My Dad in His Youth

My Dad in His Youth, originally uploaded by confections.

One of my mother's favorite photos of my Dad, circa 1950, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

My Dad and his four brothers, taken about 1930. Left to right: Ralph Alphonse, Vincent Nicholas, Alfred Michael, John Clement (my Dad), and Frank Cletus.

My grandmother and grandfather called three of their five sons by their middle names, so my uncles were: Uncle Ralph, Uncle Vince, my Dad (Uncle Clem to my cousins), Uncle Clete, and Uncle Mike. My Uncle Clete is the only one still alive.

My Dad (on the right) with one of his World War II buddies, Ray Wilken. Ray and his wife had come into town for a visit and they sat around the dining room table and caught up on their lives. Circa spring of 1969.

Happy Father's Day!

My Mom & Dad, 1956

My Mom & Dad, 1956, originally uploaded by confections.

Today would have been my Dad's 92nd birthday, but he's been gone for nearly 18 years. I lost Uncle George, my Mom's brother, earlier this month; he was born the same year as my Dad.

In the wake of Uncle George's passing, I have been doing a lot of genealogical research into the wee hours, placing pieces of the puzzle into my family tree.

I would encourage you to conduct an oral history interview with all of your loved ones, especially the old-timers. Vast amounts of knowledge are lost when one of them passes; putting their recollections down on paper or (even better) in their own voice will provide an invaluable record.

My Mom's older sister had a faint recollection of the name of a small town in Germany that she had heard the elders mention. That bit of information led to my finding one of our great-great-grandmothers. (My Mother is two-and-a-half years younger than her sister, and did not recall this vital clue.)

I'm in the middle of another family mystery as I write this and am waiting to hear from the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh with some details about a great-grandfather. One of my aunts provided a clue that (knock on wood) has enabled us to identify him.

So, Happy Birthday, Daddy! Farewell, Uncle George! I can hear them now, swapping stories behind the pearly gates.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts, circa 1940

 

Here is an extended family photo of my mother (at about age fourteen and third person from the right) and her siblings and spouses, her nephew, her father, and a friend of the family. The photo was taken by my Aunt Grace on Cape Cod circa 1940. My grandfather (whom I never knew) is sporting shades in the photo and looks for all the world like Van Morrison, the bard of Belfast.