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Contact Info
Last Address Highland Falls, NY
Date of Passing Feb 12, 2004
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My "Grampy" was very proud of his service during World War II. He told us a number of stories about his days flying. I am putting this profile together in hopes that his maybe some of his old flying buddies (or maybe their families) might see this and remember him.
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He lived in Highland Falls, NY outside the gates of the United States Military Academy his entire life, married his high school sweetheart, Mabel "Sis" Murphy, raised 2 children, James (who also served in the Air Force) and Carol (who married an Army Aviator), had 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
After the War, he went to work at the local Grand Union grocery store and stayed there until he retired as the manager. Up until his death, everyone there still called him "Boss" (much to the chagrin of the current manager).
He knew all the cops in town and their fathers so as kids we never got away with anything.
He never drank anything stronger than coffee (quite a feat for an Irishman!)
He used to paint. One of his past times was to turn on Bob Ross (The Happy Painter) on the TV and then paint along with him.
He quit smoking when I was a young boy, but still collected pipes. Peterson's of Dublin were his favorite.
He always tried to slip me money when I went to visit him as an adult. Didn't matter that I had a good job or that he didn't work. "Use it for gas, Scotty."
My daughter Ceili, his only great granddaughter, read her first book in his living room. After my ex and I left, he took the book and wrote a little note in it for her. I still have it and will give it her when she's old enough to understand.
He went to high school with Charles Durning who, believe it or not, ran track! A few years before my grandfather died, he painted a picture of the gazebo in town and presented it to Mr. Durning backstage at a play in which he was performing in New York.
He was quoted as saying, upon meeting Lew Alcindor (most know him as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), "That's the only man to make me feel small."
