B

Saturday, October 21, 2023

My grandfather and I shared so many good memories together. Growing up I had the opportunity to spend large amounts of time with him. My working parents both dropped me off at my grandparents’ house since I was a child and after school until I was in my teens. Grandpa tried to teach me to play the piano and to read sheet music, though he would often remind me how I needed more practice. He taught me how to play Italian bocce and showed me the rules of baseball by watching the yankee games. We would also garden, cut the hedges, and weed the flower beds. We went for rides in his car, and when I was older he taught me how to drive a manual transmission. We enjoyed going shopping together for Yu-Gi-Oh cards and electronics. But my favorite times were when we would “clown around” in his room. I have too many of his jokes and funny times to remember. Bob never let his age show. Sure there would be days where he would not feel good, but he always would keep smiling and be a happy guy. He would also do things like ride my bike to make me laugh. One thing he was serious about though was bocce. I remember when he took me to the Italian Club in Berlin for the first time. I got to meet all of his friends who were playing cards and then see him play in a professional bocce tournament. It was special to see them all play. Though my grandfather was not in my blood line, it never felt that way to me. He had all of the traits I could have ever wanted in a grandparent. He ultimately had a very big heart and personality which came out the minute he met you. Bob passed away on Sept. 29, which I found out afterward is a feast day in the Catholic Church for the Archangels St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Rafael I thought about how privileged a day it was for him to go and how the angels can accompany us when we pass forward toward our heavenly home. It was a hard physical battle for him at the end, but hopefully it merited him a crown of honor in heaven. My wife and I will make sure to keep praying for him and remember him on his Birthday. Love you grandpa! https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2020-09-29