Sunday, December 3, 2023
Johnny was my friend and always will be. From the time we were young teenagers in the Bronx we talked and confided about everything.
The friendship started by 12 year old me throwing a firecracker that landed in the cuff of his dungarees and exploded - and me, white-faced, running across the street to see if he was hurt, and ready to get my nose punched. But he didn't. And our many and long conversations started: girls, baseball, girls, school, girls, movies, books, music, science, Mad Magazine, food, religion, the future and, of course, girls. And they never stopped.
My mother loved Johnny because he was a gentleman and because he was "a good one" who wouldn't help to get me in trouble. He loved to eat, so she would make us a bowl of his favorite meatballs for our long, late-night ramblings and record playing (so we wouldn't devour the ones in the fridge for my father's supper when he got home from work at 4AM - we had done that more than once.)
There are many more shared stories over the years - lots of fun and joy, trips and mini-adventures (like sneaking into the Stadium to see Yankee games), some trying times and some disappointments - all part of the fabric of the friendship. But no room to tell them here.
Johnny was a very intelligent man, passionate about many things, and with a large capacity for generosity. He lived his life out loud and, like us all, he had his moments. He was a presence. Noone loved his family more or was a better friend.
He leaves a void that won't be filled. I will miss him.
