Page 188 - Images: We were...We are

Veterans' Day, 2003

My mother was John's fiance when he left for Viet Nam.
She still loves him today.

That is all I can really say since I didn't know John - I wasn't even born when he
died. But he touched my life. And I wish I could have known him.

02 Dec 2005

I knew Johnny and his parents when they first moved to Staten Island. I was his
childhood friend when he was 5 years old. His parents and mine were very close.
Johnny lived at 36 Andrews Street in the back building and i lived in the front. They
moved to Pearsall Street, then Kensington Street. Johnny and I belonged to Boy
Scout Troop 12 that met on Bay Street. The church - I cannot remember the name,
but it's across from Belair Road in Rosebank. I remember the last time I saw John
in his house on Pearsall Street. He was on leave from the Army and he was sitting
on the sofa with his girlfriend. The news of his death was unforgetable. I went to
the funeral and till this day I'll never forget it. I still have Johnny's wet suit he gave
me when he went in the service and other things his parents gave to my parents. I
go to his grave a few times a year - I'll never forget him.

From a friend,
Mac

07 Jun 2007

I graduated from New Dorp High School with John in 1965. His picture covers one
full page at the beginning of our year book. I don't remember when or how I met
him, but I was a true loner, geek, shy and all the bad things that go with it. For
some reason he'd sit with me at lunch and talk to me and I was thrilled beyond
measure. He loved the Beach Boys and he had that blond, blue-eyed surfer look. I
had such a crush on him, but never said so, I was happy just to have him as a
friend - I had very few! I was married soon after high school and had a beautiful
baby girl on August 10, 1967. I remember when I came home from the hospital,
picking up the S.I. Advance and there was John's obituary. I cried so much because
he was such a nice guy and so very kind to me. I saw that he was engaged and I
felt so bad for his fiancee. I came across this site by accident, but I'm so glad I did
and that I got to know more about John and his family.

From a high school classmate,
Bonnie R.

Section III 152