On The Sly

It's good to reflect upon days gone by -- that's why at midnight I'll sing "Auld Lang Syne" to my cat Lily. But the days gone by in 2007 were sometimes sad ones. I lost a lot of friends during the year, as, I'm sure, did many readers. The names below were not all close friends, many were, but in some way they each left good memories.

HAROLD BATES was a teacher at Plattsburgh High School. He was always friendly, and already a veteran in the school district when I started teaching in 1970. I recall that he was good friends of Paul and Jan Dingman. He loved photography and was seldom seen without his camera. I'm sure his family has many albums of his photographs.

MIKE BRODI was among the best baseball players in our area. I have known his son since we were all kids. Among my baseball collectibles is an autographed baseball dated 1938. It has Mike Brodi's autograph on it, along with about a dozen other players, some of whom played in the major leagues.

DAN CARON is the story of a nice guy, great dad, who died too young. I only knew Dan over the past few years, when he moved into the neighborhood. So many lives were changed so suddenly the night that Dan died.

GORDIE CORYEA was a teammate of mine at Our Lady of Victory Academy, a fellow umpire in Little League baseball and the kind of guy who loved to trade stories over a beer. He was a great athlete and it's sad when illness takes away your ability to enjoy the better things of life in retirement. Sometimes all you can do is shake your head and say, "It's not fair."

ROZZIE FASSETT was just 44 years old when he died in a car accident. I had Rozzie as a student back in the early days. He was a great kid who I never forgot. When I would see him around town as he became an adult, I'd always say, "Hey, Rozzie" and he would just nod back, flash me a smile and give me a wave.

"PAPA FOX" FOUNTAIN was an original Montcalmer and one of the kindest men I ever met. His death created some confusion in the North Country as word spread that "Foxy" had died. A few people later in the day shook my hand in wonder that I was still alive. Sadly, the original "Fox" -- Mr. Fountain -- had died.

HOWARD JENNINGS SR. was my parents' insurance man when I was a kid. I remember so well sitting on the couch as my parents talked business with this distinguished man wearing a suit and tie. He seemed like a nice man. My parents liked and respected him. The Jennings raised quite a family with many talented children and grandchildren.

DONALD JESSEY was the father of my friend Ray Jessey. I went to many a birthday party as a kid at the Jesseys' house on Main Mill Street. Later when his grandchildren were in my Stafford Middle School English class, he and his wife came to visit during Grandparents Week. It was great to see them after all those years and they remembered me as that "Gonyea boy."

CHARLES JOCK and BOBBY JOCK were my Mom's cousins. Their father was my "Uncle Leonard." I never knew Charles or Bobby that well, but my Mom would often bring us to visit "Uncle Leonard." Late in his life he lived in a tiny trailer on the property of Guy Peryea on the Tom Miller Road.

JEREMY KLUGMAN was a former student and 7th grade basketball player for me. He was the smallest guy on the basketball team, but he grew up to be quite a man, winning awards as a coach. The son of my friend Jack Klugman, Jeremy died at the age of 37.

IGNATIUS LACOMBE was a gentleman. The story of Ignatius and his wife Dorothy are the makings of a Hollywood movie. Enlisted man meets officer nurse during the war years. Clark Gable could have played Mr. Lacombe and Carole Lombard could have portrayed Mrs. Lacombe. I met them many times and in my television videotape archives is an interview with the Lacombes, recounting the wonderful story of their lives.

ROD LAVALLEY was a basketball official when I was playing in high school. I always thought he was one of the most professional ones. Always calm, always making the right call, even though my Mom and grandmother might have yelled at him a time or two. I found out later he was a head honcho at the Motor Vehicle Department. I always thought he was just a basketball official.

MAL LAVERY liked to make people laugh. He and his comrade Paul Dingman started calling me "Raymond" or "Foxy" based upon my mood of the day. He got a lot of mileage out of his story about saving Paul Dingman's life when Paul fell out of a tree stand while on a deer hunting expedition deep in the North Country woods. Mal was a standout member of the Plattsburgh City School District Board of Education and was involved in many other community activities.

ANDRE LIGHT was my "Uncle Andre." He and his wife Honey (my grandmother Gagnon's niece) founded Light's Jewelers, one of the most respected jewelers in the North Country. I miss the days when his children, Tom, Andrea and Greg, and the other cousins used to get together at family events. Uncle Andre was always a kind, caring man.

MIKE MANNIX will never be forgotten. There is nothing more left to say about the man who never had a bad day. I know there are many of us who are trying to take that attitude as we face the troubles of being part of the older generation.

JOHNNY NIXON was one of the greatest athletes to ever wear the patriotic colors of Ausable Valley Central. He faced his illness head-on and met the challenges day by day. He was a role model. This year he was inducted into the Ausable Valley Sports Hall of Fame. It was a night to remember.

LEE PAISER was one of Seton Catholic Central's best volunteers. He did so many things for the school and the athletes and never wanted any recognition. Whenever I'd see him, he was a quiet guy with a friendly smile. He and his wife raised a wonderful family.

GENE PAVONE was a North Country character. Always armed with stories and jokes, he could entertain for hours. I am so happy that I was able to document his life on videotape -- one month before his death. He wore many hats during his lifetime and was always a success. Gene was my sister's father-in-law. We remembered him during grace at our Gagnon Thanksgiving this year.

RUSS RICKETSON rode a bicycle a lot. I would always see him at the Fourth of July parade, riding his bicycle and stopping to chat. He was a telephone man like my Dad. They were good friends. Russ's daughter Gail was a bronze medal winner in rowing in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. He was always very proud of that.

LAURA RIGHI was the mother of my longtime friend Sal Righi. Although I never met Mrs. Righi, her son Sal is one of the finest men I've ever known. Laura lived to be 94, so she had many years to influence her little boy Sal and keep him on the right path. Sal still has his charming wife Denise to keep an eye on him.

AL RYAN grew up in Rouses Point and he was one of the first reporters I ever met. My grandparents and parents knew him. More recently, he became a Blogoteer for "On the Sly," occasionally writing comments from his home in Florida. He never forgot the North Country and shortly before his death, he published a book about growing up in Rouses Point.

JOHN SEIDEN was another New York Telephone Company man. He, too, worked with my Dad. Ask anyone who knew him and they'll tell you that Johnny Seiden was quite a guy. He, too, visited school during Grandparents Week and he entertained the students at length with stories of the war and the good old days of the telephone company.

ISABELLE SEIDEN was John's wife. She passed away on March 8, three weeks after John died. They were truly a couple. I met Isabelle a few times and she was always friendly. The remaining Seidens are nice people, thanks to having such caring and fun parents.

SUE SWOBODA wore many hats. A wife, mother, grandmother, school secretary, union leader, you name it. If there was a job to be done, ask Sue. You knew it would get done the right way. She was always doing favors for me at Stafford Middle School. And each morning and afternoon, I invaded her space for the school announcements. She kept track on a little post-it note on her desk for each time she had to cover for me for the announcements. I think I owed her about ten Bloody Marys by the time I retired. I think I still owe her.

CYNDI TOPNICK was kind, generous, friendly and one of the strongest women I have ever known. She fought cancer for many years. She served as a role model for many women that she never knew. She had so many people cheering for her. It's a shame that so many of the good die young.

FATHER THOMAS VOTRAW was a priest at OLVA during my high school years. In fact, when my parents planned a surprise 16th birthday party for me, they got me out of town by asking Fr. Votraw to play a role. Father asked me to go with him to Ausable Forks and pick up several boxes of books from his family home. With me out of the way, my family and friends could set up the OLVA church hall for the big surprise. The surprise worked. Who ever heard of a priest playing a trick like that?

BLANCE YOUNG was my fourth grade teacher at Monty Street School and, later, a colleague. I loved Mrs. Young as a teacher and she always remembered me. She didn't call me "Foxy" though -- she was too accustomed to calling me by my real first name, which I won't state here. It is because of teachers like Mrs. Young that I chose teaching as my own career.

May next year's list of my friends be shorter. As for 2008, I figure there's only good that come of it. After all, 2008 rhymes with mate, date, can't wait and great! If you believe in fate, I may have some interesting blogs in the year ahead.