Alcide Saitz was my great-grandfather. Alcide became a widow and a single dad in one instant when his wife never recovered after giving birth. She died soon after their first child was born. It was a baby boy which was named Licio. Licio went to live with Giorgina Cerne and I am glad they met each other. I lived miles from Verona so our visits were not frequent and I was just a young child so I never got to know my great grandfather Alcide. The times we did visit, Alcide tried to be playful and patient, but now I realize he was not used to having little children around. The fact that he was not used to having children around caused him to get annoyed with me, because he said I was too hyper and he once told me to stop bouncing on the couch. He was on his chair and I thought he couldn't see me, but he did by looking at the reflection on the mirrors. I think that was so funny now. Poor man. He only yelled at me that one time and that tells me how hard he tried to be patient. Wanting peace and quiet is important to me now,so I understand how he must have felt having a little hyper kid around. He was nice and talked to me, but he was pretty much a quiet man. I mean I was a child so how long could conversations be. I do remember once that he played a joke on us. He knew we were going to be visiting so when we rang the bell, he hid in their bedroom and told my great grandmother that when we walked into the apartment, she was to tell us he was in the hospital. So when we got up to the apartment Grandma Giorgia informed us that Grandpa Alcide was taken to the hospital. We were all sad about that and after a minute or two Grandpa Alcide came out of the bedroom and surprised us. He thought that was a funny joke. I guess he had a playful side of him, but since I did not get to see him that much, I only have limited memories of him. I wish I could have had more time with him, but he got sick and was diagnosed with cancer. He died when I was very little. I remember when Grandma called us and told us he had died. So my Mom, Grandpa and I drove to Verona to join Grandma. She was there to support my great-grandma. She was devastated, naturally, that he died. The funeral for Grandpa Alcide was the first one I ever went to. After the funeral Mass we went to the cemetery for the burial. I had a yellow flower and the man who was putting the coffin into the ground got the flower from me and placed it on the coffin. That made me very glad and it did whenever I thought of that flower right there with Grandpa. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife Giorgina, his son Licio Saitz (Licio was his son from his first marriage), Licio's wife Gabriella and his grandson Davide. He also was survived by his step daughter Dolores and her husband David "Jack" Styers, also his (step) grand-daughter Denise and me, his (step) great-grandaughter Jessica. Alcide left a very big hole in my great-grandmother's life when he died. She missed him the same way as the first day he died. She joined her Alcide 10 years after his passing. I know there must have been one joyful reunion and I know they will be eternally together in Heaven. God bless them.

Cause of Death: Smoke related lung cancer.

Age: 72 years, 8 months, 4 days