Sam worked at Lukens Steel where he was a crane operator. I have talked to more than a few of his co-workers through the years since his death and they tell me he was sort of an ex-officio boss at Lukens, assigning jobs from a little 7 foot by 7 foot "office" that was really a closet in a formal life. [Rarely operating his crane] He was known to many as the go to guy for watch repair, engagement rings, or that special piece of jewelry for your wife or sweetheart; he made weekly runs to a Jeweler in Philadelphia to accommodate his "customers" at work.
When pierced ears were new (1950's – 1960's?) He told my mother she had better get her ears pierced [Her sister, my Aunt Janet already had] or the only daughter getting new jewelry would be Janet. – Mom had her ears pierced.
He was a founding member of "The Ancient Order of Amphibious Frogs" at St. Anthonys Lodge (the Itialian Club) in the Johnsontown section of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. A Frog leg dinner is still served there every year.
On Christmas he truly was Santa Claus, he showered us [Grandchildren] with all of the latest toys fresh from the toy stores of Philadelphia and New York. Not a Christmas goes by without me thinking of him and the good ole days of being a kid spoiled by his grandfather.
He lived on Church Street in Johnsontown (Downingtown) and was killed there by his neighbor in a dispute over garbage. His neighbor did not like the fact that Sam had called the Chester County Health Department on him, and they had ordered a clean up of his yard. Instead he used a shotgun and shot Sam, [My Grandfather] and his father Anthony [My Great Grandfather] from the safety of his front porch. Sam died in Chester County Hospital a few weeks or so later. Anthony lived several more years. [d.1979]
He loved cigars, "the Club" (St. Anthony's in Downingtown) Crown Royal, and the Racetrack - but mostly he loved my grandmother Mary, his two daughters, and his 10 grandchildren.
I wish he could have been around long enough to meet his many great and great-great grandchildren. I try to be like him whenever I can.
When pierced ears were new (1950's – 1960's?) He told my mother she had better get her ears pierced [Her sister, my Aunt Janet already had] or the only daughter getting new jewelry would be Janet. – Mom had her ears pierced.
He was a founding member of "The Ancient Order of Amphibious Frogs" at St. Anthonys Lodge (the Itialian Club) in the Johnsontown section of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. A Frog leg dinner is still served there every year.
On Christmas he truly was Santa Claus, he showered us [Grandchildren] with all of the latest toys fresh from the toy stores of Philadelphia and New York. Not a Christmas goes by without me thinking of him and the good ole days of being a kid spoiled by his grandfather.
He lived on Church Street in Johnsontown (Downingtown) and was killed there by his neighbor in a dispute over garbage. His neighbor did not like the fact that Sam had called the Chester County Health Department on him, and they had ordered a clean up of his yard. Instead he used a shotgun and shot Sam, [My Grandfather] and his father Anthony [My Great Grandfather] from the safety of his front porch. Sam died in Chester County Hospital a few weeks or so later. Anthony lived several more years. [d.1979]
He loved cigars, "the Club" (St. Anthony's in Downingtown) Crown Royal, and the Racetrack - but mostly he loved my grandmother Mary, his two daughters, and his 10 grandchildren.
I wish he could have been around long enough to meet his many great and great-great grandchildren. I try to be like him whenever I can.
Sam worked at Lukens Steel where he was a crane operator. I have talked to more than a few of his co-workers through the years since his death and they tell me he was sort of an ex-officio boss at Lukens, assigning jobs from a little 7 foot by 7 foot "office" that was really a closet in a formal life. [Rarely operating his crane] He was known to many as the go to guy for watch repair, engagement rings, or that special piece of jewelry for your wife or sweetheart; he made weekly runs to a Jeweler in Philadelphia to accommodate his "customers" at work.
When pierced ears were new (1950's – 1960's?) He told my mother she had better get her ears pierced [Her sister, my Aunt Janet already had] or the only daughter getting new jewelry would be Janet. – Mom had her ears pierced.
He was a founding member of "The Ancient Order of Amphibious Frogs" at St. Anthonys Lodge (the Itialian Club) in the Johnsontown section of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. A Frog leg dinner is still served there every year.
On Christmas he truly was Santa Claus, he showered us [Grandchildren] with all of the latest toys fresh from the toy stores of Philadelphia and New York. Not a Christmas goes by without me thinking of him and the good ole days of being a kid spoiled by his grandfather.
He lived on Church Street in Johnsontown (Downingtown) and was killed there by his neighbor in a dispute over garbage. His neighbor did not like the fact that Sam had called the Chester County Health Department on him, and they had ordered a clean up of his yard. Instead he used a shotgun and shot Sam, [My Grandfather] and his father Anthony [My Great Grandfather] from the safety of his front porch. Sam died in Chester County Hospital a few weeks or so later. Anthony lived several more years. [d.1979]
He loved cigars, "the Club" (St. Anthony's in Downingtown) Crown Royal, and the Racetrack - but mostly he loved my grandmother Mary, his two daughters, and his 10 grandchildren.
I wish he could have been around long enough to meet his many great and great-great grandchildren. I try to be like him whenever I can.
When pierced ears were new (1950's – 1960's?) He told my mother she had better get her ears pierced [Her sister, my Aunt Janet already had] or the only daughter getting new jewelry would be Janet. – Mom had her ears pierced.
He was a founding member of "The Ancient Order of Amphibious Frogs" at St. Anthonys Lodge (the Itialian Club) in the Johnsontown section of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. A Frog leg dinner is still served there every year.
On Christmas he truly was Santa Claus, he showered us [Grandchildren] with all of the latest toys fresh from the toy stores of Philadelphia and New York. Not a Christmas goes by without me thinking of him and the good ole days of being a kid spoiled by his grandfather.
He lived on Church Street in Johnsontown (Downingtown) and was killed there by his neighbor in a dispute over garbage. His neighbor did not like the fact that Sam had called the Chester County Health Department on him, and they had ordered a clean up of his yard. Instead he used a shotgun and shot Sam, [My Grandfather] and his father Anthony [My Great Grandfather] from the safety of his front porch. Sam died in Chester County Hospital a few weeks or so later. Anthony lived several more years. [d.1979]
He loved cigars, "the Club" (St. Anthony's in Downingtown) Crown Royal, and the Racetrack - but mostly he loved my grandmother Mary, his two daughters, and his 10 grandchildren.
I wish he could have been around long enough to meet his many great and great-great grandchildren. I try to be like him whenever I can.
