I started in St. Peter’s and discovered that I didn’t know why I was there. After floundering into the second semester, I was advised by Fr. Murphy to go down to the armory to volunteer for the draft. This permitted me to choose the date on which I would be drafted, and a 1951 alumnus made it happen.
The army was a blessing disguise as it helped me to mature a bit and provided the first significant event which was initiated by a GI who was familiar with the California college system. I started at Pasadena City College (Rose Bowl Queens come from here), and after one year I became a resident which allowed me to go to San Jose State (tuition was $15 and $25 per semester), which turned out to be the #1 party school in the 50’s according to Playboy Magazine. What a stroke of luck that turned out to be.
I joined a national fraternity, SAE. My second significant event occurred, as I became my chapter’s treasurer and president. The saddest day of my social life was graduation day.
I came back to New Jersey for my last summer vacation where the biggest event became meeting my bride-to-be.
I returned to California and a job, as an auto parts representative for the entire west coast. The first go round of visiting parts stores was a tourist delight on an unlimited expense account. With things going well I proposed to Marilyn and married in California.
It is hard to believe today, but we tired of the sightseeing, good meals and motels. As luck would have it there was a manager’s position open in New York City and back we came. Then came my next biggest event: triplet sons. About this time my company was bought out and they wanted me to go out on the road again. There was no way I was going to miss watching my sons grow up and leave Marilyn alone.
I became an insurance agent and was able to spend a lot of time with my boys, and we did many things together. We still go camping twice a year. The result of this is a lasting relationship, which endures even though all are married. We all live within one hour of each other, thank God.
The last, but not least, of my events is being a 21-year member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. I became a coxswain which means I have been in command of most of the boat patrols in Raritan Bay for the last 16 summers. I also volunteer at Rahway Hospital and the VA home in Menlo Park.
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