Page 32: OUR CHILDREN
SAVERIO JOSEPH (JOSEPH)
As an infant Joseph displayed uncanny mechanical talents, removing the nuts securing the spring of his crib, causing it to collapse. This frightening experience and our deep concern necessitates immediate revisions to secure his safety.
Another unforgettable, almost tragic, incident occurred one early afternoon. Louise was doing the laundry in the basement, with the two-year-old safely in the playpen next to her. The telephone rang in the kitchen and Louise ran up to answer it. Meantime, the little rascal escaped from the playpen and somehow climbed the washing machine, holding onto the wringer-rollers. He pushed the starting switch and his right arm was caught and squeezed between the rollers. Suddenly Louise heard the baby’s screams. She hurried down and turned the rollers off just in time to prevent his arm being severed at the shoulder. That day miraculously getting home unusually early, I heard the frantic cries, jumped down the stairs in two leaps, grabbed a hammer and smashed the side of the rollers, releasing his arm.
The three of us, shaking and scared, rushed to Dr. Jordan who, after examining the baby, to our great relief assured us that aside from the gross swelling there were no serious injuries.
While attending the elementary grades Joseph joined the Cub Scouts, and later the Boy Scouts. He enjoyed their activities and camp-outs, and proudly displayed the many merit badges he earned.
While attending high school he worked as a caddy, and frequently after school hours he helped me by doing chores at my construction jobs.
Being very frugal Joseph saved most of his earnings and allowance. Secretly he bought a cheap car, which at first he parked at a friend’s home. When the secret was uncovered he was allowed to place his proud possession in our driveway. There he discovered his car required many replacement parts and constant repairs. We paid for the parts, he supplied the labor. This resulted in his gaining his initial auto mechanic experience. Today Joseph is a very good mechanic, and still does most of his auto repairs himself.
Page 33: Immediately after he graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in 1956, he enlisted in the Army where he served as a paratrooper. When he was discharged he joined us in our new home in Hollywood, Florida. He was employed by the South Florida State Hospital, working there days and as a bartender at Shorty’s Bar evening and Sundays.
In 1961, after the project I was working on in Florida was completed, I obtained a better paying construction superintendent position in New Jersey. I rented an apartment, where Louise joined me while Joseph remained in Hollywood. Later he also joined us.
Subsequently, he obtained a bartender’s job in Fort Lee, where he worked steadily until 1965. That year he became engaged to Alice Foster and moved to Florida, where they were married June 12, 1965.
Joseph began working as an apprentice tile and marble setter and joined the union. He attended apprenticeship school and eventually became a qualified journeyman. He has been working at this trade ever since, either as a journeyman for various contractors or on his own, very successfully.
On his own he has completed the tile and marble work on innumerable individual homes, large one-family projects, stores, offices and motels. He also completed all of the same type of work on the 17 stories of the Everglades Hotel in Miami.
After I retired, I worked part-time on many jobs for Joseph’s company.
Joseph has been a hard worker and a good provider. Together with his wife Alice – both of them extremely devoted and caring parents – they have raised three lovely children in their now-unencumbered home on 70th Avenue in Hollywood, just a few blocks from our house.
Dawn, the eldest, was married March 12, 1983, to Eric Fisher. She lives with her parents while her husband, serving in the Army, is stationed in Germany. She is attending college to obtain a registered nurse degree. At the same time she has a good part-time position with Winn-Dixie. Dawn’s marriage has reached a point of dissolution.
Lori, the second child, is attending high school. She also works part-time at Winn-Dixie.
Michael, the youngest and the tallest, is presently attending high school. He’s an excellent athlete.
MINNIE ROSE (MICKEY)
Mickey is no smarter than her brothers. Yet in school work she has been intelligent and persistent in pursuit of her goals. For example, in order to encourage their best results while Joseph and Mickey were attending junior high school, as an incentive I set up a scaled dollar value for each passing grade on their report cards. Mickey always collected the most for her efforts.
While attending the last two terms of high school, Mickey began working part-time at S.W. Jewelry store in Englewood. After she graduated from high school in 1956 she enrolled for some special courses at Columbia University, where she also obtained a part-time secretarial position. She grew up and developed faster in stature and matured early.
She first met Donald Zadrozna while she was working at the jewelry store. Eventually, this meeting resulted in a lasting romance. They became engaged in 1956 and married July 27, 1957.
Her mother and I were happy for this union. Together with our blessing, we arranged for an unforgettable wedding at St. Cecilia, and a lavish reception at the Swiss Chalet.
They have three lovely children. Donna Rose, born May 23, 1958, attended college and obtained a teacher’s degree. She married Thomas Sims September 27, 1980. They have a darling daughter Sabrina Michelle, born October 20, 1981, and at this writing I have received news that Donna is again pregnant. They are presently residing in Melbourne, Florida, where they are associated with Thomas’ father in the landscaping business.
Page 34: Donald Brian was born May 15, 1960. After graduating high school he preferred going on his own. He is now a contractor in Dallas, and doing very well. Donald Brian is now happily married to the former Jill Theriault. The wedding was performed August 11, 1984.
David, born September 4, 1965, has completed high school and is attending Manatee Community College, in Bradenton, Florida.
Long before Mickey and Don became acquainted, through my business I came to know Walter and Jean Zadrozna, Don’s parents, and Jean’s brother Joseph Modaferri. From them, I learned that Donald is also a descendant of immigrant families who struggled, and for whom money was always in short supply. His parents in turn raised their children’s values, to take them much higher up the ladder.
Donald, while attending high school, mowed lawns for a number of rich clients in Englewood Cliffs, and took advantage of the opportunity to learn the electrical trade helping his dad. He always had an appetite for learning, and did well in school. While he was attending college, during the summer recess he worked with Worthington Pump Co. on items related to his studies, thus gaining field experience, and also continued helping his dad in the electrical work.
He graduated from college in 1957 as a Mechanical Engineer. When he married Mickey, he already had a position with United Aircraft in Hartford, Connecticut. They moved there where they remained about six months. After that he obtained a more lucrative position with Worthington Pump Co., in New Jersey. They moved near Hackensack, and he worked there from 1958 to 1962.
Donald, being very ambitious, raised his sights high. After having gained enough experience, in 1962 he obtained a position with Texas Instruments, moving to Dallas, Texas, where he worked in the company’s main office. In due course he received promotions to Manager of Government Contracts for Europe and the Middle East; later to Manager of Business Services. I believe Mickey’s wit and charm, by encouragement and effectively arranging required business socials, contributed to fulfill Dona’d’s success. These positions required many moved for Mickey and Donald and their children, to many areas of the United States and Europe, and of course demanding million of miles of air travel.
Donald remained with Texas Instruments from 1962 to January, 1984, when he resigned to conduct his own business in Sarasota, Florida, with Mickey associated in the project. Mother and I sincerely wish them well in this new venture, conducting Continuing Education Seminars for Lawyers.
ROBERT (BOBBY)
Bobby was born in Englewood on August 7, 1943. at birth he was the heaviest of the three children. Being the youngest, he was pampered the most. He attended kindergarten and one grade of elementary school at St. Cecilia, then was transferred to public school, where he completed the elementary grades.
He also had his share of accidents. He was three years old when his brother Joseph took him to the Dwight Morrow school grounds on a sled. Standing on the hilltop while Joseph was busy talking to a friend, Bobby decided to have fun on his own. Undetected, he proceeded to descend the steep hill, stopping only when he confronted the largest oak tree on the grounds. Joseph and his friend ran down to his rescue, a little too late. He was crying and hurting, had tow black eyes and a tremendous bump on his head. When they carried him home, Dr. Jordan, who happened to be there visiting Louise who was recuperating from a recent operation, gave Bobby first aid.
Several year later, when Bobby was ten years old, my brother Joseph who was residing with us one weekend too Bobby with him to Woodstock. On their way back home, just past Kingston, New York, they had a terrible accident. The company pickup Joe was driving turned over several times. Bobby was thrown onto the side of the highway. Both were taken to the Kingston Hospital. Brother Joe suffered broken ribs and some lung punctures, while Bobby had a sever concussion. He remained in the hospital three weeks, and was still incoherent when we took him home where he required another three months treatments and therapy before he finally recuperated. Bobby had missed so many classes that at the end of the school term he as not promoted.
Page 35: As a youngster he joined the Little League Baseball team, where he was named the King of strikeouts and home runs. In fact, he received an award for hitting the most home runs.
In Hollywood, Florida, he attended one term at McNichols and two more at McArthur high schools. Prior to completing high school he enlisted in the service, joining the Air Force. He served with the Military Police, and was based in England. While in the service he obtained his high school dipolma.
In England he became engaged to Margie Attewell. At that time he had only a few months left until completion of his military term, and he was returned to the U.S.A. and based at the Homestead A.F.B. in Florida. At this time Louise and I were living in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
As prearranged by Bobby he obtained a furlough coinciding with Margie’s arrival in New York to be married, so he joined us in Fort Lee. Things were happening fast. Not having the time or the proper facilities in our small apartment, we hastily made arrangement with John and Sue Massari to have the reception in their home in Middletown, New Jersey. Bobby and Margie were married in a Catholic Church there June 20, 1964. After a brief honeymoon they returned to Florida to live in our new home in Hollywood. Bobby commuted to the base. After completing the remaining term of service, he was discharged. They remained in Florida and he pursued the tile and marble trade. On April 13, 1965, their son Mark was born. By this time Bobby was doing well at his trade, but Margie became more and more homesick. To please her, in 1966 they returned to England.
At first they lived with her parents in Ruddington. Jobs and opportunities there were scarce. Nevertheless he kept working in various manufacturing plants. Eventually they purchased an old home, also in Ruddington.
Wages he received were hardly sufficient to get by, so he was compelled to return to the States alone on two separate occasions, and lived with his parents. He endeavored to earn and save enough money to improve and redecorate his home in England.
Bobby has always been resourceful and ambitious. After his last stay in the U.S., having fulfilled part of his goal, he returned to England. Shortly thereafter he obtained a good job at a leather company in Nottingham. Working very diligently, and well-liked by his fellow workers and supervisors, he began getting minor promotions. Determined to succeed, he took advantage of all opportunities of special schooling and training offered by his company. This resulted in his being promoted to a lucrative supervising position, which he held until the company suddenly ceased operation in the early part of 1981. Having exhausted all attempted to obtain a similar position, he decided to return to America for a new start, and have the family join him when he was settled. Margie adamantly opposed this course of action. So he continued seeking employment in England, and failed. In order to support his family well he was left with no other alternative, so he returned here in August, 1981.
Shortly after he joined the union and immediately began working, in his old trade of marble setter, he was earning excellent wages and working steadily. He sent a large portion of his salary home, hoping and pleading with his wife to change her mind. This was to no avail. He kept repeatedly calling and writing, stressing the same subject, without result. During the Christmas and New Year holidays, he took a leave from his job and flew to Ruddington to renew his pleas, trying to convince Margie to join him. When he left he still had not received definite answers. This continued for several more months, until finally she decided that she would not come to America.
An amicable divorce was agreed upon, which was finalized October 14, 1982.
His son Mark has been visiting his dad, but so far he also prefers to remain in England, where his is working and doing well. But I feel sure someday he will change his mind.
Bobby is doing well and working steadily. He and Joseph also have a partnership company, which they use when journeyman’s jobs slow down, and do well with it also. He has his own apartment, for over a year now. At present his is very happy and enjoying his new lifestyle.