Thursday, August 3, 2023
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My heart is broken. My favorite uncle passed away unexpectedly earlier this week. I don't recall a single memory in my young life that doesn't include him. He was only 10 years older than me, and was a steady presence in my life until he joined the Marines when I was in the 7th grade.
In recent years, we didn't have many opportunities to get together personally very often, but we did have the random occasion to spend time together on the phone, sometimes for hours talking about sports, family, our mutual love for Skyline Chili, his two dogs, and politics. He knew how to make me laugh. Those times were special times.
I'll miss our long distance calls while sitting in our individual homes in different states watching a Cincinnati Reds baseball game, a Bengals game, or an Ohio State Buckeyes football game on television together. I looked forward to that time every year. Good times with lots of laughter.
To know him was to definitely love him. He was one-of-a-kind, and he truly loved his ENTIRE family. Those close in heart, and equally, those far away. He loved their children, and their childrens' children unconditionally, and quite honestly, he was loved right back just the same.
He was a private individual by nature, but you wouldn't know it.
He was extremely outgoing and would light up a room when he walked in the door with his silly smile.
He excelled at being the best at everything he ever set his mind to learn early on from hunting, fishing, golfing, etc. In fact, he taught himself how to play the guitar like an expert just by listening to record albums over and over by the time he graduated from high school. He loved to play songs by Roy Clark, the Beatles, and could play his own rendition of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" like a pro just to name a few. Sadly he didn't play that often in his later years. I'm not really sure why he stopped playing, but I'll never forget the endless hours he played for my brother, sister, and I when we he lived with us for a few years. He also taught us how to appreciate all kinds of music. The classics in every genre.
Secretly, when he was younger, and living in South Florida with one of his three brothers and their families at different times; he would also practice aimlessly to become a seasoned "pool shark" to help prepare himself when competing against one of his brothers. Not sure he ever reached that status, but he had a great time trying to perfect his game. He was referred to as "Grasshopper" at that time, and even had the name engraved on his personal pool cue. He was proud of that nickname for many years. In later years, he would perfect his golf game and was given a new nickname. One he was extremely proud of until the end. He was given the name "Moose" by the many that would play with him and/or against him. That brought him much joy as well, and he is still affectionately referred to as "Moose" to this day. I'm fact, I'm not really sure if half of the town he was from even know his real name.
I'm sorry, but I have to brag about his fishing skills. He was an avid fisherman who possessed the ability to catch a fish in a mud puddle after a hard rain. I'm not kidding. You can ask anyone that's ever fished with him. He was amazing, and many aspired to learn from him. However, not many of us ever came close to accomplishing that task with the exception of my cousin Eric.
He taught me how to fish, throw a perfect spiral, and a baseball as good as any guy that I was usually competing against as a tomboy in my younger years. He would often stay outside with me until way past dark shooting baskets over and over fighting the mosquitos, in order to help me perfect my game when I was told that I was too short to make the basketball team in school. He never complained. He said that my competitive nature made him laugh. I never backed down, no matter what or how injured I was in the end. Believe me, I suffered many injuries, but I never gave up. He wouldn't let me. He was a great coach, and always challenged me to try harder to better my skills. Frustrating at times, but I appreciated these skills learned later in life. Even when I messed up; he never came down hard on me. I remember jumping on the back of a UPS truck in the 6th grade and the driver sped off with me hanging onto the back for dear life only to fall off a few blocks up the road. I came home crying, and banged up pretty badly. He had seen me jump on, and was waiting in the front yard for me to return. He yelled at me for not making good choices, made sure I was okay, and then took me out for ice cream. My parents never knew, but we knew. LOL
He was there for me when my mom and dad divorced. It was a horrible time in my life and I felt so alone, but thankfully, my Uncle Denny helped me get through it emotionally. He could always pick me up when I was down. He would listen, and never judged.
He was loved by everyone who knew him, and I know that he will be missed by many for years to come.
He was my longest friend, and both of my boys' godfather. I loved him very much, they loved him, my husband loved him, and neither of us will ever forget his presence in our lives.
R.I.P. Uncle Denny
I'll love you always.
Until we meet again.
