Wednesday, March 2, 2022
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Got the news months after John passed, having moved to California forty years ago.
We were buddies in grade school and spend many days at each others home doing what kids do.
Boys scout meetings , ballgames , firecrackers, snowballs parties and high school dances.
John was a year older but five years wiser.
Never got in any trouble or bad stuff when I hung out with Johnny. We never argued or had friction. Just two
adolescents on our journey to adulthood.
Johnny was ahead of the curve and when he changed my hairdo for me it was weird because I only then began to “pick ip the curves”. Yes, I began to meet girls
and he told me it was the hairdo change that I had needed. He was a handsome dude and was a chick magnet. Sundays at the movies. We scored. When he started a rock band I was so impressed but not talented enough to join him. And when I got to Augies High School , he was gone. Only he could persuade me to go there. Only he could have kept me out of trouble there. It was horrible. He got lucky, he got out.
Johnny succeeded and graduated St Peters . I enjoyed his band at the dances and then he saw that I was with
pretty girlfriends and he congratulated me. I was cool too! Thanks John you helped!
John joined the Air Force during the Viet Nam War soon afterwards. It was a rare bravery among our generation at the time. Very rare.
He survived and got lucky in doing so. I thought he had a little cultural time warp when he came home but it was me who lost the true significance of time.
And home he came . Still the same positive man.
Honored me to be his usher at his wedding.
Fast forward forty years. I found him on line. No change. Still sweet and optimistic. Spoke about plans
to drive tour w his brother. And promised California visit
this year enroute to Oregon. Our talk was as if no time had passed. He remembered my hairdo change. Said Viet Nam was not bad for him at all. Enjoying life and Penny. Happy with a big family and life on Staten Island.
I am crying as I think of him. Another one of those people who strengthened my life in those formative years , and my ability to deal with it from then.
Hope to be w Johnny and the Dreamers in God’s
kingdom. I can sing now and he will bring me in.
(718) 761-5544 | 
matthewfh@matthewfuneralhome.com | 
2508 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 761-5544
matthewfh@matthewfuneralhome.com