents always invited them to sit down and eat with us.
We were the first family to get a Victrola. For those who don’t know what a Victrola is, it was the first talking machine, a record player. It was hand cranked and played music records. Way before the VCR or the CD. My Dad wanted to instill some culture in our young lives by getting opera records. Being Italian naturally he bought Enrico Caruso records.
My Dad’s discipline was way ahead of his time. That era was “spare the rod and spoil the child.” My Dad never yelled or spanked. He did it all with a frown or a smile. It worked.
I jump to Junior High School. I was having trouble with Algebra, biology and Grammar. The school counselor (I am so sorry I don't remember his name) advised me to go to vocational school. So I attended East New York Vocational School, took aircraft and engine mechanics. I made the Honor Roll and the Dean’s List. I can prove it because my mother saved all the good papers and report cards. Thank you Mr. Counselor.
My tour of duty in the Untied States Navy was a big turning point in my life. They gave me responsibility which made me feel very good. I was asked “do you drive?” I said “yes.” I was then told, “O.K. you are Gas King.” I was to drive the gas truck and gas the squadron planes. All I had ever driven was the family Plymouth. This was a monster truck, four speed forward, two reverse plus air brakes. Driving you had to be careful to not hit the wings on the aircraft. By the way, each plane took three hundred to six hundred gallons of gas, according to the destination. I worked the crane to change the propeller and the engine. Engines were changed after so many hours of flight time. I eventually became a First Class Aircraft Engine Mechanic. The Navy built up my confidence and made me very dependable and mature. These jobs would have taken many years to learn, if at all, in the civilian work force. Thank you U.S.N.
On February 8, 1948 I married this most wonderful girl, Marie Viola. 
We were very much in love and got along very well. On February 23, 1950 we were blessed with a son Frank. We were overjoyed. I was always in a hurry to get home from work to be with my family. Then we were blessed again on June 28, 1954 with our second son, Thomas. We were extremely happy.
In 1955 we bought a house in Oceanside. We moved in on Labor Day. My son Frank started school in School #1, which is now the Village Green. It was a most happy family time. I would come home from work and help with the home work and play with the boys. In the summer we spent many weekends at Jones Beach. It was a Wonderful Life.
Then came a day. The imprint is in my head. Columbus Day October 12, 1960. My son Frank was rushed to the hospital with a bloody nose. It was more than that. The doctors told my wife and me that Frank had leukemia. It was the first time I had heard that word. Six weeks later he passed away. He was ten years old.
It was a devastating time for us. Children are supposed to bury the parents, not the parents bury the children. My in-laws were very helpful. My wife had a very hard time because she was always in the same environment. I went to work. Our faith was very strong and a big help. Time is the only thing to work.
The Good Lord works in strange ways. On June 10, 1964 we were blessed with a daughter, Theresa. She brought joy back to our house. 
Her big brother Tommy was very thrilled to have a sister. To this day he still calls her “My iddy biddy sister.” He pampers her yet.
I was both overjoyed and concerned. I was 44 years old and worried would I be able to support this beautiful child and educate her. I thank the Good Lord I lived long enough to see her graduate NYIT and she did it all on scholarship. She brought great joy into our family. Now she also gave me a grandson, Jesse. My cup runneth over.
Theresa once asked me how I could afford our very good vacations. My answer was, you have your mother. She handled all the money matters and we never had problems. She made all the plans for vacations and trips across the US. It was a Wonderful Life.
On October 2, 1983 I was 63 years old. My wife talked me into early retirement. I was very happy with my job. I worked for NYC subways, as a foreman. My crew and I repaired all things on the train except the air conditioning. It was very interesting work trouble shooting the problems.
I am so glad my wife won. I retired and we had ten very good, happy years. We traveled the good old USA. Marie made all the arrangements, paid all the bills. I enjoyed life.
Around November of 1992 Marie started to complain about stomach pains. Finally hospitalized and x-rayed, the answer was the big “C.” Things went from bad to worse. In July 1993 she was sent home for hospice care. July 21, Marie passed away.
My world was shattered. I was depressed. We had been together for 45 years. I felt physical pain. The only thing that helps is time and faith. My son and daughter were with me all the time. But you must remember Marie was their mother. They were also in deep sadness and depressed. Hospice meetings once a week were very helpful.
The Good Lord acts in strange ways. He closes one door and opens another door. The door was School #8. My daughter had a friend at School #8, Maureen Bacciotti. She told Theresa to send her Dad (me) to the school to be a Senior Volunteer. I work with the 1 st and 2nd graders. These are young children. They are sunflowers, big smiles, happy talk, very cheerful. Just what I needed. I work with two teachers, Mrs. Nevitt and Mrs. Albanese. I have been doing this for 13 year now, two days a week, Thursdays and Fridays. This is a pick me up and a tonic. I look forward to every week.
Most weekends I spend with my children and my grandson Jesse, they make me very happy.
“It’s a Wonderful Life”