How do you fit 46 years on one piece of paper? Here goes.
After graduation in 1956 I attended SUNY Farmingdale for 2 years. My curriculum and my interest were in Automotive & Diesel Technology. I graduated in 1958 during our country’s first recession and was awakened to the real world. My first job was testing jet engines at Fairchild Engine Division in Deer Park. The company went under and I was laid off. My second job was with Renault Inc., which lasted approx 2 ½ years. I was a troubleshooter and instructor and traveled around the country a lot. It was a terrific job for a single guy. I was making a great salary and had an open-ended expense account, but I was not 100 percent happy. I left and worked for some friends in their gas station.
The draft was looming in my future and I couldn’t see spending 2 years in the military so I joined the Army Reserve. During the same time period I met a wonderful girl from Northport, Pat Nese who was definitely a keeper. After basic at Ft. Dix I ended up in Ft. Sam Houston in Texas as a medic. I stayed in Texas for the balance of my active duty. After returning home Pat and I got married, bought a house, and started an auto repair business all within a year and a half. We are happily married for 39 years and have 4 daughters. My daughters all attended private colleges, Jamie, Lafayette , Jill, Hofstra, Gina, Fairfield, and Donna, Siena.We are very proud of them. Three of my daughters are married and I have 3 great sons in law and 7 grandchildren who all live in the area. They are the light of our lives. The years have been good to me. In addition to my auto repair business I built some award winning tow trucks and hot rods. Three friends and I designed and manufactured a 32 foot offshore performance boat which is still well thought of today. I did some boat racing and in the early days some drag racing. I recently sold my business but still go in from time to time to do some custom work. In 1997 Pat and I bought a bungalow on the water in Northport. In 1999 we started to remodel it. This is the biggest project I have ever undertaken, and it takes up most of my time. When the house is finished it will have a good-sized shop in the garage/cellar and I hope to finish a 57 T-Bird project I started 3 years ago. Barring any unforeseen difficulties or health problems we will be able to enjoy our golden years with our growing family, friends and hobbies. See you at the 50th.
