As a kid growing up in Windsor Terrace there were a few professional athletes who I admired. In baseball it was George Brett, in basketball Phil Chenier and Walt Frazier. But the real people I admired were the older guys in the neighborhood. Guys like Gerard Trapp, Danny Pisselli, Alan Lang, and the late Vinny Brunton.
Trapp was a great basketball player, Pisselli was an excellent coach, Lang was a point guard in basketball who was exciting to watch and Brunton was all class. Brunton passed away on Sept. 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center when terrorists struck while he was trying to save lives at the Twin Towers.
As a youngster, I wasn’t smart enough to learn from these four great human beings. As I got older, wiser and more educated, I looked back and thought about all four and thought about all the lessons I learned from them. There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t think about them.
Everyone thinks they know it all. Kids today think they can do anything they want. They refuse to listen to their elders. Just like me, they think they can get it done their way. Not taking someone’s advice who has been successful is the biggest mistake you can make.
My biggest mistake in life growing up in Windsor Terrace was not listening to Trapp, Pisselli, Lang and Brunton. But today, I think about what they tried to teach me when I was in my early teens. I put their advice to use as an adult and I’m glad I remembered what they tried to teach me.
Brett, Chenier and Frazier couldn’t do anything for me that would’ve helped me later in life; Trapp, Pisselli, Lang and Brunton and many others from Windsor Terrace helped mold me into the person I am today.
[...] As mentioned a few days ago in an entry titled, ‘Mentors’ today I want to touch on a couple of people who were involved in the neighborhood but might of been overlooked, especially by me growing up. (remember, it’s my blog so if you didn’t like certain people or you don’t agree with what I write about people, too bad). [...]
Great blog great memories. You mentioned Vinny Brunton killed in the attack on the World Trade Center, do you remember John Devaney and William Oconnor both firefighters killed in the line of duty back in the late 70’s and early 80’s. REST IN PEACE.
John,
Thank you so much for the contribution and reminder. I was actually in the process of writing about the great people who passed away from the neighborhood. I recall John Devany and William O’Connor…May they rest in peace.
John Dwyer, one of Fuller’s finest, correct?
Thanks for stopping and spread the word about the Blog!
they were great memories J.D E M V.B J.K GUYS U’LL NEVER FORGET i wouldn’t change any part of growing up in windsor terrace it was a great place to grow up
thanks fin allways like u to good guy good move on created this i wish i could work up a sweat like i use to we must get together some day n meet at the bar get some of theguys together
HEY CORRADO ARENT YOU GERARDS FRIEND, ITS BETTY TRAPP
Haven’t heard from Corrado in a while…He was visiting and posting but hasn’t been around in a while.
hey betty its corrado how are u hope well what a great site reading all about the hood how nice it was like ur story about wetters for forty cents u could sit there all day as long as u had a piece of english muffen”coke thats what we did in the winter that was my frist hang out hope to hear more stories happy thanksgiven to all
hey fin tryed to send this site to a couple a guys could”’nt do it y
Corrado……Its been a long time Someone sent me this website and I am amazed how many people that I grew up with on on here. Remember me Danny ryans cousin billy(tumpy)my mother owned the card store next to smiths funeral home Last time I saw you you were dating Bunny.Havent run into anyone from the old neighborhood in a long time.Hope all is well and have a happy holiday. Do you keep in touch with anyone from the old neighborhood?
hey billy of course i remember u D.L. SUTTONS, INFINITY’S.. How is everyone doing , hope your doing well. Where are you living? I am living out in Manalapan New Jersey, still married to Bunny and three kids later. Good hearing from you, try to keep in touch and happy holiday’s to you and yours…
CC,
Good to hear from you – can’t help but thinking about your pull up jumper, you were quick man. How’s your brother Frankie?
MerryXmass N Happy New Year to all
BIILY , TUMPY,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,HOLY MACAREL!!!!!!!!!
MY FIRST HOLY NAME BASKETBALL COACH,,,,,,,,,,,
FOR REAL,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ROACHIES COUSIN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,HE WAS ONE OF MY PALS,…………..HOWS YOUR 2 SISTERS TUMPY,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,JOHNNY FIN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,PEACE
I graduated grammer school with Vinny.. Bro Flannagan, Mr Mooney, Br. Vincent Pete Gillen (sp?) and his college ring. OUCH!…those were tough days. I remember Vinny as a fun guy. I did not know him well but I do remember a few good times…drinking “something” in the school yard prior to sneaking into the High School dance as 8th graders. I lost track of the ol neighborhood and when I saw Vinny’s name from 9/11 it brought a lot back.
Today is October 15th and I just found out about this site today from my friend Harry Mills. I sent off an email to Steve ” hoopscoach ” Finamore and received a very warm reply.
These blogs bring back so many great memories. You are all mentioning ball players. Alan Lang as mentioned was a tremendous ball player but I like to mention him because as a ball player he could hold his own with any who graced Holy Name School yard. Alan was a rough and tumble kid from the streets who had a tough upbringing and was not viewed in those days as a certain type. He didn’t have discipline and he didn’t really work out nor did he really care what anybody thought about how he played or what kind of sneakers he wore but he gave everybody fits. He was quick and unorthodox, he had no rules, he just played with total abandon relying on street smarts.The best was his smile after he took somebody to the hoop.
Randy Reiss mentioned some great players from down e5th st way – of course his brother Jackie, a great friend of my cousin Jimmy Burke was and still is out of this world. But to mention Dennis Walsh and Billy Muskreit – ? not sure of spelling but I remember him as a player – these guys had something special and as mentioned unfortunately later were challenged by life but they were sweet to watch in the old days – good mention Randy.
Billy Shaw – this is Bobby Burke – WOW Billy – I always ask about you but I must be asking the wrong people. I hope your life is good Bill – I always liked you and have thought of you often over the years. I am not sure chronologically how these blogs are read but I hope it finds its way to you – drop me a line vineyardburke@hotmail.com or sparkling.pools@live.com
Another great player was Joe Cronin, a strong big man with a nice touch.His friend Iggy was tough and so was Chuckie from New Jersey.
Don’t forget a guy named Charlie Caspar – Charlie unfortunately was killed on 9/11 I believe he was a Fire Captain. Charlie was without question the strongest man I ever played hoops against. Ask Gerard Trapp or Bobby Trapp, I am sure they will agree.
Who remembers Father Vescey – the sports writers brother – he was a smart fundamentally sound player who would come by on a Sat afternoon and play 8 – 10 games in a row and never stop moving
Great Memories !!
Reading about the summer league brings back so many memories. I still live in the neighborhood and its sad to pass the schoolyard and see just parked cars but at least with this site I get to relive those great times. Bobby Burke I totally agree with you about Alan Lang. He was a great player and I used to love to watch him play.