Saturday, November 15, 2008
ANTHONY RUGGIERO I sure didn’t think I was going to writing this today.None of us could imagine this. It occurred to me I’ve known Anthony longer than perhaps anyone . He is my best buddy and has been since we were born because our mothers were sisters and were very close. I want to tell you about your husband ,father, and friend and how he changed my life. He was straightforward and what you saw is what you got. Anyone he met was impressed by him and wanted to be his friend . They saw instantly the PRIDE,INTEGRITY,and quiet DIGNITY. He was so easy to like. Our favorite pastime growing up was playing cowboys.. He always wanted to be the good guy and he was. There were some challenges in our firiendship.When he went on the Howdy Dowdy show without me.I knew I was in the presence of a super star and celebrity long before those words were used. However,I became almost unforgiving when he told me that a fire engine had came to the neighborhood and they took all the kids for a ride .I made him promise to call me next time . The many Saturday’s at the Kimball Movie house will never be forgotten.A double feature cowboy movie and a two or three serial’s with Flash Gordon or Gene Autry if we were lucky. Cowboys ,cars and stickball were our primary interests during those early years. The family would gather at Grandma’s house and Uncles would come with cars from jalopies to Cadillacs.It was Anthony who got Uncle Louie to let us sit in his new red and white 1955 Ford I couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t afraid to talk to anyone.Giving me courage that would last a lifetime. One time while playing in Grandpa’s truck I released the hand brake and the truck crashed into the garage doors . We both knew I did it.But when we were asked what happened he wouldn’t tell on me and we both got punished.He was a stand up guy that day and he never changed . He was the first person I knew who landed a professional job and became an executive at a department store . Things were changing fast for both of us.He made it seem so easy when I asked how he got the job. Be honest with yourself and then the rest of the world were his wise words from his pure heart. He was a meticulous dresser and he had a new car but he didn’t have chance to play the field for long because he met Josephine. I hoped she knew the good guy she was dating. After double dating and getting to know her I realized she was perfect for him and they were made for each other. We tried to stay close but he moved here.Family and friends and all of you are the result. When Maria was born a little more than a year after they were married. I knew the cowboys were on different paths.He was all about family . Those two bridges can be a long distance buffer. Our family created alliances ,arguments and battles ensued . I always admired him as the one who wouldn’t get pulled into the nonsense and pettiness, he never was an instigator which created his role as peacemaker. He was a straight shooter. As the years passed we kept in touch but lives get complicated. Two weeks age Anthony called me we spent a long time on the phone catching up and I hoped it signaled a new closenest in our relationship since his retirement . At times like this its funny the things you remember. Its not the big events or big deals ,but its the little things that bond us together and remind us what we learn from each other. I will miss him forever because he is a part of me. Blessed are they that mourn:for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the pure in heart:for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers:for they shall be called the children of God. Its been raining tears since he fell ill. Happy trails partner.
