Thursday, January 18, 2024
/public-file/1530/Ultra/Image_jpg.jpg
/public-file/1531/Ultra/Image_jpg.jpg
/public-file/1532/Ultra/Image_jpg.jpg
We all have fond memories of our cousin Steve, along with his siblings (brothers Dave, Chris and sister Kathy). In our childhood years we would often gather together at Grandma Theresa and Grandpa Ben’s home in Albany, NY, which doubled as a Mom and Pop Grocery Store, “Ben’s Grocery”. Whatever the occasion, we were always treated to a wonderful feast prepared by Grandma Theresa. She would always include a few Polish delicacies on the menu, including kielbasa, babka, borscht, stuffed cabbage, and chrusciki. Everyone would gather at the big dining room table while the younger cousins shared the overflow card tables that extended into the living room. After dinner, we always had fun running around the backyard playing games while the grown-ups sat around the table and caught up on family news. Come breakfast time, Grandpa Ben would often head out to Nino’s Italian Bakery for rolls, with Steve sometimes tagging along. We are certain that Steve holds the record for the number of Nino’s rolls consumed in one sitting – which doesn’t even include the unknown number of rolls he gobbled up during the drive back to the store.
Other memories of visits to our Uncle Jerry, Aunt Joan and cousins’ home in Sidney and their reciprocal visits to our home in Syracuse, and later Brewerton were also very special. Steve was always full of energy and ready to play any game. Football and kickball were favorites in their big yard in Sidney. Tall and athletic, everyone wanted Steve on their team! At night, we’d enjoy running around the yard catching fireflies and lying out on the lawn watching for shooting stars.
Some of us also shared in a couple of camping trips to Lake George. The water was so clear and cold and the boat ride to Bolton Landing was a fun outing. Games back at the campsite were always fun and mischievous! Was it Steve’s idea to lock one of the Sidney neighbor boys in the outhouse during a lively game of hide-and-go-seek? Sorry, what went on in Lake George, will forever stay in Lake George!
As we grew older, the reunions were not as frequent, but we still got together at family occasions (graduations, weddings, Grandma Theresa ’s 90th birthday, etc). During several of these gatherings, Dad and Uncle Jerry would gather the cousins together and take a photograph of us all. We would line up in the exact same order as the original photo taken in Sidney in the 1960s. Steve was always the tallest one in the back row, with the biggest smile.
Steve’s spirit lives on in the wonderful memories we all share of him.
Tina, Cissy, Patti and Maureen