Sunday, February 6, 2011
We will always have Uncle John in our hearts and minds forever. We know he's in heaven with my dad, Uncle Joe, and our family members who have passed on. His dedication to our family was unique. He always saw the best in all of us. I was personally inspired by his love of education. I was motivated by him to go on to receive a college education, when it wasn't all that common for an Italian girl from Brooklyn. He put importance on education before "getting a husband". Instead of a toy, he would give me a book. He was a great role model to all of us. He was a loving husband and father as we all know. I remember when I first met Aunt Rosetta, she said Uncle John was her "Robert Redford", who was popular at the time. It was true love. When I reflect on my younger years, I remember those early years in Brooklyn when everybody lived either next door, upstairs, or across the street and the brothers would gather on Sunday afternoons in the backyard to talk sports...mainly horses, of course. Those are loving memories. As for my husband, Hal, he always felt as if Uncle John was his own uncle since Uncle John always welcomed those who married into our family as "family" forever. Hal and I will miss him dearly. Jojo (and Hal) Nolan
