MAD JACK

Thanks to a few blog readers for sending this outstanding story from the Brooklyn Eagle on the late John Cannucci.

Cannucci died in October of 2010.  He was one of the most well-liked people from the neighborhood.

Here’s a small piece from the article.

“He did his best for the children, whether leading a tour of the basement or here in the gym,” said P.S. 29 Principal Melanie Raneri Woods. “He liked to look tough on the outside, but he was a gentle soul on the inside.” Woods said she was “honored to celebrate him today and pay homage to the beautiful man he was.”

The one thing about our neighborhood  whether you were from 7th avenue, 9th avenue or 11th avenue, it produced outstanding people.

Back in October, I blogged about Cannucci’s death. Here is a comment from Jerry Cole on the man they called Mad Jack.

Mad Jack was a great guy with a warm smile. He laughed easily and deeply and he always made you feel welcome whenever you were around him (unless you were rooting against one of his teams). John always greeted you with a hearty handshake and a big smile. Like Billy, while living in the neighborhood I was also fortunate enough to spend a lot of quality time with Jack watching sports in McBears, or playing football at the Turkey Bowl, or meeting for a cold one at Farrells or any of the other place that we’d all gather for weddings, parties or for various reasons and special events.

Even after Sue & I committed that “mortal sin” and moved to Jersey, Jack always made us feel welcome whenever we were back in the neighborhood for the Brooklyn Irish parade or anywhere else we’d see him.

Jack you were one of a kind and you will be sorely missed by your family and all who knew you. May you rest easy my friend as I know the other fellas from the Slope (Fonz, Chicken George, etc.) are all ready to meet you at the pearly gates with a warm welcome and a cold one.

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

WILD IRISH ROSE

Saw this sign outside a wine store on 7th avenue and 13th street.

BUDGET CUTS

This morning I was reading a story about an elementary school district that is eliminating organized sports teams from grades 2-8. Seems they are having financial problems.

How did we ever field teams in different sports at Holy Name? Who paid for the uniforms? League fee’s?

Was there a fee to play or was it included in our tuition?

-Steve
hoops135@hotmail.com

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

I wanted to take this time to wish all the dad’s out there a Happy Father’s Day!
I hope you are being the best father you can be to your son or daughter.

-Steve

OLD SCHOOL

NATHAN’S, EAT YOUR HEART OUT

I’m sure by now everyone has heard of Anthony Weiner, the New York congressman, who has admitted to exchanging explicit photos and messages through Twitter, Facebook, email and occasionally on the phone with roughly six women in recent years.

(Courtesy of USA Today)

Why am I mentioning this?

Sources have told me as a kid, Weiner lived on 6th street and 8th avenue.

My source also said they used to call him “Poindexter”.

Does anyone remember this guy?

-Steve

hoops135@hotmail.com

MATCH MADE IN…

Thanks to my main man Kenny for sending this video clip via the New York Times of a very happy couple (Avery Willis and Matt Hoffman) who met on the ‘F’ train and wound up getting married.

Guess where he took her out for a drink?

Meeting your soulmate is the ultimate goal in life; it’s a dream come true. We all hope to find that special person whom we spend the rest of our lives with. I was lucky enough to find that special person too. After so many misses over the years, I finally realized a few of the secrets to a strong, lasting, healthy, relationship;

COMMUNICATION, LOVE, TRUST, and UNDERSTANDING!

My wife Mary is heaven-sent. Though she is not from our neighborhood, she could have fit in well with us. She possesses many of the traits the girls that I grew up with have.

-Steve

hoops135@hotmail.com